Can I recover my files after deleting my account?

During the 30-day grace period, you can recover your account and all files. After this period, all data is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered by you or Dropbox support.

What happens to files I've shared with others?

Shared links will stop working immediately. If you're the owner of shared folders, collaborators will lose access. If someone else owns the folder, they retain access but your contributions remain.

Will I get a refund for my unused subscription?

Dropbox does not provide prorated refunds when you delete your account or cancel your subscription. You can continue using paid features until the end of your current billing cycle.

Can I reuse my email address for a new Dropbox account?

After the 30-day grace period expires and your account is fully deleted, your email address becomes available for registration with a new Dropbox account.

What happens to Dropbox Paper documents?

All Paper documents you own will be permanently deleted. For documents you've collaborated on but don't own, the owner retains access but your editing history is removed.

Will Dropbox delete my files from connected devices?

If you have Dropbox installed on your computer with sync enabled, files in the Dropbox folder will be deleted from your local device when the account is deleted. Back up files before deletion.

What data does Dropbox keep after account deletion?

For legal and compliance purposes, Dropbox may retain some metadata and logs for up to 90 days. Financial transaction records may be kept longer for tax compliance.

How to Delete Your Dropbox Account - Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

Written & Verified By

Delete.Directory Content Team

Our team of privacy advocates and digital rights experts has helped over 100,000 users reclaim control of their online presence. We test every deletion process to ensure accuracy.

This guide helps you permanently delete your Dropbox account. We believe in digital autonomy: your right to leave any platform should be as easy as joining it. Follow these verified steps to ensure complete account deletion.

How We Verified This Guide

Methodology: Hands-on testing with live accounts

Quick Information

Time Required

5 minutes

Difficulty

easy

Steps

5 steps

Official Resources

Official Dropbox Help Center - Delete Account

Official deletion guide from Dropbox

Additional Resources

[1]

Dropbox Privacy Policy

Official privacy policy explaining data deletion and retention practices

[2]

Dropbox Data Retention Information

Details about how long Dropbox retains user data after account deletion

[3]

Dropbox Terms of Service

Legal terms regarding account closure and data ownership

Step-by-Step Guide

Download All Your Files

Before deletion, go to dropbox.com, sign in, and download all files you want to keep. You can download individual files or use the 'Download' option for entire folders. For large amounts of data, consider using the Dropbox desktop app for easier bulk downloads.

Tips

•Use the Dropbox desktop app for faster bulk downloads
•Check shared folders - you may lose access to files shared by others
•Download your camera uploads and screenshots folders

Warnings

•All files will be permanently deleted and cannot be recovered after account deletion

Cancel Any Paid Subscriptions

If you have a Dropbox Plus, Family, Professional, or Business plan, navigate to Settings > Plans and cancel your subscription. Downgrade to the free Basic plan or cancel completely to avoid future charges.

Tips

•You can continue using paid features until the end of your billing cycle
•You won't receive refunds for unused subscription time
•Export billing history for your records

Revoke Connected Apps and Devices

Go to Settings > Security > Connected apps and revoke access for all third-party applications. Also remove all linked devices from Settings > Security > Devices to prevent any syncing issues.

Tips

•This prevents apps from trying to access your Dropbox after deletion
•Uninstall the Dropbox app from your devices before deletion

Delete Your Account

Navigate to Settings > General > Delete account. Click 'Delete account' and follow the prompts. You'll need to confirm your password and may need to complete a CAPTCHA verification.

Tips

•Read all warnings carefully before confirming
•Make sure you've backed up everything important
•Have your password ready for verification

Warnings

•This action is permanent and cannot be undone

Confirm Deletion via Email

Dropbox will send a confirmation email to your registered address. Click the confirmation link to finalize the deletion. Your account and all data will be permanently deleted within 30 days.

Tips

•Check spam folder if you don't receive the email within minutes
•Save the confirmation email for your records
•Contact support if you don't receive confirmation within 24 hours

Warnings

•If you don't confirm within 48 hours, you may need to restart the process

Important Warnings

All Files Permanently Deleted

Every file, folder, and shared link in your Dropbox will be permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. Make sure to back up everything important before proceeding.

Shared Folder Access Lost

You'll lose access to all shared folders, even those owned by other users. If you're a member of team folders, other members will lose access to files you've added.

No Account Recovery After 30 Days

While Dropbox retains deleted accounts for 30 days to allow recovery, after this period your account cannot be restored under any circumstances.

Paper Documents Deleted

All Dropbox Paper documents you've created or collaborated on will be permanently deleted. Export any important documents before deletion.

Connected Apps Will Lose Access

Any third-party apps connected to your Dropbox (like photo editors or productivity tools) will lose access. Update these apps with alternative storage solutions.

Referral Bonuses Lost

Any additional storage space earned through referrals will be lost, and referred friends may also lose their bonus space.

Alternatives to Consider

Downgrade to Free Basic Plan

easy

Instead of deleting your account, cancel your paid subscription and downgrade to the free Basic plan (2GB storage). This allows you to keep your account for future use without paying.

Pros

•Keep your account and email address
•Maintain access to shared folders
•No cost after downgrading

Cons

•Limited to 2GB storage
•Data still stored on Dropbox servers
•May need to delete files to fit within free tier

3 min

Delete All Files But Keep Account

medium

Manually delete all your files and folders but maintain your Dropbox account. This removes your data while preserving your ability to use Dropbox in the future.

Pros

•Data removed from storage
•Can use Dropbox again without creating new account
•Maintain shared folder memberships

Cons

•Account metadata still exists
•Time-consuming for large amounts of data
•Files recoverable for 30 days in trash

15 min

Transfer Files and Migrate to Another Service

medium

Use Dropbox's export features to transfer all your data to another cloud storage service like Google Drive or OneDrive before deletion. Many services offer migration tools.

Pros

•No data loss
•Seamless transition to new service
•Can maintain file organization

Cons

•Requires setting up new service
•May take time for large transfers
•Shared links will break

30 min

Frequently Asked Questions

After confirming deletion via email, your account enters a 30-day grace period. During this time, you can still recover your account. After 30 days, deletion is permanent and irreversible.

References & Citations

[1]
Dropbox Privacy Policy
Official privacy policy explaining data deletion and retention practices
https://www.dropbox.com/privacy
[2]
Dropbox Data Retention Information
Details about how long Dropbox retains user data after account deletion
https://help.dropbox.com/security/data-retention-policy
[3]
Dropbox Terms of Service
Legal terms regarding account closure and data ownership
https://www.dropbox.com/terms

All citations verified as of 11/8/2025. We regularly review and update all external links to ensure accuracy.

Found incorrect information?

We strive for accuracy. If something's outdated or wrong, let us know.

Report incorrect information

Quick Navigation

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Critical Warnings

All Files Permanently Deleted
Every file, folder, and shared link in your Dropbox will be permanently deleted and cannot be recove...
Shared Folder Access Lost
You'll lose access to all shared folders, even those owned by other users. If you're a member of tea...
No Account Recovery After 30 Days
While Dropbox retains deleted accounts for 30 days to allow recovery, after this period your account...

Last Updated

November 8, 2025

Dropbox Account Deletion

How We Verified This Guide

Quick Information

Official Resources

Additional Resources

Step-by-Step Guide

Download All Your Files

Cancel Any Paid Subscriptions

Revoke Connected Apps and Devices

Delete Your Account

Confirm Deletion via Email

Important Warnings

All Files Permanently Deleted

Shared Folder Access Lost

No Account Recovery After 30 Days

Paper Documents Deleted

Connected Apps Will Lose Access

Referral Bonuses Lost

Alternatives to Consider

Downgrade to Free Basic Plan

Delete All Files But Keep Account

Transfer Files and Migrate to Another Service

Frequently Asked Questions

References & Citations

Found incorrect information?

Quick Navigation

Related Guides

Critical Warnings

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