How to use Slack with Dropbox

The Dropbox and Slack integration allows you to:

• Share files and message people in Slack right from a Dropbox file.
• See who shared your files in Slack, what channels they shared them in, and when they shared them in the Activity section of a file preview.
  • Note: Slack activity will appear without specific details if you don’t have access to the channel or message it was shared in.

Are you a Dropbox team admin?

Learn how you can manage app integrations like Slack for your entire team.

Connect Slack to your Dropbox account

1. Sign in to dropbox.com.
2. Click the grid icon in the top left.
3. Click App Center from the menu that appears.
4. Click Slack.
   • If you don't see Slack, use the App Center search bar.
5. Click Connect, and follow the prompts.

Note: You can also connect from Slack by adding the Dropbox app to your workspace.

Connect an additional Slack workspace to your Dropbox account, including from an Enterprise Grid

1. Sign in to dropbox.com.
2. Click your avatar (photo or initials) in the top right.
3. Click Settings.
4. Click the Connected apps tab.
5. Click Slack.
6. Click Manage.
7. Click Connect another Slack account, and follow the prompts.

Note: You can set a default Slack workspace by clicking Set as Default next to the workspace you’d like to set as your default. This workspace will be used for any Slack features in Dropbox.

Save files from Slack to Dropbox

You can save files you receive via Slack to your Dropbox account. To do so, click the “⋮” (vertical ellipsis) next to the message that contains the file, and click Save to Dropbox. The file will automatically be saved to a folder in your Dropbox account named “/Slack/”, appended with the name of your workspace.

Note: If you don’t see Save to Dropbox, click More message shortcuts… and search for Save to Dropbox.

Share files in Slack from Dropbox

On dropbox.com

1. Sign in to dropbox.com.
2. Hover over the name of the file and click the checkbox that appears on the left.
3. Click the arrow next to Share above the file thumbnail in the right sidebar.
4. Click Slack, and add a message if you’d like.
5. Click Send next to the channel or person you'd like to share with.

On the Dropbox mobile app

1. Open the Dropbox mobile app.
2. Tap the “⁝” (vertical ellipsis on Android) or “…” (ellipsis on iPhone/iPad) next to the file or folder you’d like to share.
3. Tap Share.
4. Tap Copy link. The link is copied to your clipboard. 
5. Tap Slack from among your sharing choices, and follow the prompts.

A link to the file will appear in the Slack channel you chose or in a direct message with the person you chose. After sharing a Dropbox file in Slack, you can search for the filename in the Slack search bar to find it.

Message people in Slack from Dropbox

You can message someone you're sharing a file with in Slack directly from a Dropbox file preview. To do so:

1. Sign in to dropbox.com.
2. Hover over the file you’d like to message from and click the checkbox.
3. Click the circle in the top right with the photo or initials of the person you’d like to message.
   • If you don’t see the person, click the overflow list (the circle with the number in it), and click the person you’d like to message.
   • If it’s in a shared folder, click the overflow list (the circle with the number in it), click the folder, and click the person you’d like to message.
4. Click the text box that says Message on Slack, and type your message. Your message and a link to the file will be sent to that person.
   • If you don’t see Message on Slack, click the downward-facing arrow and select Slack.
5. Click Send.

Receive Slack notifications for Dropbox activity

Once the Dropbox integration has been added to Slack, you’ll receive direct notifications from Slack regarding Dropbox activity. 

You’ll receive a notification in Slack when: 

• Someone shares something with you 
• Someone views content you shared 

Notifications are primarily for file activity, not folders. However, you’ll receive a Slack notification if you’re sent a folder via email. You won’t be notified if someone opens or views a folder. 

When you receive a Slack notification about Dropbox activity, you’ll be able to open the file or folder in Dropbox by clicking View on Dropbox on the notification. This will open a new browser tab to view the file on dropbox.com. If the notification includes a PDF file, you’ll have the option to view or edit on dropbox.com.

Learn more about configuring your Slack notifications.

Disconnect Slack from your Dropbox account 

1. Sign in to dropbox.com.
2. Click your avatar (photo or initials) in the top right.
3. Click Settings.
4. Click the Connected apps tab.
5. Click Slack.
6. Click Disconnect.