How to Uninstall Dropbox on Windows and Mac (Safely)

You might uninstall Dropbox because you've moved to another storage service, because the app is causing problems, or because you're clearing out an old computer. Whatever the reason, it's worth knowing exactly what uninstalling removes and what it leaves behind, because that's where people either lose files or end up with a folder they didn't expect.

What uninstalling does and doesn't do

Uninstalling the app	Result
Your Dropbox account	Kept, with all your files online
The Dropbox folder on your computer	Kept, until you delete it yourself
Syncing on this computer	Stops
Your other devices	Carry on syncing as normal

How to uninstall Dropbox on Windows

1. Click the Dropbox icon in the taskbar.
2. Click your avatar (profile picture or initials) in the bottom-left corner.
3. Click Quit.
4. Click Start, then Settings.
5. Click Apps, then Apps and features.
6. Click Dropbox, then Uninstall.

How to uninstall Dropbox on a Mac

1. Click the Dropbox icon in the menu bar.
2. Click your avatar in the bottom-left corner, then Quit.
3. Open Finder and click Applications.
4. Drag Dropbox to the Trash.

The catch: the folder left behind may not hold all your files

Dropbox says uninstalling doesn't remove the Dropbox folder from your hard drive. That sounds reassuring, but there's a trap. If some of your files were online-only, they were never stored on your computer in the first place. The folder you're left with can look complete but be full of placeholders for files that only exist in the cloud. Once the app is gone, those won't open.

So before you uninstall, decide what you want on this computer. If you need the files locally, make the folders available offline in the app first and let them download. If you don't, that's fine: everything is still safe in your Dropbox account online.

Should you delete the Dropbox folder too?

You can, by dragging the Dropbox folder to the Recycle Bin or Trash after uninstalling. Dropbox's advice is to make sure you have a backup of your data stored somewhere else before you do. Deleting the local folder after uninstalling won't touch your files online, because the app is no longer syncing, but if this computer held the only copy of anything, it's gone.

1. Check the files you need are on dropbox.com or copied elsewhere.
2. Then delete the local Dropbox folder to free up space.
3. Empty the Recycle Bin or Trash when you're sure.

If Dropbox won't uninstall

The usual reason is that Dropbox is still running. Dropbox's fix: open Task Manager on Windows or Activity Monitor on a Mac, quit anything with Dropbox in the name, then try the uninstall again. If the app keeps misbehaving and you want to start fresh rather than leave, Dropbox also documents an advanced reinstall.

Uninstalling isn't closing your account

Removing the app from one computer leaves your account, your files and your shared folders exactly as they were. If you want to leave Dropbox altogether, you need to download what you want to keep and then close the account separately on dropbox.com. Do the download first, because closing an account is the step you can't undo.

Before you move to another service

• Download or move everything you need first, with folders set to available offline.
• Tell anyone you share folders with, so they're not left with broken links.
• Check any apps or automations connected to Dropbox.
• Keep the Dropbox account open for a few weeks in case you've missed something.

If you're choosing where to go next, my comparison of Dropbox alternatives covers the main services and who each suits.

Uninstalling Dropbox from your phone

On an iPhone, press and hold the Dropbox app icon and choose to remove the app. On Android, press and hold the icon and choose Uninstall, or remove it from your phone's app settings. As with a computer, removing the app doesn't touch your account or the files stored in your Dropbox online. Files you'd saved for offline use on the phone are removed with the app, so check you don't need any of them first.

If you'd turned on camera uploads, your phone stops sending new photos to Dropbox once the app is gone. Set up another backup for your photos before you uninstall, so you're never without one.

My verdict

Uninstalling Dropbox takes a minute: quit it from the taskbar or menu bar, then remove it from Apps and features on Windows or drag it to the Trash on a Mac. Your account and local folder are kept, but online-only files in that folder won't open once the app's gone, so download what you need before you uninstall. Only delete the folder once you're sure everything is backed up elsewhere. If photos are part of the move, my guide to getting iPhone photos onto a Mac may help too.

Frequently asked questions

Will uninstalling Dropbox stop syncing on my other devices?

No. Only the computer you uninstall it from stops syncing.

Can I reinstall Dropbox later?

Yes. Install the app again and sign in, and your files sync back to the computer.

Does deleting the Dropbox app from my phone delete my files?

No. Your files stay in your Dropbox account online.

Does uninstalling Dropbox delete my files?

No. Dropbox says your account and the Dropbox folder on your computer are kept.

Why can't I open files in my Dropbox folder after uninstalling?

They were probably online-only, so they were never stored on your computer. Download them from dropbox.com.

How do I uninstall Dropbox if it won't uninstall?

Quit all Dropbox processes in Task Manager or Activity Monitor, then try again.

Should I delete the Dropbox folder after uninstalling?

Only after making sure your files are backed up somewhere else.

Does uninstalling Dropbox close my account?

No. You close your account separately on dropbox.com.