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Dropbox lets you store files online and access them from dropbox.com, its desktop app, or its mobile app. To get started, create an account, add files using the method that suits your device, and choose whether files should also be stored locally. Before sharing, check whether a link allows viewing or editing.
What you need to know before using Dropbox
Dropbox keeps files associated with your account accessible across the web and supported devices. You can use it in a browser without installing the desktop app, or install the app to add a Dropbox folder to File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac. The mobile app lets you access files and upload content from a phone or tablet. See Dropbox’s current installation and system requirements before installing: supported operating systems can change.
Dropbox Basic includes 2 GB of storage with no time limit, according to Dropbox Help’s sync overview updated May 28, 2025. It is a limited starting allowance, not unlimited backup. Dropbox Help’s account setup article, updated October 28, 2025, says Basic users can connect up to three devices. Check the current plan terms if you need more storage or devices.
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How to create and set up a Dropbox account
- Go to dropbox.com/register.
- Enter your email address, first and last name, and a unique password, then follow the prompts to create the account.
- Choose Dropbox Basic or a paid plan when prompted. Review the plan details displayed for your account before deciding.
- Sign in at dropbox.com, or install the desktop or mobile app and sign in with the same account.
A browser is convenient for occasional access or a computer where you do not want a local Dropbox folder. The desktop app is useful when you want files to appear in File Explorer or Finder and sync in the background. Use the mobile app to browse files or upload content from your phone or tablet.
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How to add files to Dropbox
Upload from the website
- Sign in at dropbox.com.
- Choose Upload, then select files or folders and confirm.
- Wait for the upload to finish before closing the page or disconnecting.
Add files with the desktop app
- Install and open the Dropbox desktop app, then sign in.
- Open the Dropbox folder in File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac.
- Drag or copy files into that folder. The app uploads them and syncs them to your Dropbox account; check its status and wait until it says Up to date.
Upload from a phone or tablet
Open the Dropbox mobile app and use its add or upload action to select content. You can also use an app’s Share action to send content to Dropbox when that option is available. The exact labels and steps can vary by device and app version.
Dropbox’s official help pages have reported conflicting upload-size limits: one upload article updated April 21, 2026, gives different limits by method than a setup article. Because those figures conflict, do not assume a universal limit. For an unusually large file or folder, check Dropbox’s current upload limits and use the method-specific limit shown there.
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How to sync Dropbox to your computer or phone
Sign in to the same Dropbox account on each device. Files added to Dropbox become available through the account, and files in the desktop Dropbox folder sync across Dropbox locations. The browser provides access without setting up a local folder; the desktop app integrates Dropbox with the computer’s file manager; and the mobile app provides access and uploads on a phone or tablet.
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Choose between online-only and available-offline files
| Setting | What happens | Internet and disk use |
|---|---|---|
| Available offline | The file is stored on the computer as well as in Dropbox and can be opened without an internet connection. | Uses space on the computer and in Dropbox. |
| Online-only | The file appears in the computer’s Dropbox folder but must be downloaded when you open it. | Requires internet to open; uses less local disk space until downloaded. |
Choose available offline for files you may need without a connection or want stored locally. Choose online-only when local disk space is limited and you can rely on an internet connection. The files still count toward your Dropbox storage.
How to share a Dropbox link with view-only access
- On dropbox.com, find the file or folder, hover over it, and choose Share.
- Copy the link, then open Manage to choose the link permission for viewing or editing. Labels and available options may vary by account.
- Confirm the link is set to view-only if recipients do not need to change the shared content, then send it.
View-only link recipients cannot edit the original through that link. Edit access lets recipients make changes. Link restrictions apply to people accessing through that link; they do not remove access already granted directly or to people who already have access. Review existing access separately. A recipient’s experience can also depend on whether they are part of a Dropbox team and on that team’s permissions.
Find files and recover mistakes
On the Dropbox website, use search to locate files, or browse All files and Shared. Dropbox also provides Deleted files and version-history options, but sidebar items depend on the plan and deletion retention depends on the account. Open the recovery options shown in your account rather than relying on a single retention period for every user.
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Manage storage and avoid losing local access
If a Basic account exceeds its storage allowance, Dropbox says some over-quota accounts may be restricted from syncing, uploading, sharing, moving, or previewing files. Dropbox sends advance email notices before it starts deleting files owned by the account to bring storage under the limit.
Before removing files or changing plans when you are near the quota, confirm that important files are fully downloaded if you need local copies. Fully downloaded local copies remain available; online-only placeholders and files marked for offline use in the mobile app may not be saved automatically to the device’s file system. Check the status of each important file and download it to a location you control if needed.
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