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Excel file accidentally deleted and now I can’t recover it

Good afternoon,

On May 18th, I was editing an Excel file and, for reasons I don’t quite understand, the folder’s activity log shows that the file was deleted at the exact same time it was last edited (see attached screenshot).

Today, when I went to update the file again, I was unpleasantly surprised to find that it’s no longer in the folder or on any of my devices. I also can’t recover it from the deleted files, and I really need that file back.

I’m using a Dropbox Basic account and I need help recovering the file. If Dropbox has a backup copy stored on its servers or if there's any additional service that could help retrieve it, I’d be willing to upgrade or pay for it—I just really need to recover the file. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Best regards,

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Triflux

Hi Hannah!

Santiago, a person from the Dropbox team, ib tje spanish community reached to le also. He scalated the issue to the recovery team and they have been able to restore the file!!!

I have recovered it and all the data and the problem is solved!!

Regards!

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Rich

Triflux wrote:
On May 18th, I was editing an Excel file and ... the folder’s activity log shows that the file was deleted at the exact same time it was last edited ... I need help recovering the file.

It's not possible to recover a file that was deleted more than 30 days ago. Upgrading to a different plan wouldn't work either, as the longer recover period would only apply to files deleted from that point forward.

Unfortunately, as it's beyond 30 days, there's no way to recover the file.

Triflux

Hi Rich!

Thanks for your reply. I get what you expose and I was thinking that, if it is more than 30 days it would be impossible to recover.

BUt I thought in the possibility that Dropbox had their own backup of their servers, much longer than our ones and maybe they could recover it. But it seems impossible to contact them, even by email.

I don´t know how more I can do.

It would be a way of searching in my own Hard disk drive where I have installed the desktoop app of dropbox where the files were stored? Maybe with a recovery program or something?

I am really desperate to recover it

Thank you!

Mark

Triflux wrote:
BUt I thought in the possibility that Dropbox had their own backup of their servers, much longer than our ones and maybe they could recover it.

They do have backups - those backups last 30 days after which they arent recoverable. Even a day or so over is not recoverable. Think of it from the legal side for a moment, they tell everybody the files are removed and if they then didnt thats a huge breach of trust etc.

Triflux wrote:
Maybe with a recovery program or something?

Its always possible to try, however realistically if you've been using your hard drive since you deleted it chances are it wouldnt be recoverable now.

Best thing to do is have a google search for options

Triflux wrote:
I am really desperate to recover it

Any connected devices that havent sync'd the deleted item?

In your recycle / trash can on your local device?

Triflux

They do have backups - those backups last 30 days after which they arent recoverable. Even a day or so over is not recoverable. Think of it from the legal side for a moment, they tell everybody the files are removed and if they then didnt thats a huge breach of trust etc.

Hi Mark! thanks for your reply. Yes, from that point of view, it´s correct they delete it just in time qhen the 30 days expires. It has it legal side as you said.

Its always possible to try, however realistically if you've been using your hard drive since you deleted it chances are it wouldnt be recoverable now.
Best thing to do is have a google search for options

I´ve been trying but with not much success. It is a mess because I didn´t know how the file ended up deleted, but it is what it is...

Any connected devices that havent sync'd the deleted item?
In your recycle / trash can on your local device?

I had an old smartphone I changed a month and a half ago. I´va started it with no internet connection and the file was there. But as it is the smartphone app, I couldn´t copy the file or transfer it or browse into the internal files of the app to search for it. I´ve tried copying it with other name or changing the name, but just in the moment i´ve given it access to internet to complete the action, the file disappeared

I will try other things but it is a great dissaster to lose that file (A lesson for the future, more backups copies...)

Mark

Triflux wrote:
But as it is the smartphone app, I couldn´t copy the file or transfer it or browse into the internal files of the app to search for it

Dropbox mobile apps actually only show the list of file names and dont actually store anything on the device (unless you mark as a favourite file) so sadly that would be expected

Hannah

Hi there, @Triflux, and welcome to our Community!

Like Mark and Rich explained, when deletions happen more than 30 days ago, the files are non-recoverable.

To see if there's something else that our team can do, though, I sent you an email, so we can investigate internally.

Just get back to me when you have a chance.

Triflux

Hi Hannah!

Santiago, a person from the Dropbox team, ib tje spanish community reached to le also. He scalated the issue to the recovery team and they have been able to restore the file!!!

I have recovered it and all the data and the problem is solved!!

Regards!

Megan

Hey @Triflux!

Awesome news! 😇 If you need anything else, don't hesitate to give us a shout!

Theresa

Hi @Triflux and welcome to the Dropbox Community 🤗.

I’m really glad to hear you were able to recover your Excel file in the end 🙌. That must have been a huge relief! Thanks so much for circling back to share the outcome – updates like yours can be incredibly reassuring and helpful for others in the same boat.

I’m Theresa 👩‍💻, one of the Community Managers here, usually jumping into threads or sparking new conversations across the forum.

Just curious – do you have a favourite Dropbox feature, or maybe a tip you’ve picked up along the way? We love hearing how folks use Dropbox in their day-to-day and might even share your insight with our team!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

T😸 (Dropbox Community Manager)