How to download a file or folder from Dropbox

Updated Aug 01, 2024

You can download files and folders from your Dropbox account on dropbox.com straight to your computer.

Downloading files versus syncing

When you download a file or folder from your Dropbox account, you download a separate local copy of that file. This means that any edits you make to the downloaded file won’t be reflected in the original file in your Dropbox account.

When you edit files in the Dropbox desktop app, Dropbox mobile app, or on dropbox.com, the changes automatically update everywhere you use Dropbox.

Learn more about syncing files with Dropbox.

How to download a single file or folder from Dropbox

To download a single file or folder:

Log in to dropbox.com.
Hover over the file or folder you’d like to download.
- Note: You can view pages in a document, scrub through a video, or flip through the contents of a folder without opening it. To do so, make sure you’re using grid layout, then move your cursor horizontally across the file or folder.
Click the checkbox next to the file or folder you’d like to download.
Click Download.

How to download a Dropbox Paper doc

To download a Paper doc:

Log in to dropbox.com.
Hover over the file or folder you’d like to download.
- Note: You can view pages in a document, scrub through a video, or flip through the contents of a folder without opening it. To do so, make sure you’re using grid layout, then move your cursor horizontally across the file or folder.
Click “…” (ellipsis).
Click Save as… and select your desired file format. This will create a new file in the same folder as the original Paper doc.
Hover over the converted file.
Click the checkbox.
Click Download.

How to download multiple files or folders

To download multiple files or folders at once:

Log in to dropbox.com.
Hover over one of the files or folders you’d like to download.
- Note: You can view pages in a document, scrub through a video, or flip through the contents of a folder without opening it. To do so, make sure you’re using grid layout, then move your cursor horizontally across the file or folder.
Click the checkbox next to that file or folder.
Click the checkboxes next to the file(s) and/or folder(s) you’d like to download.
Click Download.

Notes:

You can only download a folder if it’s less than 250 GB (uncompressed) and has fewer than 10,000 total files. Files within deeply nested folders still count toward the 10,000 file limit.
Folders download as compressed .zip files. Learn how to unzip files on Windows and Mac.

Where are files that I downloaded from Dropbox?

Unless your computer’s default settings have been changed, your file or folder will download to your computer’s "Downloads" folder.

Why am I experiencing issues downloading large files from Dropbox?

When you download large files, folders, or collections of multiple items from your Dropbox account, you may receive a warning that the download will take a long time, based on your current internet speed.

In these instances, it can be better to download fewer items at a time, to reduce the strain on your network and avoid needing to restart the process if your connection is interrupted.

Alternatively, you can change the settings in the desktop app to allow Dropbox to use more bandwidth when syncing files.

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