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Forum Discussion
How to free up space in your Dropbox account
I've unshared many folders, permanently deleted lots of files but dropbox still reports that it is full. How can I free up space? I've already followed dropbox instructions with no results
Permanently deleting files isn't needed to clear space. Simply deleting them is enough. Files in the Deleted Files section do not count against your storage quota.
If Dropbox is saying your account is full, then it's still full. You need to remove enough files to bring your account back below your quota before that message will go away. It could be that you're still a member of a large share that just keeps filling your account as you make more room.
You can verify your storage usage on your Account page. It will show you a breakdown of what's using your storage (regular files, shared files, etc.), which hat may help you identify files that you can remove to free up some more space.
Rich
Super User II
Super User IIPermanently deleting files isn't needed to clear space. Simply deleting them is enough. Files in the Deleted Files section do not count against your storage quota.
If Dropbox is saying your account is full, then it's still full. You need to remove enough files to bring your account back below your quota before that message will go away. It could be that you're still a member of a large share that just keeps filling your account as you make more room.
You can verify your storage usage on your Account page. It will show you a breakdown of what's using your storage (regular files, shared files, etc.), which hat may help you identify files that you can remove to free up some more space.
Deleting very large files didn't free up any space acording to my Dropbox message. My box still shows the same data as before I deleted them. Help please.
- MarkIf you deleted them from your computer have you given the account time to sync back to a green tick and thus update the online account?
Try tranfering some of your files to google drive one drive or box that may help
- Yes, you right
I know I have files and folders in my DropBox but it shows up as empty. How do I clear out folders and files if I can't see them? Is DropBox forcing me to upgrade to see the files to delete them and go below my quota? I don't want to upgrade I just want to delete files and folders.
- Lusil
Dropbox Staff
Hey there JMTrudell13,
You can check if you have any private or shared content taking up space and how much of your storage is available from your Plan tab.
You can also see your deleted files from your deleted files tab and removed shared folders from your Sharing tab.
Finally, please remember that permanently removing already deleted files doesn't free up storage as deleted files and folders don't take up space in your account.
If you see any discrepancy or you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to give me a nudge and I'll make sure to get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks!
I have the same problem. I have 2GB and only sync my file 700MB to Dropbox but it says i have 1.5GB regular files. I do not connect my documents to Dropbox, only one file. What regular files does it refer to?
- What you mean by Files in the Deleted Files section do not count against your storage quota?
- MarkOnce a file is deleted and you can no longer see it at www.dropbox.com/home Dropbox saves a version of that file for 30 days. Those files no longer count against your quota.
They obviously do, however, if you restore them.I'm having the exact same issue. Ironically, I have been moving files around to free up space. I did not add anything. Now DropBox says that I'm above quota. So, I deleted 15Gb of files from my Dropbox folder on my PC and, at the same time, on the Dropbox home online. It did not help. Dropbox still says the EXACT same amount used. And the **bleep** thing isn't syncing from my PC - because I've used too much space. Agh!
Feel painted into a corner on this one Dropbox.
Thank you for the community message. Please can you help. I can't seem to identify the folder & file sizes to commence maintenance of getting rid of large folders/files. Thanks
- Lusil
Hi SGHelp1, thanks for nudging us on this thread.
If you're trying to find the size of files and folders from the website, you can have a look at this article which has the relevant steps.
Give me a nudge if you have any other questions, cheers!
im looking on my account page but cannot see anywhere it tells me how much space I have. I'm having the same issue. I was told I didn't have room so I deleted 500 cell phone quality images and 20 RAW files and I'm not on anyone else's shared files. It's been a week so it's updated, and still I'm told it's too full. If those fit, why wouldn't one cell phone quality image fit??
If I look at the size of the dropbox folder on my PC ist is 1.5GB yet when I look at my account on Dropbox.com is shows 169GB... Is there a delay between the time I delete files/folder and it is refiected in my storage consumption report?
Hi, can you tell me what is regular files? i got the same problem. I have 2 GB at dropbox and i only use 700MB but it says my dropbox is full. I checked it says 1.5GB is regular files. I don't know what regular files it shows. I have other files in my documents at computer but i did not sync that to dropbox.
Please help.
- Jay
Hi Dewi Morifa, thanks for taking the time to message us!
If you're referring to the standard files on this page, then it means private files on your account, those that aren't in shared folders.
You can check the size of files and folders using these steps to see if there are any large files on your account.
If you need any more details, feel free to message back!
Dropbox won't even let me open to delete files and open space. Only option it gives me is to start paying.
??
My Dropbox was at only 60% full when a system crash required me to do a factory reset on my phone (which also has Dropbox installed). As the phone came back up after the reset, it started uploading file after file, until the Dropbox storage was totally full. Is there any way I can delete just the duplicates that were re-uploaded after the factory reset? Thanks!
- LusilHi there Kyla59, thanks for nudging us on this thread.
Although there's no direct way to locate and delete duplicates, you can have a look at this thread.
There, you can upvote the idea and comment alongside other users who have expressed an interest on such a feature being implemented in the future.
In the meantime, you can remove files using the mobile app by following these steps.
Having the same problem on a basic account, with Dropbox showing exactly the same size (5.76gb of 5.5) as before deletions (700+ files), before clearing cache, and before signing in and out multiple times. None of the remedies listed in this forum have made a difference.
Is there a time schedule Dropbox follows before updating its records (it's been 23 days since I started getting notices that my account was full and need to upgrade)?
The number of queries about this confirms there is a significant issue.
Thanks,
- JayHi Dougseabright, are you certain you don't have a shared folder that has more data in it, which could be pushing your account overquota?
Have you tried calculating the size of the folders on the site to see where the majority of the quota is being used?
Deleting files from the site would immediately free up quota on your account, so you can try that if deleting via your computer isn't working.Jay,
Thanks, but your response did not address issue one bit. As I mentioned, the size of the account is stuck at 5.76gb and never moved even after deleting 700+ files and signing in and out of the account. I have only 364mb of shared files, no way that is the problem. I cleared the cache, and that had zero effect. Dropbox started alerting me that I was getting close to full a couple of months ago. Since I reached quota nothing I did has reduced the reported size of 5.76gb.
Not one community member has figured out the work around, fix for this problem. No one from Dropbox has intervened, or tried to help. Like many on this forum, I suspect this is a corporate strategy to force upgrade. I saw one poster recommend sync.com, I did not know about it. I will check it. I am frustrated and tired of this, ready to ditch Dropbox.
