How to Empty Dropbox

Updated on:

May 12, 2026

By:

Use this interactive demo to learn how to permanently delete all files and empty your Dropbox storage.

Quick summary

This guide shows you how to empty Dropbox by selecting and deleting files from All Files, then permanently removing them via the Deleted Files section to free up storage space.

Steps

Visit www.dropbox.com and log in to your account.
Open the All Files tab from the main navigation.
Select all the files or folders you want to delete.
Click the trash can icon or right-click and choose Delete.
Confirm the action by clicking Delete in the confirmation prompt.
Navigate to Deleted Files in the left-hand menu.
Select the files and click Permanently Delete to completely empty your Dropbox.

📌 Why this matters

Knowing how to fully empty Dropbox — including permanently deleting files from the Deleted Files section — is essential for users who need to free up cloud storage, remove sensitive data, or reset their Dropbox account. Simply moving files to trash is not enough; files remain recoverable and continue to count against storage limits until permanently deleted. This two-step delete process ensures complete removal of all files and folders, giving users full control over their Dropbox storage and data privacy.

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