How to Uninstall Dropbox

Dropbox is a web-based file hosting service that allows users to easily store and share files and folders across the internet.

If you used Dropbox previously but have no use for it now, you can easily remove the application using the steps discussed in this article.

The purpose of this article is to teach users how to completely remove the Dropbox application on a Windows computer.

How to uninstall Dropbox in Windows

Task 1 – Terminate Dropbox process

Open Windows Task Manger (press Ctrl+Shft+Esc), click the Processes tab, and terminate the following process:

  • Dropbox.exe

Task 2 – Remove Dropbox application via Add or Remove Programs

For Windows 7 and Vista

  • Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then click Programs and Features.
  • Select Dropbox in the Currently Installed Programs list.
  • Click Uninstall.
  • Click Yes if User Account Control Dialog box asks you to confirm your action.
  • Restart Windows.

For Windows XP

  • Click Start, click Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove Programs.
  • In the Add or Remove Programs window, locate and select Dropbox.
  • Click Remove.
  • Restart your computer.

Task 3 – Delete Dropbox files

  • c:\documents and settings\administrator\application data\dropbox\bin\itag
  • c:\documents and settings\administrator\application data\dropbox\bin\DropboxExt.13.dll
  • c:\documents and settings\administrator\application data\dropbox\bin\Dropbox.URL
  • c:\documents and settings\administrator\application data\dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe
  • c:\documents and settings\administrator\application data\dropbox\bin\msvcp71.dll
  • c:\documents and settings\administrator\application data\dropbox\bin\Python25.dll
  • c:\documents and settings\administrator\application data\dropbox\bin\msvcr71.dll
  • c:\documents and settings\administrator\application data\dropbox\bin\Uninstall.exe

Task 4 – Delete Dropbox folders

Open Windows Explorer, and then locate and delete the following files:

  • C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\dropbox
  • C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\dropbox\bin
  • C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\Dropbox
  • C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\My Dropbox

Task 5 – Delete Dropbox registry entries

When you uninstall a program using Add or Remove Programs, some entries related to the application remain behind in your Windows registry. The best way to delete these orphan entries is to run a registry scan using a top-rated Windows registry cleaner. We recommend that you scan your registry using RegGenie, an advanced and simple-to-use registry maintenance software, after uninstalling Dropbox from your computer to remove all the ‘leftover’ Dropbox registry entries.

In case you want to manually remove Dropbox entries, then as a precaution back up the registry before editing it. Next, open the Registry Editor window by running the regedit command. Finally, locate and delete the following registry entries:

  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\contextmenuhandlers\dropboxext
  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FB314ED9-A251-47B7-93E1-CDD82E34AF8B}
  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FB314EDA-A251-47B7-93E1-CDD82E34AF8B}
  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FB314EDB-A251-47B7-93E1-CDD82E34AF8B}
  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\directory\background\shellex\contextmenuhandlers\dropboxext
  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\directory\shellex\contextmenuhandlers\dropboxext
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\classes\*\shellex\contextmenuhandlers\dropboxext
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{FB314ED9-A251-47B7-93E1-CDD82E34AF8B}
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{FB314EDA-A251-47B7-93E1-CDD82E34AF8B}
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{FB314EDB-A251-47B7-93E1-CDD82E34AF8B}
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\classes\directory\background\shellex\contextmenuhandlers\dropboxext
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\classes\directory\shellex\contextmenuhandlers\dropboxext
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\dropbox
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\uninstall\dropbox
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\shelliconoverlayidentifiers\dropboxext1
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\shelliconoverlayidentifiers\dropboxext2
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\shelliconoverlayidentifiers\dropboxext3
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Dropbox\DisplayIcon
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Dropbox\DisplayName
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Dropbox\DisplayVersion
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Dropbox\HelpLink
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Dropbox\InstallLocation
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Dropbox\NoModify
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Dropbox\NoRepair
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Dropbox\UninstallString
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Dropbox\URLInfoAbout
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache\C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe

Task 6 – Remove Dropbox shortcut

Finally, delete the following Dropbox shortcuts:

  • C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\Dropbox.lnk
  • C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Dropbox.lnk

Removing Dropbox manually is a long process and can cause trouble in case you delete a wrong file or registry entry. That is why we recommend that you remove any unwanted software, including Dropbox, from your computer by using Perfect Uninstaller, which is a top-rated Windows uninstaller program.

When you remove a software using Perfect Uninstaller, all traces of the program (including its files, folders, and registry entries) are removed permanently from your computer.