Child Item

I can't delete some files as they just keep reappearing

Device

MSI Laptop
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)

Windows 10
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)

236.4.5918

Question or Issue

I delete a bunch of photos everyday, but they just keep reappearing, how do I stop this from happening? I am only using the free version. TIA, Huddo

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Accepted answers

Huddo

Gidday Walter, I've rebooted my laptop a couple of times, and it appears that the issue is now resolved. Obviously the app on the phone was causing my problems. Thanks again for your help.

All comments

Walter

Hey @Huddo - sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Often when you delete files or folders, they don’t immediately disappear from every synced computer. If you happen to have a synced computer running an application that is using the files you deleted, that will cause the files to reappear in your Dropbox account. Or, if you’re seeing a shared file or folder reappear after deletion, it may be that a person you shared it with is accessing it.

If you check the previous versions of the file and see that it was accessed from an application on another computer, you can delete it off of that computer to stop it from reappearing in your Dropbox account.

Let us know if that helps!

Huddo

So, I've deleted Dropbox from my phone, and now just using it on my laptop. My phone was the only other device linked to that folder. I'll have another look shortly to see if the folder is still populating. Thanks, and I'll let you know how I go.

Walter

Feel free to take your time @Huddo - just keep us posted!

Huddo

Gidday Walter, I've rebooted my laptop a couple of times, and it appears that the issue is now resolved. Obviously the app on the phone was causing my problems. Thanks again for your help.

Walter

Glad to hear it's sorted now @Huddo - let us know if anything else comes up and take care!

Theresa

Hi there @Huddo and thanks for reaching out in the Dropbox Community! 😊

I am glad to see your issue is resolved, files that keep reappearing can definitely be frustrating, especially when it isn’t clear what’s causing the sync loop, it’s great that things are now behaving as expected. Thanks for coming back to share the update about the app... it really helps others who run into the same situation!

By the way, I’m Theresa 👩‍💻, one of the community managers here at Dropbox HQ. Since you’ve been managing files directly on your computer, I’d love to know more about how you usually use Dropbox in your day-to-day. Are you syncing work documents, collaborating with others or organising personal files across devices? I’m always curious to hear how people fit Dropbox into their workflow.

Looking forward to hearing more,

T 😺 (Dropbox Community Manager)

Huddo

Hi Theresa, I use Dropbox for our local Probus group, as I am one of the executive committee members, and it's so much easier to share the information needed among other committee members using Dropbox. Throwing PowerPoint meetings back and forth, until they're just right, is the simplest way, rather than ending up with copies everywhere. Thanks,