How to Delete Your Dropbox Account (Read This First)

Moving to another cloud service or simply tidying up old accounts? Deleting a Dropbox account takes a few clicks, but it's final in a way that catches people out. Your files go for good, and shared folders behave differently from private ones. Here's exactly what happens, how to do it on each type of account, and what to do first so you don't lose anything.

Before you delete: download what you need

Dropbox is blunt about this: once you delete your account, you can't access or restore it, and content in your private folders is non-recoverable as soon as the account is deleted. Before you click anything, download or move every file you want to keep. If the desktop app is installed and fully synced, check the files are really on your computer, not just placeholders.

What happens when you delete your account

• You can't log in or restore the account afterwards.
• You're logged out of Dropbox on every device.
• Files stop syncing everywhere, but copies already on your computer stay there.
• Files in your private folders are deleted from Dropbox's servers.
• Files in shared folders stay available to the other members, but you lose access.

Delete a Basic, Plus, Professional or Essentials account

1. Sign in at dropbox.com.
2. Click your avatar (your photo or initials) in the bottom-left corner.
3. Click the settings icon at the top right.
4. At the bottom of the General tab, click Delete account.
5. Follow the prompts to confirm.

If you're on an upgraded plan, such as Plus or Professional, Dropbox automatically prompts you to cancel it as part of deleting the account. If you only want to stop the upgrade and keep a free account, cancel the plan instead of deleting.

Delete a Basic account on iPhone

1. Open the Dropbox app and tap the settings icon at the top right.
2. Scroll down and tap Delete account.
3. Choose a reason for leaving and tap Delete.

One quirk: Dropbox says that if you signed in with your Google account, you need to create a Dropbox password before you can confirm the deletion. The app sends you an email to set one up.

Family and team accounts

Account type	How to delete
Dropbox Family	Avatar, Manage account, then Cancel account
Standard, Business, Advanced or Business Plus team member	Ask a team admin to delete your account

If your Dropbox belongs to an employer's team, you can't delete it yourself. Your admin manages it, and the files usually belong to the business, so ask before you download anything to keep.

Shared folders: who keeps what

This is the bit worth understanding before you go. Dropbox says files in shared folders stay accessible to the other members after you delete your account, but you lose access. So a client or colleague won't suddenly lose a shared project. If you own shared folders that others depend on, though, think about handing them over or making sure members have what they need before you leave.

Delete or just stop using it?

You want to	Best option
Drop the upgrade but keep your files	Cancel the plan, keep a free account
Remove Dropbox from one computer	Unlink or uninstall the desktop app
Leave Dropbox completely	Download your files, then delete the account

Inactive accounts can close on their own

If you've simply stopped using a free Dropbox account, it may not need deleting at all. Dropbox's help centre covers inactive Basic accounts, and Dropbox sends reminder emails before closing an account for inactivity. Logging in keeps it open. If you want it gone on your terms, though, deleting it yourself is quicker and certain.

Check what's connected to your Dropbox

Before you go, think about anything that relies on your Dropbox. Apps that save to it, automated backups of phone photos, links on your website or in old emails, and file requests you've sent to clients will all stop working once the account is deleted. Switch those to your new service first, so nothing quietly fails the week after you leave and a client doesn't hit a dead link.

Moving to another service

1. Download everything from Dropbox, or let the desktop app sync it all to your computer.
2. Upload it to your new service and check folders and files opened correctly.
3. Update any links you've shared, because Dropbox links stop working when the account goes.
4. Then delete the Dropbox account.

Choosing a new home for your files? My piece on the benefits of cloud hosting is a good primer, and my guide to Google Drive storage helps if you're moving to Google.

My verdict

Download everything first, then go to dropbox.com, click your avatar, settings, and Delete account at the bottom of the General tab. Cancel any upgraded plan when asked. It's permanent, private files are gone immediately, and team accounts need an admin, so if you only want to stop the upgrade, cancel the plan instead.

Frequently asked questions

How do I delete my Dropbox account?

Sign in at dropbox.com, click your avatar, open settings and click Delete account at the bottom of the General tab.

Can I recover a deleted Dropbox account?

No. Dropbox says you can't access or restore an account after it's deleted.

What happens to my files when I delete Dropbox?

Private files are deleted from Dropbox's servers. Copies already synced to your computer stay there.

Do people lose files I shared with them?

No. Files in shared folders stay accessible to the other members, but you lose access.

Why can't I delete my Dropbox account?

If it's a team account, an admin has to delete it. If you signed in with Google on iPhone, you need to create a password first.