I need help recovering a folder deleted in January 2026

Question

Hi, I accidentally deleted an entire folder from my Dropbox Basic account in January 2026. The folder was stored only in Dropbox, and I don't have a local copy or backup.

I checked Deleted files and the Restorations page, but I still can't recover the folder I need.

Is there any way to recover it, or can someone advise me on whether Dropbox Support can help?

Thank you.

Megan · Answer

Hi @Pannarut!

I completely understand how heartbreaking it is to lose such precious photos and videos, especially without another copy.

I truly appreciate your willingness to upgrade your plan or explore every possible avenue to bring them back. However, I want to be completely honest with you: once files move past our standard recovery window, they are permanently removed from our servers. Because of this, upgrading to a paid plan unfortunately isn't retroactive and cannot retrieve data that has already been permanently deleted.

I am so sorry I don't have better news, and I truly wish there was more we could do.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Pannarut · Answer

Hi Megan, thank you for your reply. I’d like to clarify that I deleted my “Tales” folder in January 2026, and it has never been shared with anyone. The photos and videos were stored only in my Dropbox, and unfortunately, I don’t have another copy.

I understand that the folder is outside the 30-day recovery window. I previously restored the folder myself, but it was later deleted again. I’m wondering if there is any possibility of recovering it from that previous restoration or if any copy of the files might still exist on Dropbox’s side.

These files are very important to me, and I’m willing to purchase a paid plan if it would genuinely make recovery possible. I understand there may be no guarantee, but before I give up completely, I would really appreciate knowing if there is any other option available.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

Megan · Answer

Hey there, @Pannarut, let's jump right into this!

I'm so sorry to hear about your lost files. I completely understand how stressful this situation can be. However, since the items were deleted back in January, they fall well outside our standard 30-day recovery window. Because of this, our support team is unfortunately no longer able to recover them for you.

If you're referring to a shared folder, it might also be worth checking my reply here.

Let me know if I can be of further assistance!