Storage says it is full, but it is not

Hi @jen2fe

You are nearly out of space - you only have 74mb of space left based upon the data you posted below. Shared folders use up the quota of every person within the share UNLESS you are a licensed team member of a Business plan. So, your colleagues either have more space, a paid plan or are part of a paid team.

All comments

Hi @jen2fe

Steven Cee

Mark, I have a similar issue, but different. I don't share my acct. with anyone, and on my computer, my Dropbox folder has a total of about 850 mbs, yet the Dropbox site is telling me I have 2.63 GB out of 2.75 GB capacity! Where is the nearly 2 gigs of extra files they believe I have? And that figure only includes "Regular files", not any shared files.

Which brings up my second question, you say that "shared folders use up the quota of ever person within the share". What do you mean by that? The only times I've shared a folder is when I've had mp3s and charts for songs, so band members could know what tunes we'll be playing, for a concert. So are you saying that once someone accesses a shared folder, they are somehow connected to my account, or that the files they may have downloaded count as to my storage space (beyond the ones that exist in the folder)?

Thanks for any help you may give me in clarifying my confusion.

yoporla

Hello, I have a similar problem

Dropbox says that my box is full (2.25 Gb) but when I check using properties of windows I only have 1.21 Gb

I emptied my trash and I don't know where the extra storage comes from

Screenshot 2021-11-17 130217.png

any idea?

thanks

yoporla

Hey @yoporla & @steven C.8, I hope you're both doing well!

In order for you to have a clear view of your account's quota, I suggest you check your plan's page.

When using the app, you might have folders set to not sync using selective sync, or maybe invalid file names that don't sync.

That's why there might be a mismatch.

Thank you very much!

Steven Cee

I discovered the problem. An old user-name on my computer, had a Dropbox file with about 1.4 Gbs of files, which along with my current one, still don't quite come to the 2.63 the site is showing me. I can already see there some files on the site that I have already deleted some time ago, as well. But the tell was when I tried to sign in, it kept saying my email/password were incorrect. I had to create a completely new sign-in, but if Dropbox is somehow counting the old folder/user, and my current one, why wouldn't it accept the former email & username? And why doesn't the page here show me both sets of files, if it's counting them both as mine? This is a confusing mess.

yoporla

I found the not sync file, it's a shared file that I don't want to sync but I want to keep for use once in a while

Does it count as space on my Dropbox even though it is not on my computer or on my account?

Hi @yoporla

Yes. If that file appears on www.dropbox.com/home it is in your account and so uses your space.

My dropbox folder contains only 270 Mb. (using the "Properties" window)

But I keep getting notifications that I am over my quota of 2 Gb.

WHY?

Hi there, @david_rand, wishing you a wonderful Monday!

The best way to check your account's quota is through our website. Can you check and let me know what you see there?

Sometimes, you might apply different syncing settings on the desktop app that won't show all of your files and folders locally.

Thanks!

The "quota" (https://www.dropbox.com/account/space) link in your message does not work.

-- David Rand

On the "plan" (https://www.dropbox.com/account/plan) page, I see this:

"Your Personal Dropbox account is full

Using 3.25 GB of 3.25 GB

Regular files (3.25 GB)

Shared files (1.41 MB)"

But the Dropbox folder on my computer contains only 270 Mb.

-- D.R.

I found the apparent problem.

Dropbox was trying to sync a large hierarchy of files to the Dropbox (probably because I copied it there by mistake).

It ran out of space before syncing completed, and the partial copy was invisible in my computer's file system.

Using the Dropbox website, I was able to erase the partial copy. (I stopped syncing before doing this, then restarted syncing after).

Everything seems to be back to normal now.

Thanks to those who responded to my query!

Frustrated15

I was told I was out of storage space. I deleted a ton of files. I know I'm under the limit, but Dropbox shows I'm still out of space. I'm the only user on this account, so it's not shared with anyone, unless they are referring to the different devices I'm using on this account. Anyone else with this issue? How did you resolve it? Thanks

Hi @Frustrated15

Does www.dropbox.com/account/plan show you as being under storage?

What is the exact error message you get?

Frustrated15

Hi there...where do I find that info. Sorry. I'm not finding this dropbox site very user friendly.

Walter

Hey @Frustrated15, you should be able to see your account's quota under your account's plan tab.

Let us know if you have any other questions.

dtdoupe

Using 642MB of free 2.75GB. Even so, synching stopped and bell message suggests upgrading because I've gone beyond the free limit. Why, I've not gone beyond the free limit?

Hi @dtdoupe, I'd be happy to help you!

Can you send me a screenshot of the message you got? Also, what does your plan page right here, show?

Let me know more, and we'll take it from there.

SJKWAK

Hello.

I am a free account user with just the basic 2 GB of space, and recently I earned the additional 1.38GB by finishing the tasks (like referring friends).

The thing is, according to one of my members, who can edit and upload files,

Dropbox says it's full and she cannot add any file, even though there is 1.38GB unused space. (Screenshot as below)

Plus, I have enough space in my computer and drive as well.

Could someone help me? Thanks in advance!

Hey @SJKWAK, let's get into this!

Do you get the error, or is it your member that gets one? Do you share a folder with her?

Keep in mind, that even though your Dropbox account might be having enough space, when you share a folder with someone they would also need to have adequate space on their account.

A Shared folder takes up space on both the recipient and the person that shared it.

Keep me updated!

It says my storage is full. However, I have only about 500MB of small files remaining in my DropBox. Where are all the other "hidden" files? How do I remove them? I have moved all of my documents out of DropBox and I'm between projects and customer folders have all been cleaned out as well.

www.dropbox.com/backups ?

Are you using Dropbox backup?

No.

Seems like files are hidden. I backup a website. However, I've gone in to my DropBox folder and pulled them to the desktop. I have gone through most of my folders and haven't seen anything more than a few hundred megabytes. DropBox is reporting 10GB used. Not sure how to clean out the misc. other stuff. "hidden"

There wont be hidden files except the backups page.

Everything that is sync'd to your account shows at www.dropbox.com/home - there is no way to 'hide' things from the web page.

If you pull them out and put them on the desktop are they still "linked" and counted in the storage space? Even though they are out of the DropBox folder?

dhkaplanoh

I am having the exact same problem and have been looking for help on this forum for a couple of days now, but to no avail. All of my files are removed from dropbox. There were no backup files visible. Just now I added a small backup to desktop in the hopes that might do something, but that is just a few kg of data. I still see nothing in backup, and the program says all of the space is taken up with non-shared files. What is wrong? It seems like a general dropbox glitch since a lot of people on this forum are experiencing the exact same thing. I have posted twice but my queries have gone nowhere.

Dropbox was reliable for years. Now I have to tell everybody that I can no longer use it with them.

Hi @dhkaplanoh & @dhicksonjr, how are you today?

Can I send you an email, in order for us to have a closer look into it?

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!

dhkaplanoh

Yes, please send me an email. I would love to get this resolved.