I have a "ghost" folder which keeps re-appearing no matter how many times it is deleted. Any clues?
Hey, is the folder you are trying to delete empty or does it contain any files? Usually this happens because a piece of software on a computer that the folder is shared on is trying to access it, and is recreating it when someone else deletes it.If there is a file in there, looking at the 'previous versions' will tell you which machine the culprit is. If you don't have a file in there, add a test one, delete the folder again and when it reappears, you'll be able to solve the mystery! Deleting the folder on the rogue machine will fix it permanently.
I think it's actually @Ziaul H.1 's answer:
https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Installation-and-desktop-app/Deleted-folders-keep-reappearing/m-p/20323#M4750
I've tried many of the suggestions posted before, nothing worked. But this one did. Thank you.
(so I added an empty notepad file to the folder and then could simply delete it without reappearing)
Hey @SaraAmies, welcome to our community! Can you tell me where/how you’re deleting your files? Let me know and we’ll go from there.
Thanks!
It doesn't work!
Nope. This didn't work either.
Tried this too. It allowed me to delete the original but then when I wanted to delete the empty copy I just made it kept reappearing like the old one did.
How do you "unselect it for sync"?
I had this problem for 6 months. I had 2 Dropbox logins for the same business and I logged out as one and logged in on the other via the web version, not the desktop one. I discovered that my laptop hadn't synced for 6 months on that email login and once I left it to sort itself out, the problem finally rectified. Try to login in on every device you have via the web version and allow them all time to sync completely, then delete the files if they turn up anywhere. Sorry, not a very techo reply I know but that's what finally worked for me!
Have you tried TSP's suggestion above:
"For others – this seems to work:
- Go to Dropbox Bad Files Check
- Manually rename all reported files on the Dropbox website
- Check again if all errors have been corrected
This is a tedious process when you have thousands of bad files. So prepare for hours of manual renaming "
This is what I had to undertake in full. It works online, not locally. Then I was able to delete folder and get rid of them.
Good luck with sorting this.
Renaming the folder and then deleting it worked for me. I did this on the web/online.
I had this issue show up today and what ultimately solved it for me was unselecting the problematic folder under Preferences/Sync/Selective Sync and then once that was done on all machines, I logged into the browser version of Dropbox and deleted the offending folder. Folder no longer tries to reappear!
Hi all,
I know that many threads on this issue exist in the forum, but I couldn't find anyone that helped in my case, or the issues are slightly different. Before contacting support directly I thought that it might be good to describe it here in the forum (and hopefully someone can help me ).
I have in my dropbox a couple of PDF files in the main Dropbox folder and a subfolder (which has also one subfolder with ca. a hundred PDF files) that always keep reappearing after I deleted them, usually within half an hour (sometimes it happens instantly). They are not shared. I got this issue only very recently, and some time after I upgraded to Dropbox Plus (last month). Before, I had Dropbox Basic and I really never had this issue (which makes it even more frustrating).
I have tried everything that I could possibly imagine. I unlinked all of my devices, reinstalled Dropbox, I reverted to an older version of the files, I put them on the hard drive and back again in Dropbox, I (permanently) deleted them in the browser...nothing helps. When I rename them, they are still added with the original name (the renamed copies stay - I probably could multiply them infinitely like that).
These files are not old files from two years ago (saw some people in the forum having this issue). The issue appeared when I put these files and folders originally at the same place where they keep reappering now with their original name. Last week, I moved them to another folder and renamed them, but they stayed in my Dropbox. So I have these files/folders with different names and directory, but their "original" versions keep reappearing at their "original" place.
It's a bit like these "original" files are stuck in the cloud servers forever, and they are always put back like that in my own Dropbox. I don't know if there was an issue with the syncing, or some other technical problem. It can also be something I did wrong, though I don't really know what. As I said, never had these issues before and use Dropbox a lot, on at least three devices regularly (Mac and Windows). No device has been added shortly before or since I have this issue.
I hope that I could describe my problem with as many details as possible, and hopefully as clear as possible.
Thank you very much in advance for your help!
@Gonoza wrote:Hi all, I have in my dropbox a couple of PDF files in the main Dropbox folder and a subfolder (which has also one subfolder with ca. a hundred PDF files) that always keep reappearing after I deleted them, usually within half an hour (sometimes it happens instantly). They are not shared. Thank you very much in advance for your help!
@Gonoza wrote:
I have in my dropbox a couple of PDF files in the main Dropbox folder and a subfolder (which has also one subfolder with ca. a hundred PDF files) that always keep reappearing after I deleted them, usually within half an hour (sometimes it happens instantly). They are not shared.
Hello, @Gonoza...
Just to be 100% certain and so that we can absolutely alleviate this as a possible problem, please look here when logged-in to the web interface. Are there any shared collaborative folders appearing in that area?
If there is then that's probably why those files reappear after deletion.
If not, then we can move forward to find a different solution.HELP CENTER ARTICLES:
Hi @310EI
Yes indeed, there are shared folders (the most recent one was added 2 months ago). Though the files that keep reappearing in my case are not related to these shared folders. Do you think that they could still cause this issue?
This is what you do to fix this. Go to your settings, security, security checkup, move through the questions to the devices listed. Logout of all devices (computers, smartphones). Then go to a browser, access your dropbox account, delete folders. They are finally gone and do not pop back in a few seconds. If any computer is logged into dropbox you cannot delete a folder.
Just to add to Poussard's answer this is certainly one of the best ways of doing it because, not as said with the logging in and deleting (as you can), but, because one of the linked Dropbox devices has a corrupt database which is what is causing the folder to be restored. Unfortunately its almost impossible to work out which one it is so this is the best way of doing it,
[This thread is now closed. If you have a similar or new question, you can ask here]
@Gonoza wrote:Hi @310EIYes indeed, there are shared folders (the most recent one was added 2 months ago). Though the files that keep reappearing in my case are not related to these shared folders. Do you think that they could still cause this issue?
Thank you for double-checking your shared folders :nerd:
Well, if you're sure that the folder/files that keep reappearing are not in those shared folders, then my answer is no.
Are you logged-in to any other devices (eg: tablet, phone, etc.) using the same Dropbox credentials (email and password)? If you're not sure, you can look here while logged-in to Dropbox's web interface. Once in your security area, scroll downward to the DEVICES section.
If you have other devices listed there that you forgot about, then it's possible those reappearing files are coming from that source. If not, then we can at least alleviate that as a possibility.
Let us know when you have time.HELP CENTER ARTICLES:
Thank you @310EI for your reply! I found the solution to my problem, but it was very specific to my case.
I had already unlinked all the devices once, and it didn't work. However, after your reply, I tried it a second time (still didn't solve the issue), but while doing it I also remembered that I had a Dropbox app running on my own cloud at home that I own physically, which allowed it to backup the content of the Dropbox folder in my "private" cloud and also keep this backup synched. My cloud did not appear in the list of linked devices.
It did not delete the files in question and somehow did not notice that I deleted them in Dropbox, so there was an issue with the synchronisation and backup process. Uninstalled the app on my cloud, then deleted the reappearing files in Dropbox - and haven't appeared since
So problem solved! And many thanks for your help and efforts!
@Gonoza wrote:Thank you @310EI for your reply! I found the solution to my problem, but it was very specific to my case. I had already unlinked all the devices once, and it didn't work. However, after your reply, I tried it a second time (still didn't solve the issue), but while doing it I also remembered that I had a Dropbox app running on my own cloud at home that I own physically, which allowed it to backup the content of the Dropbox folder in my "private" cloud and also keep this backup synched. My cloud did not appear in the list of linked devices. It did not delete the files in question and somehow did not notice that I deleted them in Dropbox, so there was an issue with the synchronisation and backup process. Uninstalled the app on my cloud, then deleted the reappearing files in Dropbox - and haven't appeared since So problem solved! And many thanks for your help and efforts!
You're welcome. That's super.
Hmmm, well... with my "Crystal Ball" in the repair shop this weekend... I can safely say that I would not have come up with that as a solution :nerd:. However, I'm glad that I could help you to ignite the light bulb in your mind to remember the "other device"... your private cloud :white_check_mark:
That's fantastic news that you solved the mystery behind the reappearing folder/files. No worries, you're very welcome.
Thank you for taking the time to explain what you did to solve your particular problem.
I had this problem and putting a file in the folder did not resolve it, it immediately re-created the folder after I deleted it from the Finder (Mac 10.13.3). What did work was to choose Pause Syncing from the Dropbox menu bar widget, delete the file in Finder, then create a new folder with the same name (this is what I was trying to do in the first place). After resuming syncing, it left it alone.
That is my same issue. I dont have it installed anywhere else. Only use it from the browser, and it still wont let me permanetly delete them. I should not have to wait 30 days or 1 year for a file to be deleted. I pay for my account and If i am sure I want to delete a file then please delete them.
Hey @RoseCarol, welcome to our community!
Can you post a screenshot of the folder showing its location, and then another when you try to permanently delete it? Please make sure to omit any personal or private info. If you’re more comfortable doing this over email, I’ll be happy to follow up with you.
Let me know.
Same problem here:
Moved a folder from Dropbox and noticed that it reappeared. I have a Drobpox on Windows 10, synced to another Dropbox on Windows 10. An empty folder reappears after being deleted.
Right clicked on the folder, >Drobpox > View On Dropbox.com
Saw that the folder online has 3 files which surprise: contains 3 files which I just deleted.
Deleted the files online, then the folder was successfully deleted on a WIndows 10 computer and didn't reappear.
Weird, why would the files be deleted from a local but not Cloud folder?
Even more disturbing is that I see plenty of similar complaints for many years on this site and the answers are unsatisfactory. There is something weird going on an no one is trying to fix it.
Russell R.1 - Do you really think that we are that stupid?????? we have deleted via the browser, we have unsynced and resynced our devices, we have added a file then tried to delete the folder only for an empty folder to come back, we have done all this in the browser on every machine (across 3 continents!) and still the sub folders reappear. They are not the root shared folder and as the admin of this shared folder I cannot delete and empty the folder (with empty sub folders) on any device or from the browser. I have systematically gone through all the solution over the nine pages of this thread and have found no workable solution. The only thing that save my sanity is that I have selectively unsynced the offending folder from my own devices......but all that does is hide the offender from my sight - it does not solve the problem! Dropbox FFS solve this would you.
Hey @GuyM1, welcome to the Dropbox Forum & thanks for posting us in regards to the issue you’ve experienced with your deleted folders re-appearing.
You may keep in mind that I’ve moved your comments from the previous discussion, as this started back to 2015 & we like to keep up with the most recent interactions. In case you’d like to refer back to it, you may have a look here.
From this point on, let me briefly wrap-up the behavior you’ve experienced, so as to take it from where you’ve left off from the troubleshooting you’ve done on your own.
To my understanding, you’re working on a shared folder & when you’re deleting it from the website (or across your devices perchance?) this still appears on other users’ accounts. You may keep in mind that this is the intended behavior, since deleting a shared folder causes it to move to an inactive state for the person who deleted it only, in order to not affect other users who may still want to use the folder. If you wish to remove a shared folder for all users, the owner of the folder needs to ‘Unshare' the folder.
Please let me know in your next reply whether this clarifies the behavior you’ve been encountering or you’re experiencing a different issue, in order to follow-up with you as closely as possible. Any additional detail (eg. screenshots indicating the discrepancy) you could include would be extremely helpful in sending you the most relevant next steps.
Once again, thanks for posting us here for assistance & I’ll be awaiting your next reply. Happy Monday!
Hey @GuyM1, hope you're doing great!
Just checking in with you to see if you had the time to check @Jane's steps provided.
Thanks in advance for your reply!
Hi Jane and Norah, Sorry for the delay but I was away for a few days. Many thanks for your responses but the issue is still not resolved. To clarify the problem: I am the owner of a shared folder inside which are three main folders (each with a very large number of sub folders). I wish to delete one of the folders which was a drag and drop error by a user at some point. There are 5 layers of sub folders in this folder but no files in any of these sub folders. The 9 sharers have all attempted to remove the folder from our devices and I have repeatedly attempted to delete from the website as the administrator, yet it still reappears. I do not want to unshare the top level if at all possible but to merely delete this one folder and it's subs. I can see no way of unsharing this lower level (second tier) folder - if there is please put me out of my extended misery!
Hey @GuyM1,
Sorry to hear that the issue is not resolved.
Let’s try one more thing together. Remove the folder in question from your computer, then see if the folder reappears. If the issue persists this means it may be triggered by a third party application, local network sharing or folder redirection preferences setup in the problematic folders within your Dropbox. This usually happens if other people in the local network could be accessing the same data.
In order to thoroughly investigate with all our tools available you can follow up via email here.
Once you send us a ticket, please include the ID here and I will make sure that a colleague gets on it as soon as possible.
Thanks for your patience working through this with me!
