How to delete your Dropbox account
Dropbox is a cloud file-storage and sync service with around 700 million registered users. Dropbox stores every file you uploaded, the full version history of those files (Dropbox keeps deleted-file history for 30 days on free, 180 days on Plus/Family, and up to 10 years on Business), the metadata of every device that synced your account, every shared link you created, and the names/emails of everyone you shared a file or folder with.
Delete your Dropbox account, step by step
- 1Sign in to dropbox.com
- 2Click your avatar (top-right) > 'Settings'
- 3Open the 'General' tab
- 4Scroll to the bottom and click 'Delete account'
- 5Enter your password
- 6Pick a reason and click 'Permanently delete'
- 7Account is disabled immediately; full data purge happens after a 60-day grace period
What actually happens when you delete
Gets removed
- ✓Your account profile, email, name, and login
- ✓All files in your Dropbox folder and the version history
- ✓Shared links you created (links return 404)
- ✓Device pairings and Dropbox app sessions
- ✓Paper documents, Spaces, and HelloSign / Sign documents tied to your account
Stays behind
- ✗Files in shared folders remain with the OTHER members who joined those folders
- ✗Files you previously sent to others' Dropbox via Transfer or shared link copies
- ✗Records Dropbox retains for billing, fraud prevention, and legal compliance
- ✗Backups Dropbox keeps for technical recovery (up to a few months after deletion)
- ✗Comments and activity you left in other people's shared folders
Before you delete
Cancel any Dropbox Plus, Family, Professional, or Business subscription FIRST so you don't get billed for the next cycle. Move files you want to keep to local storage BEFORE deleting — once the 60-day window closes, deleted-file recovery is impossible. Dropbox Business owners cannot delete a team-owned account this way; the team admin must do it through the Admin Console. If you have shared folders, members keep their copies — your shares are only removed from your side.
Download your data from Dropbox first
Most platforms only honor a data-export request while the account is still active. Do this before you delete.
- 1To download files: open dropbox.com, select your root folder, and choose 'Download' (Dropbox builds a ZIP for small libraries) — for large libraries use the desktop client and let it sync everything locally
- 2For account metadata (login history, sharing activity), file a privacy request via help.dropbox.com
- 3Dropbox responds within 30 days with a downloadable archive
Want to take a break instead? Deactivate
Deactivation hides your profile without permanently destroying it. Logging back in restores everything.
- 1Dropbox doesn't have a separate deactivation. To stop using it without deletion: sign out of every device, cancel the subscription, and let the account sit idle. Files remain accessible whenever you log back in.
If deletion fails — or you live in the EU, UK, or California
You have a legal right to request erasure of your personal data under GDPR (EU/UK) and CCPA (California). Use these official channels if the self-service flow doesn't work.
Dropbox deletion FAQs
Will my Dropbox files be deleted immediately when I close my account?+
Your account is disabled instantly but files are held for 60 days as a safety buffer in case you change your mind. After day 60 the data is permanently purged, including from Dropbox's deletion-history. Move anything you want to keep BEFORE you start the deletion.
What happens to shared folders if I delete Dropbox?+
You're removed as a member of every shared folder. Files in those folders stay with the remaining members because their copies are independent. If you OWNED a shared folder, ownership transfers to the next eligible member (or the folder is removed if no one else is in it).
Will deleting Dropbox cancel my Dropbox Plus or Family subscription?+
Active subscriptions billed by Dropbox are cancelled and you may get a prorated refund. If you subscribed through Apple, Google Play, or via a partner (some carriers offer Dropbox), cancel through THAT billing channel first or you'll keep being charged.
Can I close a Dropbox Business team account this way?+
No. Individual team members can leave but the team itself must be deleted by an admin through the Admin Console > Settings > 'Delete team'. Make sure another admin has been transferred billing ownership first if you're the only admin.
Will Dropbox keep my files if I have linked services like Microsoft 365 or Google Calendar?+
Linked third-party app integrations are revoked when the account is deleted. Files created through those integrations and stored in Dropbox are deleted with the account. Files in your Microsoft or Google accounts are unaffected — they live there separately.
How do I recover a Dropbox account I just deleted by accident?+
Within the 60-day grace window, contact Dropbox support and provide proof of identity. They can usually reverse the deletion. After 60 days, recovery is impossible and even Dropbox staff cannot restore the data.
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