How long does Dropbox keep my deleted files and information?
The information in this article applies to all Dropbox users.
Dropbox saves deleted and previous versions of files for a specific period of time so you can recover them if desired. After that time, the deleted files are marked for permanent deletion in our system and are removed from our storage servers. Once they’ve been deleted, they can no longer be recovered or restored.
Your default file recovery period depends on your Dropbox plan:
- Dropbox Basic, Plus, and Family customers have 30 days.
- Dropbox Professional, Standard, Essentials, and Dropbox team users have 180 days.
- Dropbox Advanced, Enterprise, Education, and Dropbox team Plus users have 365 days.
However, there are several add-ons that extend your file recovery period. Learn more about extended version history.
Note: Files may be permanently deleted before the end of the file recovery period if they are part of a data disposition policy.
Permanently deleting files
When you mark files for permanent deletion, you can initiate the deletion of your files from our servers immediately.
Learn how to permanently delete files.
If you’re a member of a Dropbox team account, your team admin may have limited your ability to permanently delete files.
Deleting your Dropbox account
If you delete your Dropbox Basic, Plus, Family, Professional, or Essentials account, we’ll initiate deletion of the files you store on your account.
See the Retention section of our Privacy Policy for more details.
If you’re a member of a Dropbox team account, only your admin can disable your account and delete your files.
Deleting Send and track files
Important: Dropbox Send and track will be discontinued starting March 31, 2025. After this date, existing users' files will be stored in the “Send and track” folder on their Dropbox account (Files that predate February 15, 2024, need to be manually downloaded from the Send and track hub or they’ll be permanently deleted). Links will be disabled, but users can reshare the files through Dropbox (without analytics) or through a newly-created DocSend account.
Deleting this copy from the “Send and track” folder automatically removes the file stored in Send and track, along with any associated metadata and analytics. Restoring the file copy restores the Send and track file and its data.
Deleting the original file from your Dropbox account automatically removes it, and any associated metadata and analytics, from Send and track as well. Restoring the original file restores the Send and track file and its data.
Note: Deleting file copies in Send and track is permanent. Any metadata and data analytics associated with that file can’t be recovered, even if the source file is left intact.
Important:
- Standard file recovery periods and options don’t apply to files deleted directly from the Send and track feature. Deleting a file from Send and track is permanent, and any associated metadata or data analytics can’t be recovered once the file is deleted.
- Any files added to Send and track before February 15, 2024 won’t be added to the “Send and track” folder on your Dropbox account. Deleting these files is permanent, and any associated metadata or data analytics can’t be recovered once the files are deleted.
Community answers
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Posted by: Trey3 524 days ago
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