Child Item

Unable to delete a folder I own. "You don’t have permission to delete files in this folder".

Hi! I'm having difficulty deleting a folder I own. I keep getting an error message "You don’t have permission to delete files in this folder". There are no files in the folder and I have triple checked that I am the owner of the folder. I have also unshared it with any other members.

Find more posts tagged with

Delete

Error Messages

Dropbox Business

Dropbox Plus

Dislike

AcceptAnswer

Comments

Megan

Hey @leadcro, thanks for posting and welcome to our Community.

This error message usually appears when you're trying to delete a folder that you didn't create or are not the owner of.

Would you mind clarifying if you see the two people symbol on the folder you're trying to delete? Also, did you use these steps in order to unshare it with the rest of the members?

Let me know what you see.

leadcro

Hi, I do see the two people symbol, but when I look in permissions I'm listed as the owner.

leadcro

Is there a way to see who created the folder?

Megan

Hey @leadcro, thanks for the screenshot!

It looks as if you're the folder's owner. Have you tried the steps I provided above, about unsharing the folder before deleting it?

Would you mind giving it a go?

leadcro

Hi,

I followed the steps, however, there's no one else to manage permissions for. Everyone else has been removed, but it still won't let me delete the folder.

Megan

Do you still get the same error on your end @leadcro?
Also, have you tried a different browser, by any chance?

leadcro

I still get the "you don't have permission to delete files in this folder" message. Note that the folder is empty. I have now tried in Chrome and Safari without success.

Hannah

Hey @leadcro, can you follow the steps here to unshare the folder and see if you're then able to delete it?

leadcro

I followed those steps, but I'm still unable to delete the folder.

Hannah

That's pretty strange indeed. Does the folder still have the two people icon or just a plain blue folder icon now?

leadcro

It still has the two people icon, and no matter which way I try to unshare it, it isn't able to be deleted. I tried changing the owner, unsharing it and then deleting the folder, but that didn't work either.

leadcro

I can see that originally it was created as a Team Folder and then changed. I can also see who created the folder in "Activity" page. If that helps

Hannah

Thanks for the update, @leadcro.

I'd like to ask you to try something and then let me know if it works for you.

First, go ahead and create a new team folder in your team space.

Then, move the folder you're trying to delete into this new team folder.

And then go to Admin console > Content tab, and archive > delete the team folder you created.

Does that delete the folder inside?

leadcro

I was able to create a team folder, but I'm unable to move the folder I want to delete over.

Hannah

Are you getting another permissions error? Can you send us a screenshot, please?

leadcro

It throws out this message when I try to drag it into the newly made folder.

When I go to more options, here's what I get.

Walter

Thanks for the screenshots and the additional information @leadcro - much appreciated!

Would it be OK with you if we reached out via email to have a further look internally at this point?

leadcro

Yes! Thank you!

Walter

Sure thing @leadcro - I've just sent you an email to investigate so please take a look at your inbox and we'll take it from there.