How to preview files in Dropbox
This article describes a feature available to all Dropbox users, unless otherwise stated.
A file preview allows you to view, comment on, and share files without downloading them.
Depending on the file type, you may also be able to edit the file or add a signature.
- Learn how to edit PDFs in Dropbox.
- Learn how to add a signature to a PDF in Dropbox.
- Learn how to edit images and photos in Dropbox.
Not using Dropbox yet? See how Dropbox helps you effortlessly share files and folders.
How to preview files and folders
You can preview both files and folders on dropbox.com, but you can only preview files on the Dropbox mobile app.
You can preview files and folders in either full screen or quick view on dropbox.com:
- Full screen: File and folder previews will take up the entire browser page.
- Quick view: File and folder previews will take up the right half of the browser page, with your Dropbox file list and navigation on the left.
To manage your preview preferences:
- Log in to dropbox.com.
- Click the preview icon (half filled-in square) in the upper right, above the file list.
- Check or uncheck the boxes next to Files open in quick view and Folders open in quick view.
To preview a file or folder:
- Log in to dropbox.com.
- Right-click the file or folder you’d like to preview.
- Click Open in.
- Click Preview (Dropbox).
From here, you can star, share, download, and take other actions, depending on the file type or folder.
- While previewing a file in quick view, you can see related files in the Related files section below the preview.
- This feature may be available to customers on paid Dropbox accounts and is only available for documents and image files.
- The AI icon (two curved shooting stars) indicates that Related files are identified by an internal AI model.
- When previewing a file in full screen, you can create a comment link to share it with other users.
To preview files on the Dropbox mobile app:
- Open the Dropbox mobile app.
- Tap the name of the file to open it.
Depending on the file type, you can comment, edit, share, download, and more. You can also swipe left and right to navigate between files within a folder.
FAQs about previewing files in Dropbox
Why can’t I preview my file or folder?
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.
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
- .kth
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.
Can I open hyperlinks from a preview?
Yes, you can open links while you’re previewing a file. When you click an embedded link, you may see a pop-up window that shows you the url you’re navigating to.
