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Many files not in cloud after removing & deleting client from former company's laptop

Hi this may be a popular question...

I was using the free version of Dropbox to back up content from a few years back...work related stuff from a long-ago job. Nothing proprietary, but important to me. My assumption is that this is a common problem and Dropbox has them backed up somewhere unless I inadvertently deleted them permanently.

How can I determine if it's possible to get back the files that were lost?

Sequence of events & unsuccessful strategies so far:

9 weeks ago, I left my last job and deleted all (everything) of the content from the Dropbox client from my work computer and then uninstalled the client. I ensured that all files were still in the cloud version of Dropbox before and after this procedure. 2 weeks ago, I installed the Dropbox client on my new computer and now hundreds (but not all) of my files are missing!

I looked at "Recent Activity" in the cloud version of my account and can see a record of where I apparently deleted these files on July 26th...I did many screen captures of the deleted items listed in the activity log (see screengrab below).

Using "Deleted Files" for any or all folders w missing content has resulted in nothing; there are no deleted files listed in the folder in general, regardless of the locations or dates selected.

Using "Rewind" also does not work because the folders cannot be rewound to July 26th, for whatever reason. I even started a trial of Dropbox Pro in order to see if I have the capability of rewinding my account to contain everything that was there on July 25th...that would be awesome! It did not work.

Thanks in advance!

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Accepted answers

Jay

From what you've described, it isn't possible that the files were on the Dropbox site since there is no recent deletion or event history to show that the files were there.

If you're not seeing the missing files on the deleted files page, then there's a few possibilities as to why this might be the case:

The files are on another Dropbox account
They were on a shared folder you don't have access to any more
The files were deleted outside of the 30 day period, and not two weeks ago
The files were permanently deleted

All comments

Mark

Hi @TobyBaz

Unfortunately as they were deleted over 30 days ago its not possible to recover via Dropbox - even upgrading wont work as recovery windows are not retroactive.

The only hope is seeing if the files are still on the old device at all.

TobyBaz

If these files were deleted and unrecoverable, then how were they still present on the cloud instance until 2 weeks ago?

I verified that the files were still present in the cloud before installing the desktop client on my new computer 2 weeks ago

Mark

They cannot be on the cloud if that page shows they are deleted unless they were in a second location and so the ones you listed were deleted elsewhere.

TobyBaz

ok...the work computer was offline (disconnected from the internet) when I removed the client and deleted all local content from it

the files were still in the cloud (same account, not a 2nd location) until 2 weeks ago...why isn't there a more recent record of their removal?

if I had a recent record of having these files being deleted, I could simply recover the deleted files

why can we not revert the cloud instance back to what it contained 2 weeks ago?

Jay

Hi @TobyBaz, according to the screenshot, the last copy of those files would've been deleted over 30 days, which means it wouldn't be possible to recover the files. 2 weeks ago would still be outside of the 30 day recovery period.

Being able to see the recent activity in the Dropbox desktop application doesn't mean that it's possible to recover the deleted files.

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful on this matter.

TobyBaz

Thanks Jay, I understand what you’re saying about the deletion of the files from the desktop PC. I believe that is the event referenced in the a teen captured Activity log.

Separately, how is it that these files were still in the cloud (using the same account, not a 2nd location) until 2 weeks ago?

They were in the cloud 2 weeks ago, so why isn't there a more recent record of their removal?

Jay

From what you've described, it isn't possible that the files were on the Dropbox site since there is no recent deletion or event history to show that the files were there.

If you're not seeing the missing files on the deleted files page, then there's a few possibilities as to why this might be the case:

The files are on another Dropbox account
They were on a shared folder you don't have access to any more
The files were deleted outside of the 30 day period, and not two weeks ago
The files were permanently deleted

TobyBaz

I'm leaning towards the 4th option ("files were permanently deleted") because this is the last reference to a delete (14 days ago) and there is nothing in the "Deleted Files" list for the related subfolders.

Does this help you understand what may have happened? Any further thoughts?

20220913 - dropbox lost files screen grab.png

Jay

It's only possible to permanently delete files from the site directly. The screenshot doesn't provide any new insight into how the files were deleted or why they can't be recovered.

AnitaNixon

This might be a common query...

How can I find out if it's feasible to recover the lost files?

Sequence of events and thus far ineffective tactics:

I removed everything (all) of the Dropbox client's content from my work computer nine weeks ago when I left my previous position, and I then uninstalled the app. Before and after this, I made sure that all files remained in the Dropbox cloud version.

Jay

Hi @AnitaNixon, on the free plan, files can be recovered 30 days after their deletion from the site. If an account is deleted instead, then the files are deleted permanently.

When you say the files remained on the cloud, are they still visible when you login to the site?

TobyBaz

Same exact thing happened to my files

When we deleted files from the local client on the work computer, the client synched with the cloud backup and deleted some (but oddly, not all) of the files. After that sync, your files will be “permanently” deleted and not listed in the deleted folder in the cloud interface.

Absolutely weird, and irreversible sadly, but only because Dropbox has zero appetite to dedicate customer service minutes to recover deleted data for free version users.

Hannah

Hey @TobyBaz, files can only be permanently deleted from Dropbox, if someone manually does that, using our website.

If you delete files from a computer that is linked to a Dropbox account, the files will indeed get deleted, but will still be recoverable.

If it's been less than 30 days since the deletion, you should be able to locate and recover them from your deleted files page.

TobyBaz

Thanks Hannah, but that was not my experience

Rebel1

I was backing up documents from a few years ago—work-related materials from a long-ago job—using Dropbox's free version. Nothing confidential, but it is significant to me. Unless I unintentionally deleted them permanently, I assume Dropbox has a backup copy of them if this is a common issue. I was backing up documents from a few years ago—work-related materials from a long-ago job—using Dropbox's free version. Nothing confidential, but it is significant to me. Unless I unintentionally deleted them permanently, I assume Dropbox has a backup copy of them if this is a common issue.

Jay

Hi @Rebel1, if the files are deleted from your account, you'd have 30 days to recover them, or longer depending on your current subscription.

If you have any further queries, feel free to message back.