To remove Dropbox from Windows 10, first quit Dropbox by clicking its icon in the notification area, then your profile picture, and choosing Quit. Then go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, click Dropbox, and choose Uninstall. Uninstalling the app doesn’t delete your Dropbox account or the files stored online, and the local Dropbox folder on your PC stays until you delete it yourself.
Here’s how to remove it cleanly, including the leftover folders and the Dropbox entry in File Explorer, and how to keep your files safe first.
Before you uninstall: protect your files
- Download any online-only files you want to keep. Files marked with a cloud icon aren’t really on your PC. Right-click the files or folders in your Dropbox folder and choose Make available offline before uninstalling, or download them from dropbox.com later.
- Unlink the PC (optional but recommended). Click the Dropbox icon, click your profile picture, and choose Preferences > Account > Unlink this Dropbox. This removes the PC from your account’s device list.
Step 1: Quit Dropbox
- Click the Dropbox icon in the notification area at the bottom-right of the taskbar. Click the up arrow to show hidden icons if needed.
- Click your profile picture or initials.
- Click Quit.
Step 2: Uninstall the Dropbox app
- Press Windows + I to open Settings, then click Apps.
- Under Apps & features, find and click Dropbox. Type it in the search box to find it faster.
- Click Uninstall, then click Uninstall again to confirm.
- Follow the uninstaller and click Close when it finishes.
You can also uninstall from Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. If you installed Dropbox from the Microsoft Store, uninstall it the same way from Apps & features, or right-click it in the Start menu and choose Uninstall.
Step 3: Delete leftover files
The uninstaller leaves some folders behind. To remove them:
- Press Windows + R, paste each location below, press Enter, and delete the Dropbox folder if it’s there:
- %LOCALAPPDATA%
- %APPDATA%
- %PROGRAMFILES(X86)% and %PROGRAMFILES%
- Your synced files are in C:\Users\YourName\Dropbox by default. Move anything you want to keep to another folder, then delete this folder if you no longer need it.
Deleting files from the local Dropbox folder after uninstalling doesn’t delete them from dropbox.com, because the app is no longer syncing.
Step 4: Remove Dropbox from File Explorer
The Dropbox shortcut in File Explorer’s left pane usually disappears after uninstalling and restarting. If it’s still there:
- Restart your PC.
- If it remains, make sure the C:\Users\YourName\Dropbox folder is deleted or renamed, then restart File Explorer in Task Manager.
- If it still appears, reinstall Dropbox, sign out, and uninstall it again to let the uninstaller remove the entry properly.
If Dropbox won’t uninstall
- Make sure Dropbox isn’t running. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), end any Dropbox processes, and try again.
- Restart the PC and uninstall before opening anything else.
- Try uninstalling from Control Panel > Programs and Features instead, or download the latest Dropbox installer, run it over the old version, and then uninstall.
Want to stop Dropbox without uninstalling?
- Stop it from starting automatically: In Dropbox Preferences > General, uncheck Start Dropbox on system startup. Or go to Task Manager > Startup and disable Dropbox.
- Pause syncing: Click the Dropbox icon, click your profile picture, and choose Pause syncing.
Frequently asked questions
Will uninstalling Dropbox delete my files?
No. Your files stay in your Dropbox account online, and the local copies stay in the Dropbox folder on your PC.
How do I delete my Dropbox account?
Uninstalling the app doesn’t close your account. Sign in at dropbox.com, click your avatar, go to Settings > General, and click Delete account. Cancel any paid plan first.
Why is there still a Dropbox folder after I uninstalled?
Dropbox leaves your files on your PC on purpose so you don’t lose anything. Delete the folder yourself once you’ve saved what you need.
Do these steps work on Windows 11?
Yes. In Windows 11, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, click the three dots next to Dropbox, and choose Uninstall.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.