Dropbox system requirements: an overview

To find your system requirements, choose the app or website you'd like to use and your operating system from the list below.

To run the Dropbox desktop app on a Windows computer (not in S mode), you need:

• 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.
• Windows 7, 8, 8.1
  • Important: Users on these operating systems can only run the simplified version of the Dropbox desktop app. Learn more about the simplified version of the Dropbox desktop app.
  • Windows 7 also requires the KB2533623 security update (or a newer update that includes it). Dropbox won’t work correctly on Windows 7 without this update. Learn how to install the required Windows 7 update.

• A computer that can run the required operating system
  • Check if your device can run the required operating system.

• The latest Dropbox app for Windows (not in S mode)
  • Download the latest app.

• An NTFS-formatted hard drive
  • This applies to most modern computers and hard drives.

How to install the required Windows 7 update

If you’re using Windows 7, you’ll need a security update to keep Dropbox running correctly. The most secure way to install this is through Windows Update. Most newer Windows 7 updates already include the security patch (KB2533623).

Update through Windows Update:

1. Click Start.
2. Click Control Panel.
3. Click System and Security.
4. Click Windows Updates.
5. Select Check for updates.
   • Many recent updates already include the required patch.

If you can’t update normally
If Windows Update doesn’t work, you can manually install the minimum required update (KB253363) from the Microsoft Update Catalog, and follow Microsoft’s installation instructions.

To run the Dropbox desktop app on a Mac computer, you need:

• macOS 11 Big Sur and later
  • Find out what operating system you’re currently using.
  • Update your operating system.
• macOS 10.13 High Sierra, 10.14 Mojave, 10.15 Catalina
  • Note: Users on these operating systems can only run the simplified version of the Dropbox desktop app. Learn more about the simplified version of the Dropbox desktop app.

• A Mac computer that can run the required operating system
  • Check if your device can run the required operating system.

• The latest Dropbox app for Mac computers
  • Download the latest app.

• An HFS+ or APFS-formatted hard drive with extended attributes turned on.
  • This applies to most modern computers and hard drives.

To run the Dropbox desktop app on a Linux computer, you need:

• The latest Dropbox app for Linux
  • Download the latest app.

• A Dropbox folder on a hard drive or partition, formatted with one of the following 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 doesn’t officially support other Linux distributions, but it may work on distributions that meet the following requirements:
    • GDK 2.24 or later
    • GTK 2.24 or later
    • Glibc 2.27 or later
    • 64-bit
    • A desktop environment (unless you’re running it in headless mode)

The full Dropbox desktop app on Linux

You need to meet the minimum requirements to run the full Dropbox app on Linux, but you may also need to download additional libraries or extensions. Learn how to get the full Dropbox desktop app on Linux.
 

The headless Dropbox app

To run the Dropbox app using the command line only, you only need the Dropbox app essential requirements. You can then install the app and use the Linux Command Line Interface (CLI) to control it.

To use the Dropbox mobile app on your Android device, you need:

• Android 9 or later
  • Find out what operating system you’re currently using and update it.

• A device that can run the required operating system
  • Check if your device can run the required operating system.

• The latest Dropbox app for Android
  • Download the latest app.

• Additional requirements
  • You must have 100 MB or more free space on your device.

Learn how to access your Dropbox account on an Android device.

To use the Dropbox app on an iOS device (iPhone and iPad), you need to use:

• iOS 16.7.10 or later
  • Find out what operating system you’re currently using.
  • Update your operating system.

• An iPhone that can run the required operating system
  • Check if your device can run the required operating system.

• The latest Dropbox app for iOS
  • Download the latest app.

• Additional requirements
  • You must have 150 MB or more free space on your device.

Learn how to access your Dropbox account on an iOS device.