Over-quota data loss: downgrade, lose write access, then watch files be deleted

Dropbox's 'Exceeding storage space on Dropbox Basic' help page sets out a graduated penalty for being over quota. First come restrictions: while over the limit "you may not be able to sync, upload, share, move, or preview files and folders" — in practice a read-only, partially frozen account. If the account "remains over the limit, Dropbox may delete files you own to bring your account below the storage limit," starting with the least-recently-modified files. Deleted items go to the Deleted files tab for 30 days before permanent removal, and Dropbox says it sends email warnings before deleting anything.

The scenario most users hit is a downgrade trap: someone on a paid plan accumulates far more than the 2 GB Basic allowance, then cancels or lapses to Basic and is immediately over quota with no realistic way to get back under it except deleting data or re-subscribing. Dropbox Community threads are full of users who report being unable to delete files to free space, seeing only an 'upgrade' prompt, or losing edit access to documents they still own.

This is a documented, current policy rather than a one-off event; the representative year reflects the period the current help-center wording and the bulk of complaints fall in.