Dropbox is a popular cloud storage and file sharing service used by millions of people worldwide. If you no longer need or want to pay for a Dropbox subscription, you can cancel and close your account. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cancel your paid Dropbox plan.
Table of Contents
Determine What Type of Dropbox Account You Have
The first step is to determine what type of Dropbox account you have:
- Individual account – This includes the Plus, Professional, and Family plans purchased directly from Dropbox.
- Business account – This includes Dropbox Business plans purchased for a team or enterprise. Only admins can cancel business accounts.
- Mobile subscription – If you subscribed to Dropbox through the App Store or Google Play, you’ll need to cancel through those stores.
Back Up Your Files (Optional)
Before canceling your paid Dropbox storage plan, you may want to back up your files. Once you cancel, you’ll revert to the free Basic account with limited space.
To download a backup:
- Log in to the Dropbox website
- Click on your profile icon
- Select Settings
- Click the Backup tab
- Click Download full backup
The backup file contains all files and folders in your Dropbox.
Cancel Your Paid Dropbox Subscription
To cancel your individual or family Dropbox plan:
- Log in to dropbox.com
- Click on your profile icon
- Select Settings
- Click on Plan
- At the bottom, click Cancel plan
- Select a reason for canceling
- Click Continue canceling
You’ll receive a confirmation email when your account cancellation is complete.
To cancel a business account, only an admin can cancel the plan. Contact Dropbox support if you need further assistance.
Downgrade to the Free Dropbox Basic Plan
Once you cancel your paid Dropbox subscription, your account will automatically downgrade to the free Basic plan. With the Basic plan, you get:
- 2 GB of free storage space
- File syncing across linked devices
- File sharing capabilities
If you don’t need any Dropbox services at all, you can fully close your account.
Optional: Delete Your Dropbox Account
If you want to permanently delete your Dropbox account:
- Log in to Dropbox
- Click your profile picture
- Select Settings
- Scroll to the bottom and click Delete account
Once deleted, your files and account will be permanently erased. You won’t be able to restore your account.
Uninstall Dropbox App and Software
As a final step, uninstall any Dropbox desktop or mobile apps from your devices:
Windows:
- Click the Windows start menu
- Search for Add or remove programs
- Find Dropbox and select Uninstall
Mac:
- Go to the Applications folder
- Drag the Dropbox app to the Trash
iPhone or iPad:
- Tap the Dropbox app icon until it starts jiggling
- Tap the X icon to delete the app
Android:
- Open the Google Play Store
- Tap the hamburger menu
- Select My Apps & Games
- Tap Dropbox and select Uninstall
And that’s it! By following these steps, you can easily cancel and close a paid Dropbox account and revert to using the free basic features if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about canceling a Dropbox paid subscription:
Will my files be deleted if I cancel my subscription?
No, canceling your paid Dropbox subscription will not delete your files. Your files stay in the cloud storage. However, if you downgrade to the Basic free plan, you only get 2GB of storage. So you may need to remove some files if you exceed the limit.
Can I get a refund if I cancel early?
Unfortunately, Dropbox does not offer prorated subscription refunds in most cases. However, some locations like the EU offer refunds within 14 days of first purchasing the plan. Contact Dropbox Support to check if you qualify.
If you created shared folders that others have access to, they will still be able to view those folders after you cancel your account. However, you will no longer have access to those shared folders yourself.
I canceled accidentally – can I reactivate my account?
If you canceled your paid Dropbox subscription accidentally, contact Dropbox Support immediately. They may be able to reactive your previous subscription and restore your account details. However, this is not guaranteed. Act fast!
How do I download my files before canceling?
Before canceling your paid Dropbox plan, you can download a full backup of all your files and folders. Just log in to Dropbox, go to Settings > Backup, and click “Download Full Backup”. This will allow you to store all your files locally.
Summary
Canceling your paid Dropbox account is a straightforward process. Just log in to your account, head to settings, click “Cancel Plan”, and confirm the cancellation. Optionally, you can also delete your account entirely or simply downgrade to the free Basic plan.
Be sure to back up your files before canceling your subscription. And if you change your mind later, contact Dropbox Support to see if they can restore your previous plan.
