How to Delete Files From Dropbox (and the Storage Surprise)

Deleting files from Dropbox looks simple, and mostly it's exactly that. But Dropbox behaves differently from Google Drive and OneDrive in one important way, and if you're deleting to free up space, it changes how you should go about it. There's also a catch with shared folders that can remove files from other people's accounts. Here's how to delete safely.

Delete a file on dropbox.com

1. Sign in at dropbox.com.
2. Hover over the file or folder and click the three dots (more options).
3. Choose Delete, then confirm.

Delete from your computer

Open the Dropbox folder in File Explorer or Finder, right-click the file and choose Delete on Windows or Move to Trash on a Mac. Because it's synced, the file disappears from dropbox.com and your other devices too.

Delete on your phone

In the Dropbox app, tap the more options icon next to the file and tap Delete. Dropbox says this removes the file from Dropbox, your phone and every computer connected to your account.

The storage surprise

Here's the insight that saves a lot of wasted effort. Dropbox says deleted files don't count against your storage quota, so permanently deleting them won't free up space. That's the opposite of Google Drive and OneDrive, where files in the bin still use your storage. In Dropbox, simply deleting files is enough to reclaim the room; there's no need to empty anything afterwards.

Free up space on your phone without deleting

If the problem is your phone filling up rather than your Dropbox, you don't need to delete anything. Dropbox explains that files you open in the app are kept in a temporary cache on your device. Clear the cache from the app's settings and you get your phone's storage back, while the files stay safe in Dropbox.

How long deleted files can be restored

Your Dropbox account	Restore window
Basic, Plus and Family	30 days
Professional, Standard, Essentials and Business	180 days
Advanced, Enterprise, Education and Business Plus	365 days

Dropbox says a deleted file is no longer visible but isn't deleted until your recovery window ends. So if you delete something by mistake, you can usually bring it back. I've written a separate guide to recovering deleted files from Dropbox.

Be careful with shared folders

• If you own a shared folder and permanently delete it, Dropbox says it's deleted from the accounts of all members. To leave them a copy, unshare it instead.
• If you delete a file inside a shared folder, any member of the folder can restore it.
• If someone else has their own copy of a file, deleting yours doesn't delete theirs.

Before deleting a shared folder you own, ask whether anyone still uses it. Unsharing is the kinder option when a project ends but others want to keep the files, and it avoids an awkward email later.

Delete lots of files at once

On dropbox.com, tick the checkboxes next to several files or folders to select them together, then delete them in one go. On your computer, select multiple files in the Dropbox folder as you would anywhere else and delete them. Take a moment before a big batch deletion to check you haven't swept up a shared folder by accident, because that affects other people too.

Online-only files

If you use online-only files on your computer to save disk space, deleting one still deletes it from Dropbox everywhere. Online-only just means the file isn't stored on your hard drive; it's still very much in your Dropbox. If your goal is to save space on your laptop, making files online-only is the better tool, not deleting them.

Delete or move out of Dropbox?

If you want a file off Dropbox but still on your computer, don't delete it from the Dropbox folder, because that deletes it everywhere. Move it to a folder outside Dropbox instead. It stays on your computer but stops syncing.

A simple clear-out routine

1. Sort by size on dropbox.com and look at the largest files first.
2. Move anything you want to keep locally out of the Dropbox folder.
3. Delete the rest, knowing you can restore within your recovery window.
4. Check shared folders before deleting, and unshare rather than delete if others need them.

If you also use Google Drive, the rules there are different, so read my guide to freeing up space on Google Drive before you clear that out too, and this piece on file sharing risks is useful before reorganising shared folders.

My verdict

Hover, click the three dots and Delete on dropbox.com, or delete from your Dropbox folder. Deleted files don't use your storage in Dropbox, so there's nothing to empty. Clear the app's cache to free phone space, unshare rather than delete shared folders others need, and remember you can restore within your plan's window.

Frequently asked questions

How do I delete files from Dropbox?

On dropbox.com, hover over the file, click the three dots and choose Delete, or delete it from the Dropbox folder on your computer.

Does deleting files in Dropbox free up space?

Yes. Dropbox says deleted files don't count against your storage quota, so you don't need to permanently delete them.

How long can I restore deleted Dropbox files?

Dropbox says 30 days for Basic, Plus and Family, 180 days for Professional and Business tiers, and 365 days for Advanced and Enterprise.

What happens if I delete a shared Dropbox folder?

If you own it and permanently delete it, it's removed from all members' accounts. Unshare it to leave them a copy.

How do I free up space on my phone without deleting Dropbox files?

Clear the cache in the Dropbox app's settings. Your files stay in Dropbox.