We are aware of the issue with the badge emails resending to everyone, we apologise for the inconvenience - learn more here.
Forum Discussion
widensteynie
4 years agoHelpful | Level 5
Can't delete my OWN files!
When I wanted to permanently delete a file or folder (which I may have shared with others or not). I used to be able to delete it in Finder and then would get asked by Dropbox:
Delete "untitled f...
- 4 years agoHey widensteynie, thanks for posting and welcome to our Community.
This error message appears when you're trying to delete a folder that you didn't create or are not the owner of.
If you go to your 'All files' page on our website, and click on the share button next to the folder in question, who do you see as the owner? Is it you or someone else?
Let me know what you see.
widensteynie
Helpful | Level 5
Hey Hannah, thanks for being in touch so swiftly. You were right. When I check on the dropbox website, it says that I: "Can edit" but another person is "Owner", even if it was me who created the files. It seems that the person I am sharing the folder in question with automatically becomes "Owner" for all the files and subfolders I create in said location. I was, however, just now able to permanently delete several files of which I am definitely NOT "Owner" – when I click on the "share" button "Owner" is the person I am sharing the folder with and that I "can edit". I am quite sure I used to be able to permanently delete files in shared folders, either via Finder (Mac OS) or on the dropbox website. So, this random behaviour must be relatively recent.
Jay
4 years agoDropbox Staff
Hi widensteynie, just to clarify something, deleting files normally automatically frees up space, so there isn't a need to permanently delete files, since the space has already been freed up.
This is only needed if you don't want to be able to recover the files.
You can permanently delete files in a shared folder you're not the owner of, if you were the one who uploaded those files in the first place. If you try to permanently delete a file that was uploaded by the other person, then you won't be able to do so.
This is only needed if you don't want to be able to recover the files.
You can permanently delete files in a shared folder you're not the owner of, if you were the one who uploaded those files in the first place. If you try to permanently delete a file that was uploaded by the other person, then you won't be able to do so.
- Andyjenk22 years agoExplorer | Level 4If I upload a file, am I not its owner? How does Dropbox assign ownership?I am confused!
- Jay2 years agoDropbox Staff
Hi @Andyjenk2 , are you uploading a file to a private folder, a shared folder, or are you on a Dropbox Business team?
Could you clarify what issue you're experiencing, currently?
About Delete, edit, and organize
Solve issues with deleting, editing, and organizing files and folders in your Dropbox account with support from the Dropbox Community.
Need more support
If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X or Facebook.
For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.
If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!