Dropbox is a market leader in cloud storage and syncing services. It syncs all of your digital files and folders so you can access them from any device with an internet connection.
Drop box hosting allows you to easily share your files with others. Drop box includes technologies that set it apart from competitors, such as digital signature services.
What is DropBox?
Dropbox is a file hosting service that is sometimes known as “cloud storage.”
The Drop box is one of the oldest and most popular cloud storage systems available today, but it is not the only one.
Microsoft OneDrive, Box, Sync, and Google Drive are all viable options.
How Dropbox works
When you sign up for Drop box, you are given a set amount of storage space in an online server known as “the cloud.”
When you install the Dropbox app on your PC, mobile device, or both, any files you keep in your Drop box will be copied to the Drop box server as well.
The Drop box is a cloud storage service that syncs files between a remote server and your devices.
If you make modifications to these files in one location, the changes are automatically replicated elsewhere.
By synchronizing your Drop box files locally and online, you can effortlessly view and share them with others from anywhere.
Key Features of Dropbox
While Drop box is primarily an online storage service that syncs information between your own devices and the cloud, it also provides a wide range of other functions.
- Unrestricted Storage
- Encryption Safety
- Increase Storage
- Access
- Security
- Data Backup
- Sharing
- Access to Tools
- Quickly Share Screenshots
- Add File Comments
- Edit Microsoft Office Files Online for Free
- Save Space with Selective Sync
- Use Previous Versions to Go Back in Time
- Discover Everything You’re Sharing
- Upload all of your photos to the Drop box.
- Personalize Drop box Notifications
- Make a Drop box file request
How to sign up for Dropbox
To create a Dropbox account, follow these steps:
- Sign up for a Drop box account.
- Fill in your name and email address (your email address is the username for your Dropbox account).
- Enter a distinct password.
- Check the box to confirm that you agree to the Dropbox conditions.
- Select Create Account.
If you already have the Drop box mobile or desktop apps installed, you may create an account by running the app and choosing Sign up.
Dropbox Login
Login into the desktop app
If you are not already logged in on Dropbox.com, you will be requested to sign in after installing the Drop box desktop program.
You can log in with your email address and password, Google, or Apple. If you do not already have an account, click Sign up instead.
If you’re signed into one account and want to sign into a linked account:
- Navigate to the Drop box desktop app options.
- Navigate to the Account tab.
The email address associated with your linked account will be shown.
- Click Sign in next to your associated account.
Login into the mobile app
If you are not already logged in on Dropbox.com, you will be requested to sign in after installing the Drop box mobile app.
You can log in with your email address and password, Google, or Apple.
If you do not already have an account, click Sign up instead.
If you’re signed into one account and want to sign into a linked account:
- Launch the Drop box mobile application.
- Go to your app’s settings.
- On Android, press the menu icon (horizontal lines) in the top left, followed by Settings.
- On iPhone/iPad, tap the avatar (person icon) in the bottom right, followed by the gear icon.
- Tap Sign in under your linked account.
To Sign out of dropbox.com.
Click your avatar (profile photo or initials) and then Sign out on dropbox.com.
Close the desktop app.
- Navigate to the Drop box desktop app options.
- Navigate to the Account tab.
- Select Sign out.
- If you have linked accounts, click Sign out next to the account from which you want to sign out. The accounts will remain linked, and the other account will continue to be active.
- To confirm, click Sign out again.
What’s New in Dropbox?
Dropbox Passwords, for example, is included with all accounts, including the free one (although for Business Standard and Business Advanced accounts, sharing features of the password managers are technically still in beta).
Furthermore, since Drop box purchased HelloSign, you can use a paid Drop box account to e-sign documents and request digital signatures from others.
And, while Drop box isn’t a full-fledged online backup solution, the software does assist you in selecting key files and folders on your devices to sync and store in the cloud, from which you can recover at any time.
Drop box Rewind allows paying members to restore their files to a state they were in up to 30 days ago (longer for some plans) and up to three documents for e-signature per month.
Other sections of the service, however, have harsher constraints for free users, such as a 100MB file transfer size limit and the inability to search the content of PDFs submitted using the Dropbox mobile app scanner.
When viewing local files that have also been saved to Drop box, icons show files that have been synchronized (green with a checkmark) and are currently being synced (blue with two circular arrows).
Drop box has two more account choices for individuals that require more than the free account provides.
Personal Plus accounts are $11.99 per month or $119.88 per year, and they include 2TB of storage.
Plus includes offline file access, remote device wiping, Smart Sync (similar to OneDrive’s Files on Demand), and capability for 2GB file transfers.
The Personal Family account, which costs $19.99 per month or $203.88 per year, is another option.
It’s comparable to Personal Plus in that it has 2TB of storage space, but it can be shared by up to six individuals.
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Supported Apps and Compatibility
Dropbox has been in the file-syncing and storage business for many years, and its experience shows.
Dropbox apps are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, and Windows tablets (as a Windows store app).
There is also a web app that works nicely in a pinch.
Drop box works almost discreetly when installed on a computer, appearing and functioning more like a component of your operating system than a separate app.
It does not appear to be like other cloud syncing services, such as SugarSync, which has a full app UI even on the desktop.
Other cloud storage and syncing services, such as OneDrive, iCloud, and Google Drive, on the other hand, integrate even more tightly with the OS.
One significant advantage of using Drop box is that it interacts with virtually every other software and web service available. Assume you have a mobile email client that works with cloud storage services. The Drop box is almost certainly going to be one of them.
Dropbox also integrates with automation tools IFTTT and Zapier, allowing you to create custom rules for the Drop box to act with another app when triggered. “When an applicant applies to such-and-such app, immediately download a PDF of it to Drop box,” for example. To build up those kinds of interactions, you don’t need to know how to code.
How to Install and Set Up Dropbox apps
Drop box files can be accessed via dropbox.com or the Dropbox apps. Install the Dropbox apps on your PC, phone, or tablet to have access to your files from any device.
To install the Dropbox app on your computer, follow these steps:
- Install the Dropbox desktop application on your computer.
- Launch the installation.
- Sign in or up for a Drop box account.
You only need one account regardless of how many devices you want to sync.
To install the Dropbox app on your phone or tablet: follow these steps:
- Download the Dropbox mobile app for your phone or tablet from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Launch the app.
- Sign in or up for a Dropbox account. You only need one account regardless of how many devices you want to sync.
How to Upload Files to a Dropbox Account
You can add files to your Dropbox account once you’ve created an account. Any files you add to your Dropbox account are synced across all computers, phones, and tablets where Drop box is installed.
To add files from dropbox.com, follow these steps:
- Sign in to dropbox.com.
- Select Upload.
- Select Files or Folders.
- If you selected Files, select as many files as you want and then click Open.
- If you choose Folder, navigate to a folder and click Upload.
Please keep in mind that each file or folder you upload to dropbox.com must be 50 GB or less. Use the desktop or mobile apps for larger files or folders, as there is no file size limit.
To add files from your PC, follow these steps:
- Launch your file explorer.
- Go to the Drop box folder.
- Drag and drop files into the Drop box folder or copy and paste them.
When you add files to your Dropbox folder, they are automatically uploaded to Drop box. Your files have been successfully uploaded to the Drop box when they have green check icons over the file icons.
To add files from your phone or tablet:
- Launch Dropbox on your phone or tablet.
- Select the Plus (plus) icon.
- Select Create or upload a file.
- Select Upload File.
Dropbox Download
How do I download my Dropbox files?
You can download files and folders from your Dropbox account to your PC.
Connect to dropbox.com.
- Hover your mouse over the file or folder you want to download.
- Click “…” (ellipsis).
- Select Download.
Dropbox Pricing
Which Dropbox plan should I choose?
- Dropbox Basic, with 2 GB of storage space, if you want to sample Drop box’s basic syncing and sharing features for free.
- Dropbox Plus With for 2 TB of storage plus additional syncing, security, and file recovery capabilities.
- Dropbox Family, if you want to share 2 TB of storage space as well as Drop box Plus features with a group.
- Dropbox Professional if you want 3 TB of storage space, all of the advanced capabilities of Drop box Plus, as well as additional sharing and productivity features tailored to freelancers and small businesses.
- Dropbox Business if you’re part of an organization that wants extra space or admin controls. There are numerous plans to select from, all of which have features that will help you organize material and collaborate with your team.
You can upgrade or decrease your plan at any time, and you will not lose access to your files.
Dropbox Works Automatically and Invisibly
Simply place files in the Drop box folder and leave them there to use the Drop box.
Everything else happens on its own.
Drop box, like most other file-syncing and storage services, automatically syncs your files everywhere, so they’re accessible from any internet-connected system where Drop box is installed or that has a web browser.
Files saved at home are instantly transferred to your office computer.
Photos you upload from the Dropbox iPhone app appear on your home PC, and so forth.
It is possible to keep your files on the cloud without also saving them on your computer’s local hard drive, however, this option is only available to paying subscribers, not free users.
The benefit of using this option, known as Smart Sync, is that it offloads files so that they don’t take up space locally.
Your computer only downloads files when you need to open and work on them when you utilize Smart Sync.
A comparable feature is available in other competing services.
Files On Demand is a feature of OneDrive that is available to all account types.
Individuals and Google Workspace users can both utilize Google Drive’s desktop application.
Using Dropbox for Backup
Although file syncing services are not the same as online backup services, Drop box can back up a few folders that do not reside within the service’s master folder, such as Documents, Desktop, and Downloads (OneDrive’s backup option includes Pictures).
If you already use another service to back up these folders, the Dropbox backup setup will fail.
After you’ve configured the Drop box to back up any of these folders, you can use them normally, and any files stored in them will be accessible via the online and mobile apps.
When you delete files from your Drop box folder on your computer, they are also deleted from all other devices where Drop box is installed, as well as from your online Drop box account.
IDrive and SOS Online Backup store locally deleted data in the cloud indefinitely (this is known as archiving) in case you accidentally delete them.
Drop box does save deleted files, but only for a limited period. You can retrieve any file or folder deleted in the last 30 days with Dropbox Basic (free),Plus, and Family accounts.
You have 180 days to retrieve deleted files if you have any other account type.
Security and Privacy
Dropbox transfers files using normal SSL/TLS, while data at rest is encrypted using 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).
You can use SMS text messages or an authenticator app on your smartphone for multi-factor authentication.
Drop box is domiciled in the United States, therefore it adheres to the Department of Commerce’s Privacy Shield framework, which ensures a certain amount of data privacy protection.
The privacy policy of the company deserves some credit for being stated in plain and simple language.
It specifies who may have access to your data and under what circumstances.
According to the company, it will not sell user information to advertising companies or third parties.
Drop box also produces a transparency report that details the number of government requests for information, the type of request (for example, a search warrant or a subpoena), and whether or not Drop box gave the information.
Collaborating Using Dropbox
While Dropbox isn’t a collaboration program in and of itself, it does provide good assistance for those who want or need to collaborate with others on files stored in the cloud.
Drop box allows you to collaborate in two ways.
One method is to share files and directories.
The other method is to enable collaborative authoring, editing, and commenting directly on shared files.
Collaboration: File Sharing
You can share files and folders with others via a computer, or mobile device, or by logging in to your Drop box account using a web browser.
The sharing controls are adequate for free users and fantastic for paid clients.
Drop box users can share any file or folder with individuals by emailing them a message including a link. You can provide recipients read-only or edit access to the files.
Individual with read-only access can download the file, make their copy, and alter it as they see fit. However, it does not permit anyone to overwrite their own file.
Another method for sharing stuff is to create a link to certain folders or files that you want to share, which you can then give to others in whatever way you see fit.
Business-grade members (not free, Plus, or Family) receive extra tools for regulating how they share stuff, such as the ability to put an expiration date to a link and password-protect shared items.
OneDrive has the same facilities and does not provide them for free—however, unlike Drop box, personal paying users receive these tools from Microsoft.
Drop box alerts you when someone accesses, comments on, or otherwise interacts with a shared file.
You receive an email informing you of who did what, and if you have the desktop software installed, you receive a notice informing you of what occurred.
File Request is another approach to collaborating through file sharing.
You create a folder and ask people to add files to it; they can’t see what others have submitted.
Other services, such as Google Drive, allow you to share folders as well, but the permissions operate differently.
A collaborator on Google Drive can have either view-only or editing access.
In any situation, the person can see all of the stuff in the folder, even if it was uploaded by someone else.
Collaboration: Authoring, Editing, and Commenting
Dropbox isn’t an office suite, so don’t expect it to provide all of the same benefits as Google Workspace or Microsoft Office when it comes to filing co-authoring and editing.
However, Drop box can interface with Microsoft Office products, allowing you to use, for example, Word or Excel to edit a Drop box file, including collaboratively.
Drop box has similar connectivity with Google Workspace, allowing you to create and share Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
Furthermore, Drop box offers its own built-in collaborative editing tool called Drop box Paper, which is far less comprehensive than an office suite.
You can create new Paper documents directly from the Dropbox web app, and your collaborators can include videos, photos, and tables, as well as emojis and stickers.
Dropbox Paper is only accessible through a web browser and its mobile apps.
Your Paper documents will not be visible in the Drop box folder on your PC, but a link from the system icon opens Paper in your browser.
It has commenting tools almost everywhere, and almost all of its features may be utilized collaboratively by simply adding a @ symbol and the name of the collaborator in question.
There’s a to-do list option, for example, that enables you to jot down activities you need to perform or chores for a group of people, with @name to make the assignments explicit.
When you collaborate on a Drop box Paper project, you don’t see the typing flags; instead, you see initials and a different-color insertion point for each collaborator, just like in Office Online.
A Paper document can be saved as a Word, PDF, or markdown (.md) file. Paper is a new approach to office collaboration, but it should not be confused with a full-fledged project management program like Asana.
Additional Features and Integrations
Drop box purchased the digital signature provider HelloSign a few years ago, and its technologies are now integrated into Dropbox.
That means you may use an e-signature to securely and legally sign documents, as well as send files out with a signature request.
You can request and receive up to three signatures each month with any Paid Dropbox plan. You may remove that restriction by upgrading to the Professional + e-Sign plan, which costs $24.99 per month.
Drop box mobile apps perform exactly as well and as smoothly as the other apps, but with added convenience features.
For example, you can configure Drop box to automatically upload any images, videos, or screenshots taken with your mobile device to your account.
The Drop box mobile app also contains a built-in scanner, allowing you to quickly scan documents and save them to a folder of your choice.
You can save files offline, view only images (for example, when you want to show others photos you’ve shot and saved to Drop box), and more.
Drop box’s ability to support different apps is another strength.
It entered the integration market early on and has a great track record of ensuring that other popular apps and tools, particularly productivity apps, function as seamlessly as possible with Drop box.
Simple and Reliable Syncing, Plus Extras
The drop box isn’t exactly a fancy service.
Its allure is that it works silently, consistently, and seamlessly in the background.
Paid Drop box accounts have various convenient features that allow you to easily share, collaborate, and collect signatures on documents.
Is it more expensive than competitors, terabyte for terabyte? Yes.
It’s also difficult to make a compelling argument for Drop box if you already pay for another storage service, such as Google Drive or OneDrive, as part of your office suite subscription.
Our Editors’ Choice winners are Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive due to their excellent value and feature offerings.
If you don’t want to keep your data with such services and don’t mind paying a little more, Drop box is a great alternative that we highly recommend.
Pros
- Apps for almost every operating system
- Multiple methods to collaborate
- Good features for paid customers
- Digital signing tool included
- Excellent integration support
Cons
- Free accounts have limited storage space
- Paid accounts are costly.
Dropbox Download for PC
Install the Drop box desktop app with administrative rights.
- If you already have a Drop box installed, uninstall it.
- Install the Drop box application.
- Launch the installation.
- Do not use the right or command mouse buttons. Execute as an Administrator
- Follow the installation wizard’s instructions.
- If an administrative login and password are required, enter them or contact your administrator to sign in.
- You are already an administrator on your computer if you are not prompted for an administrative login and password.
- Finish the installation and log in to the Drop box.
Is Dropbox secure?
Dropbox files are protected by 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard encryption (AES). SSL/TLS is used to protect data in transit between applications and Dropbox servers.
When signing in, two-step verification is also accessible as an added degree of security.
Unless you intentionally provide links to files or folders with others, all of these security features keep your files private and secure.
Is Dropbox free?
Dropbox has a free account that includes 2GB of cloud storage and allows you to instantly sync and view your files from different devices such as PCs, phones, and tablets.
The number of devices allowed under the free plan is also limited (up to 3).
If you need additional storage or want to get past that limitation, premium plans start at around $10 per month.
Dropbox vs. Google Drive
Is Dropbox better than Google Drive?
Drop box and Google Drive both provide a solid infrastructure for storing and syncing your files, as well as plenty of speed and built-in sharing management. One significant difference is how Drop box addresses cloud storage, as it smoothly interacts with the OS and syncs folders as you would organize local storage.
Google Drive, on the other hand, combines this functionality with deep integration of Google apps and services such as Gmail, Google Docs, Calendar, and others. Google Drive’s free plan provides 15GB of free storage and syncs across an unlimited number of devices.
The 7 Best Dropbox Alternatives
- Google Drive.
- Microsoft OneDrive.
- iCloud Drive.
- MEGA.
- 5. Box.
- pCloud.
- Sync.com.
FAQs
Does Dropbox exist for free?
Dropbox Basic makes it simple to access your files from numerous devices—computers, phones, and tablets—for free: Mac and Windows: Install our program, and everything in your account will appear in your computer’s Drop box folder.
Is there free Dropbox?
Drop box Basic makes it simple to access your files from numerous devices—computers, phones, and tablets—for free: Mac and Windows: Install our program, and everything in your account will appear in your computer’s Drop box folder.
Why is DBX stock dropping?
Dropbox stocks fell 19.3 percent in November following the Q3 earnings release.
Because the findings appeared to be solid, the sell-off was most likely caused by broad market pressure on tech companies. The stock now has a price-to-free cash flow ratio of 12.5 times.
What does a Dropbox transfer do?
Dropbox Transfer allows you to easily and securely transfer huge files or groupings of files while also confirming delivery. Choose a background image and logo for your transfer’s download page to add custom branding.
What is Dropbox Free Storage Limit?
How much storage space does Dropbox Basic provide? Dropbox Basic allows you to save up to 2 GB of data. We also provide paid storage options with 2 TB or more.
How do I download the Dropbox app to my computer?
Install the Drop box desktop app with administrative rights.
- If you already have a Drop box installed, uninstall it.
- Install the Dropbox application.
- Run the installer.
- Follow the installation wizard’s instructions.
- Finish the installation and log in to the Drop box.
Conclusion
Dropbox is a straightforward and dependable service for file synchronization and storage, but it will cost you more than using the storage that comes with an office suite.
