How to Fix Dropbox Restore Not Working?

Dropbox is a popular cloud storage service that helps users store, organize, sync, and access their files across different devices. Restoring files is one of the most important features of Dropbox, allowing you to recover accidentally deleted files, roll back to older versions, or restore an entire computer backup. However, there are times when the restore process does not work as expected. You may see error messages, the restore may fail to start, or your files may not appear even after the process completes.

If Dropbox restore is not working, the issue is often related to permissions, version history limits, third-party tool configurations, or account-related restrictions. This easy guidance explains the common causes of Dropbox restore failure and walks you through practical solutions to get your files back.

What Is Dropbox Restore?

Dropbox offers several ways to recover your files, depending on what you need to restore.

Deleted files recovery lets you recover files and folders that have been deleted. Dropbox saves deleted files for 30 days on Basic, Plus, and Family accounts, 180 days on Professional, Essentials, Standard, and Business accounts, and 365 days on Advanced, Business Plus, and Enterprise accounts .

Version history lets you restore an older version of a file. This is useful if you made changes you want to undo or if a file was corrupted .

Dropbox Rewind lets you take a folder or your entire account back to a specific point in time. This is most useful for recovering from major data loss events like ransomware attacks or accidental mass deletions .

Dropbox Backup restore lets you restore your backed-up files and folders to a new computer if something goes wrong .

Why Dropbox Restore May Not Work

Dropbox restore can fail for several reasons. Understanding the cause makes it easier to choose the right fix.

Some common reasons include:

Files were permanently deleted and are outside the recovery window
You only have "Can view" access to a shared file
The version history period for your plan has expired
Third-party backup tool authentication issues
The app folder in Dropbox has been altered
Backup files are too large to restore at once
Scheduling conflicts or plugin issues with WordPress backup tools
Account restrictions or suspension

For users who depend on Dropbox to recover important files, resolving restore problems quickly is worthwhile.

Before You Begin Troubleshooting

Before starting any fixes, log in to Dropbox on the website and check whether the files you want to restore are still available.

Check the Deleted files page. If the files were deleted recently and you are within your plan's recovery window, they should appear here .

Check the version history. If you want to restore an older version of a file, check whether the file still exists and whether the version you need is within your plan's version history period .

Check your permissions. You can only restore a shared file if you have "Can edit" access. If you only have "Can view" access, you cannot restore it .

Check if files were permanently deleted. Permanently deleted files cannot be recovered through Dropbox. If you deleted files permanently or if they were deleted outside your account's version history, Dropbox Support cannot recover them .

Fix 1: Restore Deleted Files from the Deleted Files Page

The most common way to restore files is through the Deleted files page. This works for files deleted within your plan's recovery window.

Log in to and click Deleted files in the left sidebar . You can use filters to narrow down your search. Click on the name of the deleted file or folder you want to recover. To select multiple items, use the checkboxes. Click Restore .

You can also restore files directly in the folder they were deleted from. Navigate to the folder, click the settings icon, select Folder settings, and choose Show deleted files. Select the deleted file, click the more options menu, and select Restore .

After restoring, you can check the progress. Next to All files, click Restorations to see the status as a percentage .

Fix 2: Restore an Older Version of a File

If you need to undo changes to a file rather than recover a deleted one, use version history.

Log in to and hover over the file name. Click the ellipsis (...) and select Activity. Click Version history. Select a version to preview it, then click Roll back to this version .

You can also do this from the Dropbox desktop app. Right-click the file in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and select the version history option .

Fix 3: Use Dropbox Rewind for Major Restores

If you need to restore many files at once or recover from a major data loss event, Dropbox Rewind can take a folder or your entire account back to a specific point in time .

Note that Dropbox Rewind is only available on Dropbox Plus, Family, Professional, Essentials, and team accounts. It is not available on the Basic plan or the mobile app .

If you do not see the correct files after a rewind, your content may be permanently deleted, have "View only" permission, or be an unshared folder. Contact the file owner to get "Can edit" permission and then rewind again .

Fix 4: Restore Dropbox Backup to a New Computer

If you need to restore your backed-up files to a new computer, the process depends on whether you are restoring everything or just specific folders.

To restore your entire computer backup: Download the Dropbox desktop app on your new computer. If you have an existing backup, you will be prompted to restore from your backup. Select your preferred backup and click Confirm .

To restore only part of your backup: Log in to, click the dense grid icon in the left sidebar, and click Backup. Click Mac or PC, check the boxes next to the folders you want to download, and click Download .

You can also restore recently deleted folders within Dropbox Backup. Click the Dropbox icon, go to the Sync and Backups tab, select the backup, click View backed up files, click Show deleted files, select the folder, and click Restore .

Fix 5: Handle "Attempted to Zip Too Many Files" Error

If you are trying to restore a large backup and see an error saying "Attempted to zip too many files," the backup is too large to download as a single zip file .

In this case, download your files in batches. Navigate to the backup folder on and select smaller groups of files to download individually. This avoids the zip file size limitation.

Fix 6: Fix Third-Party Backup Tool Restore Issues

If you are using a third-party tool like UpdraftPlus to restore from Dropbox, the problem may be related to authentication or app folder configuration.

Re-authenticate the Dropbox connection. Go to the tool's settings, find the Dropbox connection option, disconnect, and reconnect using the same Dropbox account. Make sure you are logged into the correct Dropbox account in your browser before re-authenticating .

Check the app folder. Backup tools rely on a specific app folder in Dropbox. If that folder has been renamed, moved, or if multiple folders with the same name exist, the tool cannot list files correctly. Check your Dropbox account for the app folder and ensure it has not been altered .

Wipe settings and reconfigure. For UpdraftPlus, go to Advanced tools, click Wipe settings, and confirm. Then re-setup everything from scratch .

Update the plugin. Some restore issues are fixed in newer versions of backup plugins. Update to the latest version and try again .

Check the backup file details. Make sure the backup file you are trying to restore matches your current site. If you store backups from multiple sites in one Dropbox folder, it can cause confusion. Store backups in separate sub-folders .

Fix 7: Check for MySQL Connection Limits

If you are restoring a WordPress site from a Dropbox backup and the restore process hangs or times out, your web hosting may have a limit on MySQL database connections. Some hosts reduce the connection limit to one, which prevents the restore from completing .

Contact your web hosting provider to increase the MySQL connection limit, or try the restore again during a low-traffic period.

Fix 8: Check Version History Limits

If you cannot restore an older version of a file, it may be because the version you need is outside your plan's version history period.

Dropbox Basic, Plus, and Family accounts can recover versions made within the last 30 days. Dropbox Professional, Essentials, Standard, and Business accounts can recover versions made within the last 180 days. Dropbox Advanced, Business Plus, and Enterprise accounts can recover versions made within the last 365 days .

If the version you need is older than your plan's limit, you cannot restore it through Dropbox.

Fix 9: Check Permissions for Shared Files

You can only restore a shared file if you have "Can edit" access. If you only have "Can view" access, you cannot restore it .

If you need to restore a shared file but only have "Can view" access, contact the file owner to request "Can edit" permission. Once you have edit access, you can restore the file.

Fix 10: Contact Dropbox Support for Missing Files

If you have tried all the standard restore methods and still cannot recover your files, you can request file recovery from Dropbox Support. This option is available for customers on Dropbox Plus, Professional, Essentials, Standard, Business, Advanced, Business Plus, or Enterprise .

To request file recovery, log in to and navigate to the support page. Click Send an email and select File recovery from the dropdown. Navigate to your events page to find the activity you want to undo. Copy the link from your browser's address field and paste it in the Restoration Link section of the support email form .

Note that Dropbox Support cannot recover permanently deleted files or files deleted outside your account's version history .

How to Check Dropbox Restore After Fixes

After completing the troubleshooting steps, you can check whether the restore worked.

You can also check the Restorations page to view the progress of your restore. Next to All files, click Restorations. The Status column shows the progress as a percentage. When a file or folder is fully restored, it disappears from the Deleted files list .

Common Dropbox Restore Problems

Although Dropbox restore is generally reliable, users can sometimes experience problems.

Files not appearing after restore

If files do not appear after a restore, check whether the restore is still in progress. Large restores can take time. You can view the progress on the Restorations page.

Restore process fails or hangs

If the restore process fails or hangs, try again. If you are restoring from a third-party tool, check the authentication and app folder settings. For WordPress sites, check for MySQL connection limits .

Cannot restore shared files

If you cannot restore a shared file, check your permission level. You need "Can edit" access to restore shared files .

Version history not available

If version history is not available for a file, the version you need may be outside your plan's version history period. Check your plan's limits and consider upgrading if you need longer history .

Third-party tool cannot list backup files

If your backup tool cannot see the backup files in Dropbox, check whether the app folder has been altered. Re-authenticating the connection and wiping settings can help .

Tips for a Smooth Dropbox Restore Experience

Check your recovery window. Know how long your plan keeps deleted files and version history, and act quickly if you need to restore something .

Keep your Dropbox app updated. Outdated applications can have compatibility issues that affect restore.

Maintain your third-party tool connections. Regularly verify that your backup tool is still connected to Dropbox and that the app folder has not been altered.

Avoid permanently deleting files. Once permanently deleted, files cannot be recovered through Dropbox .

Final Thoughts

Fixing Dropbox restore problems provides a convenient way to recover your important files and keep them accessible across supported devices. The troubleshooting process involves checking the Deleted files page, using version history, verifying permissions, and resolving third-party tool issues.

If you experience a restore problem, checking your recovery window, re-authenticating third-party tools, and contacting Dropbox Support for missing files can often help. Once restore is working again, you can use Dropbox with confidence knowing your files are protected and recoverable.

With the right configuration and regular updates, Dropbox can become a reliable part of your everyday file management workflow.