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Forum Discussion
Issues with Shared Folders, accidental deletion, and restoration
One of my clients shared several folders with me that exceeded my storage allotment. Using the desktop app, yesterday I went through and was removing myself from the shares. Inadvertently, I "deleted" two folders (that was waaaay too easy to do - they are not even my folders!). When I noticed the error, I looked into my account's listing for deleted files and saw those two folders. Naturally, I selected them both and clicked on Restore. Nothing happened for the rest of the day, so I waited overnight. Today I checked: Both folders are still listed in "deleted files," but when I click each one individually and once again select "Restore," in both cases, it tells me the folders are empty. Questions.
1. Did I really delete my clients folders?
2. Have they now been restored?
3. If 1 is Yes, and 2 is No, what information do I need to give to my client to allow them to ensure they have not lost their important data?
Thanks very much for your help.
For folders you've removed your access to, you won't be able to restore them from the deleted files page since they shouldn't be visible there. You'd need to get permission from the owner of those folders to re-add you again.
Regarding those folders you removed from Dropbox, this would be a deletion of the folder. You might be able to rejoin those folders from the shared folders page.
If the restored folder are showing up as empty, then it sounds like the files there can't be recovered from your end. Perhaps the owner of the folder could restore the actual file within the folders.
- Megan
Dropbox Staff
Hi there, rdarnell, welcome to our Community!
It sounds like you indeed deleted your client's shared folders, especially if they gave you editing access.
Have you checked your sharing tab, to see if you can add those folders back to your account? Also, are you able to see the folders along with their content, when you visit your account online?
Let me know more!
Thank you, Megan.
In the "Shared" tab of my account, I am not able to find the folders that ARE shown in the "Deleted files" tab. Neither can I see the folders along with their content when I visit my account online (I had removed myself as a shared contact).
As I previously mentioned, both folders are still listed in "deleted files," but when I click each one individually and once again select "Restore," in both cases, it tells me the folders are empty. So, to update my questions:
On the Deleted files page where these files are still shown, it says at the top, "You can restore any file deleted in the last 30 days." So, why am I unable to restore those folders, since they were just deleted yesterday? Thank you again for your help.
- Nancy
Hi rdarnell! I hope you don’t mind me jumping in.
Do you remember perhaps what was the approximate size of these folders?
Have you also tried to restore them via another browser on your computer? I’d like to check if you’ll keep experiencing the same behavior.
Let me know, and we’ll take it from there.
