Remote wipe is a security feature for device management that allows you to remotely clear data from a mobile device or laptop that is lost or stolen. Dropbox users on <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/plans">Plus, Professional, and team plans</a> can delete any data on their device or hard drive’s Dropbox folder, ensuring sensitive files remain in their control.

Will removing files with remote wipe delete them from Dropbox?

Using the remote wipe feature with Dropbox will not delete the files from your Dropbox account. Instead, it will only clear them from the device or hard drive that was lost or stolen. Your data will remain stored in dropbox.com, so you can easily <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/features/sync">sync your files</a> to your new device or hard drive whenever you need to.

Remote wipe your device and data

Q: How can I remotely wipe Dropbox data on an iPhone or Android device?

To <a href="https://help.dropbox.com/delete-restore/delete-dropbox-device">remotely wipe your Dropbox data</a>, simply sign in to your dropbox.com account and select the device you'd like to wipe clean of your Dropbox data. If you're on a Dropbox Plus, Professional, or team plan, you can delete the Dropbox folder from any linked device the next time your account is online. Team admins can also <a href="https://help.dropbox.com/delete-restore/remote-wipe">remote wipe files from a specific team member’s device</a>. This is recommended when someone is no longer a member of your team, or if their device is lost or stolen.

Lost your device? With remote wipe, you can protect your files across your iPhone, Android, tablet and computer

Get started

A message box confirming that the device has been wiped

Lost or stolen device? Keep your data safe.

Whether you've accidentally left your phone, laptop, or tablet on the subway, or your device has fallen into the wrong hands, don't worry—Dropbox provides data protection to keep your files safe. You can clear the data on your device or perform a remote wipe to ensure that no one else can access your files.

With Dropbox, you can be sure that your data is secure and protected, even if your device isn't in your hands. If you choose, you can sync your files from dropbox.com with a new device when you’re back up and running.

Sync your files

Message box asking a user to confirm they would like to wipe their devices.

Get extra reassurance

Once you have remotely wiped a device, sign in to your Dropbox account and verify that your data has been successfully erased from the device. Check your account status to ensure that all of your data has been completely removed and that no traces of it are still present on the device.

After the status has been confirmed, you can rest assured that your data is no longer accessible from the device.

Secure your data

Wipe any device

You can use remote wipe to securely remove Dropbox data from all your personal devices:

Remote wipe laptop and desktop computers
Remove Dropbox data from iPhones and iPad
Clear your Dropbox files from Android phones and Android tablets

This can help protect your data if the device is lost or stolen, as no one else will be able to access your files and folders. Remote wipe can also help you to quickly and easily clear out old files from devices, freeing up storage space and allowing you to start fresh.

Free up storage space

A user selecting their tablet for remote wipe of all Dropbox data

Frequently asked questions

Remote wipe is a security feature for device management that allows you to remotely clear data from a mobile device or laptop that is lost or stolen.

Dropbox users on Plus, Professional, and team plans can delete any data on their device or hard drive’s Dropbox folder, ensuring sensitive files remain in their control.

To remotely wipe your Dropbox data, simply sign in to your dropbox.com account and select the device you'd like to wipe clean of your Dropbox data. If you're on a Dropbox Plus, Professional, or team plan, you can delete the Dropbox folder from any linked device the next time your account is online.

Team admins can also remote wipe files from a specific team member’s device. This is recommended when someone is no longer a member of your team, or if their device is lost or stolen.

Using the remote wipe feature with Dropbox will not delete the files from your Dropbox account. Instead, it will only clear them from the device or hard drive that was lost or stolen.

Your data will remain stored in dropbox.com, so you can easily sync your files to your new device or hard drive whenever you need to.