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Forum Discussion
Can't delete my OWN files!
When I wanted to permanently delete a file or folder (which I may have shared with others or not). I used to be able to delete it in Finder and then would get asked by Dropbox:
Delete "untitled f...
- Hey widensteynie, thanks for posting and welcome to our Community.
This error message appears when you're trying to delete a folder that you didn't create or are not the owner of.
If you go to your 'All files' page on our website, and click on the share button next to the folder in question, who do you see as the owner? Is it you or someone else?
Let me know what you see.
Hannah
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffHey widensteynie, thanks for posting and welcome to our Community.
This error message appears when you're trying to delete a folder that you didn't create or are not the owner of.
If you go to your 'All files' page on our website, and click on the share button next to the folder in question, who do you see as the owner? Is it you or someone else?
Let me know what you see.
This error message appears when you're trying to delete a folder that you didn't create or are not the owner of.
If you go to your 'All files' page on our website, and click on the share button next to the folder in question, who do you see as the owner? Is it you or someone else?
Let me know what you see.
Hey Hannah, thanks for being in touch so swiftly. You were right. When I check on the dropbox website, it says that I: "Can edit" but another person is "Owner", even if it was me who created the files. It seems that the person I am sharing the folder in question with automatically becomes "Owner" for all the files and subfolders I create in said location. I was, however, just now able to permanently delete several files of which I am definitely NOT "Owner" – when I click on the "share" button "Owner" is the person I am sharing the folder with and that I "can edit". I am quite sure I used to be able to permanently delete files in shared folders, either via Finder (Mac OS) or on the dropbox website. So, this random behaviour must be relatively recent.
- JayHi widensteynie, just to clarify something, deleting files normally automatically frees up space, so there isn't a need to permanently delete files, since the space has already been freed up.
This is only needed if you don't want to be able to recover the files.
You can permanently delete files in a shared folder you're not the owner of, if you were the one who uploaded those files in the first place. If you try to permanently delete a file that was uploaded by the other person, then you won't be able to do so.- If I upload a file, am I not its owner? How does Dropbox assign ownership?I am confused!
