Dropbox system requirements: an overview
The information in this article applies to all Dropbox users.
The Dropbox desktop app
To find your system requirements, choose the app or website you'd like to use and your operating system from the list below.
If you’re using a Windows computer (not in S mode), and you want to run the Dropbox app, you need to use:
- Windows 10 or 11 not in S mode
- Find out what operating system you’re currently using.
- Update your operating system.
- If your operating system is running Windows in S mode, you’ll have to follow these requirements instead.
- A computer capable of running the required operating system
- The latest Dropbox app for Windows (not in S mode)
- An NTFS-formatted hard drive
- This applies to most modern computers and hard drives.
Notes:
- Dropbox supports ARM processors for the above Windows versions.
- Dropbox doesn’t support Windows Server OS.
- While the Dropbox desktop application on Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 may continue to function for some time, these versions will no longer receive updates or support after October 22, 2024. Dropbox plans to limit or cease functionality for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 in May 2025.
To run the Dropbox desktop app on your Mac, you need to use:
- macOS 10.13 High Sierra and later
- A Mac computer that can run the required operating system
- The latest Dropbox app for Mac computers
- An HFS+ or APFS-formatted hard drive with extended attributes not disabled
- This is true for most modern computers and hard drives.
The Dropbox mobile app
To run the Dropbox mobile app on your Android device, you need to use:
- Android 8 or later
- A device that can run the required operating system
- The latest Dropbox app for Android
Learn how to access your Dropbox account on an Android mobile device.
To run the Dropbox app on an iOS device (iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch), you need to use:
- iOS 15 or later
- An iPhone or iPad that can run the required operating system
- The latest Dropbox app for iOS
Learn how to access your Dropbox account on an iOS mobile device.
The Dropbox app for Windows in S mode (Dropbox Lite)
To run Dropbox Lite on your device using Windows in S mode (the Universal Windows Platform) you need:
- Windows 10 with Redstone 2 Update (1703) or later
- A device that can run the required operating system
- The latest Dropbox app for Universal Windows Platform
Learn more about the Dropbox app for Windows in S mode (Dropbox Lite).
The Dropbox desktop app for Linux computers
Essential requirements for Linux
To run the Dropbox app on your computer using Linux, you need:
- The latest Dropbox app for Linux
- A Dropbox folder on a hard drive or partition formatted with one the following file system types:
- ext4
- zfs
- eCryptFS (back by ext4)
- xfs
- btrfs
- One of the following Linux distributions:
- Ubuntu 64-bit: 18.04 or later
- Fedora 64-bit: 28 or later
- Dropbox does not officially support other Linux distributions, but it may work on distributions that meet the following requirements:
- Glibc 2.27 or later
- 64-bit
- Desktop environment (when not running Dropbox Headless)
Notes:
- If your device doesn’t meet the operating system requirements, you may still be able to use the Dropbox desktop application, but results may vary.
- If you experience an issue and contact Dropbox Support without the correct system requirements for Linux, you'll be asked to use the correct system requirements.
- Dropbox doesn’t support ARM processors for Linux.
The full Dropbox app on Linux
If you’d like to get the full Dropbox desktop app, you need to use:
- A computer capable of running the required operating system, and one of the following desktop environments:
- GNOME shell (you may need the TopIcons extension to get the Dropbox icon in your menu bar.)
- Unity
- GNOME Classic
- XFCE with the corresponding Nautilus dependencies
- These additional requirements, when applicable:
- GTK 2.24 or later
- Glib 2.40 or later
- Libappindicator 12.10 or later
- Nautilus 3.10.1 or later
The headless Dropbox app on Linux
To run the Dropbox app “headless” (using the command line only), you only need the Dropbox app essential requirements. Then, you can install the app and use the Linux Command Line Interface (CLI) to control the desktop app.
The Dropbox website at dropbox.com
You can transfer and download files from dropbox.com using most modern browsers. However, dropbox.com works best on the two most recent versions of:
Note: Safari versions 12 and earlier aren’t supported.
IPv6 addressing
The Dropbox desktop app supports connecting on networks that use IPv6 addressing.
Requirements:
- An updated version of the Dropbox desktop app
- A working DNS64/NAT64 gateway
Dropbox automatically detects the address protocol in use on the network. If your internal network uses IPv6 addresses, then the desktop application operates within this environment.
Dual-stack (or native dual-stack) IP implementation
With a dual-stack IP implementation where both IPv6 and IPv4 are available, Dropbox uses the IPv6 network by default. If IPv6 addresses are slow to resolve, the app defaults to IPv4.
Note: LAN sync uses IPv4. If your network only supports IPv6, then you can’t use LAN sync.
Dropbox Paper on web and the Dropbox Paper mobile app
You can use Dropbox Paper on most modern browsers. However, it works best on the two most recent versions of:
Note: Safari versions 11 and earlier aren’t supported.
Dropbox Paper mobile app
For iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch:
- Download the most recent Paper iOS app.
- Your operating system must be iOS 13.1 or later.
For Android phone:
- Download the most recent Paper Android app.
- Your operating system must be 7.0 or later.
The Dropbox Passwords desktop and mobile apps
Learn how to download and install Dropbox Passwords.
Dropbox Passwords mobile app
- For an iPhone and iPad, you need iOS 13.1 or later.
- Note: The Dropbox Passwords mobile app is safe to use on iPad, but it’s not officially supported.
- Note: The Dropbox Passwords mobile app is safe to use on iPad, but it’s not officially supported.
- For Android, you need Android 8 (API level 26) or later.
- Note: The app isn't supported on Chrome OS.
Dropbox Passwords browser extension
- Chrome 66 or later
- Firefox 63 or later
- Edge 79 or later
- Safari 14 or later
The Dropbox app for Infinite Office
The Dropbox app for Infinite Office is available on the Oculus App Lab. To run the app, you need to use an Oculus Quest 2 device.
For the best experience, always keep your device updated with the latest version of the Dropbox app, and run it on a device with at least:
- 1 GB of hard drive space
- 2 GB of RAM
