Dropbox system requirements: an overview

Updated Mar 21, 2025

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:

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
- 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.

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:

macOS 10.13 High Sierra and later
- Find out what operating system you’re currently using.
- Update your operating system.

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 not disabled
- This is true for most modern computers and hard drives.

Important note: The Dropbox desktop app for Linux is changing. To continue enjoying the full desktop experience on Linux, you may need to meet additional requirements or download additional libraries.

To run the Dropbox desktop app on your computer using Linux, 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 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 doesn’t 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 (unless you’re running it in headless mode)

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 desktop app on Linux

Users will need to meet the minimum requirements to run the full Dropbox app on Linux, but they 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 the desktop app.

The Dropbox mobile app

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

Android 8 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

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
- Find out what operating system you’re currently using
- Update your operating system

An iPhone or iPad 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

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
- Find out what operating system you’re currently using
- Update your operating system
A device that can run the required operating system
- Check if your device can run the required operating system
The latest Dropbox app for Universal Windows Platform
- Download the latest app

Learn more about the Dropbox app for Windows in S mode (Dropbox Lite).

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:

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:

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
For Android, you need Android 8 (API level 26) or later
- Note: The app isn't supported on Chrome OS