Introduction
Losing access to important files in Dropbox can be stressful. However, there are several effective methods to try to recover your data. In this guide, I will provide step-by-step instructions on how to get your files back after a failed Dropbox sync.
Check Dropbox App Settings
The first thing to try is checking your Dropbox app settings.
- Open the Dropbox desktop app and go to your account settings.
- Under the Sync tab, check that syncing is enabled for the appropriate folders.
- If syncing got disabled, re-enable it. This should trigger Dropbox to start re-syncing the files.
Sync issues can happen if you have limited bandwidth or storage space. Make sure you have enough hard drive space and internet bandwidth for Dropbox to function properly.
Use Dropbox Website to Restore Deleted Files
If files disappeared from Dropbox because you deleted them, you can restore from the Dropbox website:
- Go to dropbox.com and login to your account.
- Click on the Deleted files option.
- Find the files you want to restore and click the Restore button.
This allows you to retrieve deleted files up to 30 days after deletion.
Reconnect Device to Dropbox
If Dropbox isn’t syncing properly on a mobile device:
- Open the Dropbox mobile app.
- Go to settings and tap your device name.
- Choose the option to unlink the device.
- Then re-link the device by logging into your Dropbox account again.
This forces Dropbox to fully re-sync everything on your mobile device.
Use Previous Versions to Restore Files
Dropbox automatically keeps 30 days worth of version history. You can restore previous versions of files through the website:
- Go to dropbox.com and right click on the file.
- Choose the option to view previous versions.
- Click on the version you want to restore.
This lets you roll back changes to files that may have been corrupted or overwritten.
Contact Dropbox Support
If you still can’t restore your files through the above options, you can contact Dropbox customer support.
Describe your sync issues and missing files. Dropbox may be able to restore from their server backups.
Enable Extended Version History
To protect against file sync issues in the future, go to your Dropbox settings and enable Extended Version History.
This will let you restore older versions of files, beyond the standard 30 days. It provides an extra backup if you ever need to recover files again.
Backups Outside of Dropbox
For maximum protection, keep an external backup of your important files outside of Dropbox. This gives you a fallback option if you can’t restore missing files from Dropbox.
I recommend periodically backing up your Dropbox folder to an external hard drive or cloud storage service. This could save you if files are corrupted or deleted that Dropbox can’t recover.
Summary
- Check app settings to re-enable syncing
- Restore deleted files from the website
- Reconnect devices to force a full re-sync
- Use previous versions to rollback changes
- Contact Dropbox support for further help
- Enable extended version history for more backups
- Maintain external backups outside of Dropbox
Recovering from Dropbox sync issues can be stressful. But using these tips, you have an excellent chance of getting your files back. Let me know if you have any other questions!
