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My files are missing after unlinking some older connected devices

Hi all,

I think a made a stupid mistake and I hope I can find a solution here.

While installing Dropbox on my Mac. I got a notice that I had to unlink some of my devices already linked. A window opened and there was a list of devices synced 7 years ago. I deleted some of them and left only the ones I use currently (my laptop and what I thought was my current phone). When I opened Dropbox, none of my folders were there anymore (not online, not on my laptop, not on my phone). Is there a way to get my data back?

Thank you a lot for your help.

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DanielMarquez

Hi Lusil,

This happened to me last night. I checked what you suggested to the other user and it didn't work: I didn't find my files in the trash bin and I didn't have my email associated to previous accounts. Do you have any other suggestions? I would greatly appreciate it. I'm panicking here.

Daniel

Hannah

Hey @DanielMarquez, thanks for reaching out and sorry to see that your files are missing.

Unlinking a device would in no way cause your files to get deleted from your account, though.

Have you looked into your deleted files page, to see if you can locate the files there?

What does your events page show?

Keep me posted.

DanielMarquez

Hi Hannah,

Thanks a lot. I found them in deleted files - I just had to change the date of file recovery.

Thank you again.

Hannah

That's great, I'm happy to see you were able to find the files and restore them, Daniel!

If you need anything else, make sure to give us a shout.

Have a great day!

AnitaBez

Good day, I opted for a free version recently for more space but decided to take up the paid version. My files stopped syncing and I thought if I delete the files on Dropbox (since I am back on the basic version) I will have all my files back onto my desktop. Only to see now that my files disappeared completely from my desktop. Is there a way that I can retrieve my files back onto my desktop....do not have anexternal backup somewhere else of the files!

Megan

Hi @AnitaBez, let's jump into this!

Were the files synced to your account online, before you decided to delete them?

Do you have Computer Backup enabled for your account? Also, if I were you, I'd check my account's deleted files page for any missing content, can you try this?

Keep me posted!

AnitaBez

Spoiler

Hi Megan,
Thank you for your response.
I used a free trial version of Dropbox plus and when the trial expired my sync stopped as my file size was more than the allowed size for Dropbox Basic. In my "wisdom" I thought deleting and permanently deleting most of the files on Dropbox will bring me back to Basic allowed size and all my files will be back on my PC as before(in C-drive)...just to realise at the end NONE of my files show on "my PC" anymore....they are all gone!
I did not pay for the Plus version thus do not have access to the computer backup and when going to deleted file page it is empty.
If I opt for the paid version of Dropbox plus now, I read that they can retrieve all my lost files (permanently deleted files also?) if 30days have not lapsed....will this definitely work or is it not guaranteed to work to opt in for the paid version now? I deleted and permanently deleted all the files about 2 days ago.

Thank you for your assistance so far and looking forward to resolving this matter.

Anita

Nancy

Hi Anita, and sorry for jumping in.

If you permanently deleted all of your files, I’m afraid there’s no way of restoring them, as they’ve also been permanently removed from our servers. The file recovery window that you mention applies for files that have been just deleted from your Dropbox account (not permanently deleted).

However, if there’s a chance that you didn’t permanently delete everything, you can also take a look at your Events page, and check if you can see any trace of them there and restore them.