A file preview allows you to view, comment on, and share files without downloading them. However, you can’t edit a file from a preview.
To preview a file on dropbox.com, the desktop app, or the mobile app, click the name of the file. There you will see comments, activity, and other information about the file. On the desktop app, click the expand preview button (arrow symbol in the upper-right corner) to see an expanded view.
Not using Dropbox yet? See how Dropbox helps you effortlessly share files and folders.
Why can’t I preview my file?
If you see an error message when you try to preview a file, visit this article.
If not, check that your file type is supported.
If your file type isn’t supported or won’t preview, you can download it to your computer and open it in an application on your computer to view it. To download a file:
- Sign in to dropbox.com.
- Click All files in the left sidebar.
- Click the file you want to download to open its preview window.
- Click “…” (ellipsis) in the bottom right corner.
- Click Download.
Open the file from your Finder (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows).
Why am I only seeing the first page of my file?
If you’re trying to preview one of the following file types, you’ll only be able to preview the first page or frame of your file. You’ll be able to see the rest of the pages if you download and open the file.
- .numbers
- .pages
- .key
- .keynote
- .gif
Why is the date uploaded on my file more recent than the date modified?
Dropbox preserves the date your file was modified when you upload it through the Dropbox desktop app. For example, this can happen if you last modified a file 3 months ago but uploaded it yesterday.
