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Heimlick's avatar
Heimlick
Explorer | Level 3
3 years ago

The local Dropbox folder keeps re-appearing, even after deleting it.

I want to totally remove Dropbox from my Windows 11 PC. I have tried all on-line suggestions and the folder still comes back after I delete it. I have turned off the wireless so nothing can update it from outside and it still comes back. I suspect something on the PC is doing this but don't know what it is. I also ran a command to repair a supposed corrupt Recycle Bin but that didn't work either. HELP!

  • JoelT's avatar
    JoelT
    New member | Level 2

    Hello, 
    Have you attempted to uninstall the program dropbox from your computer. This should remove the file folder for dropbox.
    In your search bar search "Remove" then once you open that choose the program you want to remove and uninstall it. This might require a computer restart as it is part of the file folders and sometimes needs to be reset. 

    • Heimlick's avatar
      Heimlick
      Explorer | Level 3

      Thanks for your reply. I have uninstalled Dropbox with the Dropbox uninstaller,  iObit uninstaller and the Windows App uninstall and nothing keeps it from reappearing. I spent several days at this and tried just about every suggestion from online searches. I can delete the folder initially and as soon as it’s rebooted the folder reappears! 

      • Nancy's avatar
        Nancy
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

        Hedwig29, can you send me a full screenshot of the message you keep receiving by Dropbox? 

         

        Also, when saying you don’t want to work through Dropbox, do you mean that you’d like to remove the desktop app from your computer?

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    Hi Heimlick, let's see what we can find on this!


    The Dropbox folder remains on the device after you uninstall the program unless you choose to delete it.

     

    Have you tried unlinking your device remotely? Once you do, can you then delete the Dropbox folder and see how this goes?

     

    Thanks!

    • Heimlick's avatar
      Heimlick
      Explorer | Level 3

      Thanks I did that and it still comes back. It may be a Dropbox that’s tied to some other account.  As I said I can delete it briefly but minutes later or after a restart it returns.  I reinstalled the Dropbox app several times but it asks to rename the existing Dropbox folder which it can’t. It leaves that folder alone and will install itself in any another folder. This is like some kind of cancer!

      • Jay's avatar
        Jay
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        Hi Heimlick, assuming that the Dropbox desktop application has been fully uninstalled, are there any files in the Dropbox folder when it appears?

        Have you tried closing all running programs and then delete the folder to see if it remains deleted?
  • skuchukh1's avatar
    skuchukh1
    Explorer | Level 3

    Hello Dropbox community 

     

    I temporarily installed Dropbox on a public computer so as to be able to access and use my files. However, I would like to remove these files, as well as uninstall Dropbox from this computer. My question is: would uninstalling dropbox on the public computer and deleting the files from here delete my files from the Dropbox server as well? If so, how can I only delete the files on this local machine? Thank you!

    • Hannah's avatar
      Hannah
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

      Hey skuchukh1, thanks for joining us on the Dropbox Community.

       

      To safely delete both the Dropbox app and the Dropbox folder from a computer, you'll first need to unlink it from your account.

       

      To unlink it, either sign out of the app or delete it from your connected devices.

       

      Then you can manually delete the Dropbox folder and uninstall the Dropbox app, without affecting your files on the Dropbox server.

       

      I hope this helps!

  • Hedwig29's avatar
    Hedwig29
    New member | Level 2
    When I open my Labtop the wrlcome to dropbox appears. It doesn't move from there. Even if i close nothing is happening. I don't want to work through dropbox

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