I suddenly can’t find critical files and discover they were deleted, but still hope to restore them.
Quick Guide
- Check Deleted files on dropbox.com and click Restore for anything still within the recovery window.
- Review the Events page to confirm who or what deleted or moved the items.
- If many items vanished at once (shared-folder wipe-out, ransomware, etc.), use Dropbox Rewind to roll your account or a folder back to a safe point.
- Out-of-window or corrupted data? Open a file-recovery ticket with Dropbox Support and include event links.
Common Causes
- Files were deleted more than 30/180/365 days ago (time limit depends on plan).
- A collaborator deleted or moved files in a shared folder—Dropbox simply synced the change.
- User mistake on one device (e.g., “clean-up” action while the desktop app was running).
Possible Fixes
- Restore from Deleted files or Version history before the retention window expires.
- Use Dropbox Rewind for mass deletions or ransomware events (not available on Basic).
- If nothing is recoverable, provide Support with event URLs so they can attempt a backend restore.
Official Help Center References
