How to restore or recover deleted files or folders in Dropbox

Updated Jun 10, 2025

The information in this article applies to all Dropbox users.

This article describes how you can recover deleted files and folders in your Dropbox account.

 

If you’d like to restore an earlier version of a file instead, learn how to return to an older version of a file or learn more about version history.

Important: You can only restore a shared file if you have Can edit access to it. If you have Can view access to a shared file, you won’t be able to restore it.

How to recover and restore deleted files or folders

Dropbox saves all your deleted files for 30 days (or longer for customers on Dropbox Professional and team plans). 


Follow the steps below to learn how to search and recover your deleted Dropbox files:

  1. Log in to dropbox.com.
  2. Click Deleted files in the left sidebar.
  3. Click on the name of the deleted file or folder you want to recover.
    • You can select multiple files or folders at once by clicking the checkbox icon.
  4. Click Restore.

Notes: 

  • Restorations can take time if you’re restoring a large number of files.
  • If you’re trying to restore unsynced files that have been moved to your Recycling Bin on Windows, you’ll need to restore those files from your Recycling Bin rather than on dropbox.com. Learn more about why files might be moved to the Recycling Bin. 

What if my files are missing?

If your files are missing or you have a large number of files to recover, learn how to find or restore missing or corrupted files.

Watch this video to learn how to keep your files safe with Dropbox.

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