Dropbox lets you store files online and access them through dropbox.com, its desktop app, or its mobile app. To get started, create an account, choose the access method that fits your device, then upload files or put them in the desktop app’s Dropbox folder. Before sharing, check whether a link allows viewing or editing; before relying on a file without internet, make it available offline.
What you need to know before using Dropbox
Dropbox is a cloud file service: files added to your account can be reached from its website and apps. The desktop app adds a Dropbox folder to File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac and syncs its contents. A browser is useful when you want access without setting up that local folder, while the mobile app supports access and uploads from a phone or tablet.
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Dropbox Basic includes 2 GB of storage with no time limit, according to Dropbox’s sync overview, updated May 28, 2025. That is a limited allowance, not unlimited backup. Dropbox says Basic accounts are limited to three connected devices in its account setup guidance, updated October 28, 2025; check the current plan terms if you need to connect more devices.
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How to create and set up a Dropbox account
- Go to dropbox.com and choose the option to create an account.
- Enter your first and last name, email address, and a unique password, then complete the registration prompts.
- Choose Dropbox Basic or a paid plan when the setup flow offers a plan choice.
- Sign in with the same account on each device where you want to use Dropbox, subject to the device limit for your plan.
You can use the account in a browser, install the desktop app for a local Dropbox folder, or install the mobile app to access and upload files from a phone or tablet. Dropbox’s current desktop requirements page lists Windows 10 and 11 (excluding S mode) and macOS 11 Big Sur or later for the standard app; requirements can change, so check Dropbox’s system requirements before installing.
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Choose how to access Dropbox
| Access method | Best for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Website | Accessing files from a browser without configuring a local Dropbox folder | Use dropbox.com to browse, upload, search, and share files. Website navigation options can vary by plan. |
| Desktop app | Working with files through your computer’s normal file manager | Adds a Dropbox folder to File Explorer or Finder and syncs files in the background. Files in that folder upload and sync to your account. |
| Mobile app | Accessing files and adding content from a phone or tablet | Use the app’s add or upload action; you can also send content from other apps using their Share action. |
How to add files to Dropbox
Upload from the website
- Sign in at dropbox.com and open the location where you want the files.
- Choose Upload, then select files or folders from your device.
- Wait for the upload to finish before closing the page or disconnecting.
Add files from a computer
Install and sign in to the desktop app, then drag or copy files into the Dropbox folder in File Explorer or Finder. The app uploads and syncs those files. Check its status; when it shows Up to date, the upload has completed.
Upload from a phone or tablet
Open the Dropbox mobile app and use its add or upload action to select content. For content already open in another app, use that app’s Share action and choose Dropbox if it is offered.
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Upload limits vary by method, and Dropbox’s official help pages have reported conflicting size limits. For unusually large files or folders, consult the current Dropbox upload limits page before choosing a method rather than relying on a general figure.
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Sync keeps changes to synced files available across Dropbox on your computers, phones or tablets, and the web. Decide whether a file should also occupy space on a particular computer:
- Available offline: The file is downloaded to the computer, uses local disk space as well as Dropbox storage, and can be opened without an internet connection.
- Online-only: The file appears in the computer’s Dropbox folder but needs an internet connection to open; it downloads when opened.
Dropbox’s file availability guidance explains how to manage these choices. Exact menu labels and steps may differ by app version and operating system.
Sync is not the same as backup
Use sync for files you expect to edit and share across Dropbox locations: changes to synced files propagate through Dropbox. Dropbox describes computer or external-drive backup as a safety copy; edits to files in that backup do not update the original computer or drive. See Dropbox’s backup overview for the distinction. Neither feature by itself should be treated as a tested, independent backup strategy.
How to share a Dropbox link with view-only access
- On dropbox.com, hover over the file or folder and choose Share.
- Copy the link, then open Manage to select the link permission for viewing or editing.
- Choose view-only if recipients do not need to change the shared content, then send the link.
People with view-only access cannot edit the original through that link. The recipient experience may depend on whether the recipient belongs to a Dropbox team and on that team’s permissions. Link restrictions apply to people accessing through that link; they do not revoke access someone already has through direct permissions or other access. Review both link settings and existing direct access before sending. See Dropbox’s link-sharing instructions for current controls.
Find files and recover something you deleted
On the website, use search or the All files and Shared areas to locate content. The sidebar may vary by plan. If a file is missing, open Deleted files and check the account’s available version-history or recovery options. Dropbox says deletion retention depends on plan, so do not assume one recovery window applies to every account. Its deleted-file recovery guidance describes the available process.
Keep an eye on storage and quota
If a Basic account goes over 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 you own to bring the account under its limit. Fully downloaded local copies remain available, but online-only placeholders and files marked for offline use in the mobile app may not have been saved automatically to the device’s file system. Check the account’s current storage status and make sure important files are fully downloaded before cleanup or a plan change; see Dropbox’s over-quota guidance.
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