The fastest way to delete Dropbox

To remove Dropbox from your Mac, quit the app first, then drag it to the Trash from your Applications folder, and empty the Trash. That removes the program itself. If you also want to delete the Dropbox folder on your computer — the one that holds your synced files — you'll need to do that separately, because Dropbox doesn't delete your files automatically when you uninstall.

The whole process takes about two minutes. The files stay on Dropbox's servers even after you delete the app, so you can always sign back in online to retrieve them if you change your mind later.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstalling the Dropbox app from Applications does not delete your files — it only stops the app from running on your Mac.
  • Your Dropbox folder on your computer is separate from the app and must be deleted manually if you want to free up that space.
  • Files you've synced to Dropbox remain on Dropbox's servers after you uninstall, accessible through the website if you sign in later.
  • If you share files with others through Dropbox, those people lose access to shared links when you delete the folder from your Mac.

Step-by-step: Uninstalling the Dropbox app

Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar. Find Dropbox in the list, right-click it, and select Move to Trash. If Dropbox is currently running, your Mac will ask you to quit it first — click Quit, then repeat the move-to-trash step.

After you've moved Dropbox to Trash, go to the Finder menu at the top of your screen, click Finder, then Empty Trash. This permanently removes the Dropbox process from your Mac. You can verify it's gone by checking Applications again — Dropbox should no longer appear in the list.

Removing the Dropbox folder and your synced files

The Dropbox folder on your Mac — usually located in your home directory and labeled "Dropbox" — is where your synced files actually live. Uninstalling the app does not touch this folder. If you want to delete it and free up the space it uses, you need to delete it manually.

Open Finder, click on your home folder (your username appears at the top of the Finder window), and look for a folder named Dropbox. Right-click it and select Move to Trash. Then empty the Trash again. This removes all the files that were synced to your Mac, but does not affect the files stored on Dropbox's servers — you can still access them by signing into Dropbox.com on any browser.

Before you delete the Dropbox folder, make sure you have copies of any files you want to keep. Once you empty the Trash, those files are no longer on your Mac, though they remain in your Dropbox account online.

What happens to your files after you delete Dropbox

Files stored in your Dropbox account online stay there even after you uninstall the app and delete the folder from your Mac. You can sign into Dropbox.com from any computer or phone and read them, or access them through the web interface without downloading.

If you've shared files or folders with other people through Dropbox, those shared links stop working once you delete the folder from your Mac. The files themselves remain in your online account, but the people you shared them with can no longer access them through the link. If you want to keep sharing those files, you'll need to re-upload them or restore the folder before the links expire.

Removing Dropbox login information from your Mac

When you uninstall Dropbox, your login credentials may remain stored on your Mac. If you're selling the computer, giving it away, or sharing it with someone else, you should remove this information.

Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs), click Internet Accounts or Passwords and Accounts, find Dropbox in the list, and click the minus sign to remove it. This erases the stored password and account information. You can also check Keychain Access — search for it in Spotlight by pressing Command-Space, typing "Keychain Access," and pressing Enter. Look for any entries labeled Dropbox, select them, and press Delete.

Reinstalling Dropbox if you change your mind

If you delete Dropbox and later decide you want it back, you can reinstall it from Dropbox.com. read the installer, run it, and sign in with your account. Your files will sync back to your Mac automatically — Dropbox will read them from the servers to your computer.

Reinstalling takes longer than the initial uninstall because Dropbox has to read all your files again. The time depends on how many files you have and your internet speed. You can use your Mac while the sync happens in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting Dropbox from my Mac delete my files from the cloud?

No. Uninstalling the app and deleting the folder from your Mac does not affect the files stored on Dropbox's servers. You can sign into Dropbox.com from any browser and your files will still be there.

Can I delete just some files from my Dropbox folder without uninstalling the app?

Yes. You can delete individual files or folders from the Dropbox folder on your Mac the same way you'd delete any other file — right-click and Move to Trash. The app will sync that deletion to your online account, so the files disappear from both places.

What if I want to keep some files but delete the Dropbox app?

Copy the files you want to keep to another folder on your Mac before you delete the Dropbox folder. Then uninstall the app and delete the Dropbox folder. Your copied files will remain on your Mac in their new location.

Does uninstalling Dropbox free up space on my Mac?

Uninstalling the app itself frees up a small amount of space — the Dropbox process is about 150 to 200 megabytes. Deleting the Dropbox folder frees up much more space, depending on how many files you had synced. Check the folder size before you delete it to see how much space you'll recover.