Almost all files from Dropbox deleted automatically, how do I restore them?

Hi @Tutaalin, let's jump right into this!

Since the files aren't in the deleted files page, can you check your events page?

The Events page at www.dropbox.com/events gives you an overview of all activity in your account including files events (adds/edits/deletes), as well as adding or removing shared folders.

You should be able to click on the blue hyperlink of the deletion, and restore them. Let me know the results. Thanks!

All comments

Hi @Tutaalin, let's jump right into this!

Since the files aren't in the deleted files page, can you check your events page?

The Events page at www.dropbox.com/events gives you an overview of all activity in your account including files events (adds/edits/deletes), as well as adding or removing shared folders.

You should be able to click on the blue hyperlink of the deletion, and restore them. Let me know the results. Thanks!

Tutaalin

thank you

Cands

I have had the same issue. I've looked at events and it's not showing as deleted and I definitely did not delete anything the box is just empty save for the one document I have looked at recently

Hi @Cands, if you're not seeing the missing files on the events or 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 in a shared folder you don't have access to any more
The files were deleted outside of the 30 day period
The files were permanently deleted

Let me know if any of the above could be the case for your files.

https://help.dropbox.com/delete-restore/delete-files

all of the files in one of my folders are missing. I checked the deleted files, searched the file names in the dropbox (might have been accidentally moved) still cannot find them and checked the log like you suggested. there were no deletion, but the files I added yesterday was in the log. when I opened the files it says "error opening the file".

you also said the reason we might not find is because it was permanently deleted. How do you permanently delete a file?

Mark

@LK10 wrote:
you also said the reason we might not find is because it was permanently deleted. How do you permanently delete a file?

Once a file is deleted click on 'show deleted items' and THEN delete them a second time.

If this happens they do not show up in events lists etc. and they are not recoverable.

Once a file is deleted click on 'show deleted items' and THEN delete them a second time.

If this happens they do not show up in events lists etc. and they are not recoverable.

if I deleted it a 2nd time will it appear in the event list? The folder I mentions contains 100 to 150 jpg files.

Hi @LK10, I hope you're doing well!

Is there a chance that you permanently deleted the content, cause then you wouldn't see it at the events page as Mark mentioned.

When was the last time you were able to see this folder online?

Keep me posted!

Cands

ALL RESOLVED. Thank you

The files where there on the 27th of July. and went missing the next day July 29.

Even the first deletion of the files would not appear in event log if the files were permanently deleted?

I would have to click it twice to permanently delete the files, which I'm sure I didn't do it.

So what is the use of paying customer, if I can't retrieve the files?

I keep a copy on the dropbox on my computer

When you mean delete permanently for the second time, do you mean delete it from the recycle bin on the computer or in the deleted files in the dropbox online? or both?

Hannah

Hey @LK10, permanent deletions from Dropbox can only happen if the files are permanently deleted on dropbox.com.

Were you able to access these files online before?

Were they files in a shared or non-shared folder?

I also keep the files locally on my computer here at home. So yes I was still able to access them July 27, 2023. and there was a event log on I think july 27, that I did add a file to that folder.

This folder is shared locally in the local network at the office too, so people there can add or access them locally. but they do not have access to the online dropbox. so even if the files were deleted locally, I should still be able to retrieve online.

Hey @LK10, permanent deletions from Dropbox can only happen if the files are permanently deleted on dropbox.com.

Were you able to access these files online before?

Were they files in a shared or non-shared folder?

Hi @LK10, you mentioned that people could only access the files through the device locally, and not online.

Was that because you didn't share the content with them or because the content hadn't been synced? I'm asking, because if the files were there locally, but you were not able to locate them online, or through the Events page; then they might not have synced to Dropbox.

In that case, you wouldn't be able to restore them, since they would have never synced with us.

Other than that one file that you saw in your Events on July 27, did you see any of the other files being added to that folder if you visit the page?

I share by dropbox on my computer at the office, and other people can access the dropbox via local network. so in that sense I am sharing my dropbox with them. So anything they add or edit will change my Dropbox online.

Like just now I added a picture via dropbox online and it appeared locally on my computer at home and at the office.

likewise, I added files locally at home, and it sync on my computer at the office, and dropbox online.

but in the office computer, I did not log on the dropbox online. so supposedly they should have no way of deleting it permanently.

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Hi @LK10, you mentioned that people could only access the files through the device locally, and not online.

In that case, you wouldn't be able to restore them, since they would have never synced with us.

Other than that one file that you saw in your Events on July 27, did you see any of the other files being added to that folder if you visit the page?

Hi @LK10, if the Dropbox folder is being shared on the network, this would mean that the Dropbox desktop application is running.

With that you can login to the Dropbox site without any login credentials by clicking on the globe icon, if anyone has access to that computer.

AK - AMJ

How did you resolve this issue? The same thing happened to me. files are deleted from folders, and I cannot find them in the deleted folder or the events.

Please help.

lk111

Maybe that is how my files got deleted.

this is one of the issue I don't like about dropbox. It is automatically logged in to the online dropbox. even if i logged it off. but if you open the dropbox link and click the website. anyone with access to the computer can go online and look at other files I did not share locally and make permanent revisions to my files.

There should be a log in process before they can go the dropbox online.

I hope you can make changes regarding this matter to make dropbox more secure, so people unintentionally or intentionally cannot make permanent changes to my dropbox which I cannot recover.

Hi @LK10, if the Dropbox folder is being shared on the network, this would mean that the Dropbox desktop application is running.

With that you can login to the Dropbox site without any login credentials by clicking on the globe icon, if anyone has access to that computer.

Forwardair

I have a similar issue - about 3 hours ago received an alert saying all folders in the Team Folder in our Business Dropbox account were mass deleted. Am unable to see them in the deleted folder or anywhere. Please assist to recover. Unfortunately seems there is no support from Dropbox.

Forwardair

We got an alert for Mass Deletion from our Team Folder in our Business DropBox account. No one from our office deleted the files and we can see the event in the events log but no link to restore it. Please help.

Hi @Forwardair, are they shared folders that were deleted? Are they visible on the the shared folders page?

Have you already been in contact with the support team, as you mentioned you're on a Business plan?

Forwardair

I am unable to send an email as it is asking me for a link and the events log does not have a link to the event where all the files got deleted. I have a screenshot of the event log. Mass deletion alert.jpg event log.jpg

It seems you were removed from the folder as a member, given the message in the activity log.

If you're the admin of a Dropbox Business team on the Advanced plan, you can sign in as that user and see if they still have the folder on their account, and re-invite yourself to the folder.

If not, you can contact that user directly via your own methods to re-invite you again.

as per @Forwardair they received email of the deletion and there was a event log about it

why did I not received any email of deletion of my files?

and why is the deletion not in my event log?

and are you going to do anything about the issue, that they should log in again with password to be able to access the online files for better security measures?

thank you