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Question

Delete an Owner without losing files?

  • May 22, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 85 views
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Box newbie here.  Signed up someone as a user by mistake - should have added them as a collaborator.  I know I can delete the user, but that user has already added files for which they are listed as owner.  If I delete this user, all of the files for which they are owner will also be deleted, correct?  Can I change ownership for those files to myself first, then delete the user?  Or is there another way to avoid deleting all those files?  Trying to avoid having to go back and add tons of files again.

    1 reply

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    Hi Stephanie, 

    Welcome to the Box Community and thanks for your post in the forum!

    When admins try to delete a managed use, they are given the option to transfer that user's content to another user in your account or to themselves.

    If the user has contents he owns, admin will see this pop up window when they attempt to delete the user account. The admin can choose to transfer the content to themselves if they want to take ownership of the user's contents.

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    Please note this does not affect either existing collaborations or shared links, so users do not lose access to the content after the transfer completes.

    More information can be found in this article: https://support.box.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043694514-Deleting-a-User-and-Transferring-Their-Content

    Hope that helps!

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