In fall of 2019, Dropbox launched a new desktop experience, which consists of a new desktop app, improvements to Dropbox in the system tray/menu bar, and the Dropbox folder in File Explorer/Finder.
In fall of 2019, Dropbox launched a new desktop experience, which consists of a new desktop app, improvements to Dropbox in the system tray/menu bar, and the Dropbox folder in File Explorer/Finder.
The Dropbox desktop experience is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems. (Visit this article instead if you are running Windows 10 in S mode).
Once installed, you’ll have the Dropbox desktop app, a Dropbox icon in your system tray/menu bar, and a Dropbox folder on your computer. Any changes you make to the Dropbox desktop app are automatically synced to your account on dropbox.com.
You should have received an email invite to join your Dropbox Business team. To get started, click the link in this email and follow the prompts. If you didn’t receive an email, or you need it re-sent, ask your IT department or Dropbox Business admin for help.
You’ll see the word “sync” a lot when you use Dropbox. Sync means you see the same version of a file on any device where you’ve signed in to your Dropbox account. Files you drag into the Dropbox folder automatically sync to Dropbox online. Changes or edits to the files in this folder will also sync to Dropbox.
Now that you’ve created an account, the next step is to start (or “launch”) the Dropbox desktop app. In some cases, the app may already be installed on your computer. If it’s not, you’ll need to download and install the app.
If the desktop app is already installed
If the desktop app is already installed on your computer, you’ll see a Dropbox folder in the Start menu, Finder window, or other file viewer. You should also see the Dropbox icon in the system tray or menu bar.
Click the app to launch it; you’ll then be prompted to sign in.
If the desktop app isn’t yet installed
If the desktop app isn’t yet installed on your computer, you’ll need to download it. There are two ways to do this:
Once the app is downloaded, you’ll see a Dropbox folder in the Start menu, Finder window, or other file viewer. You should also see the Dropbox icon in the system tray or menu bar. Click the app to launch it; you’ll then be prompted to sign in.
The desktop app runs in the background, and automatically keeps your files in sync (as long as your computer is online). This means you don’t need to manually upload or download files.
Once the app is downloaded, you’ll see a Dropbox folder on your hard drive (found in the Start menu, Finder view, or other file viewer). You should also see the Dropbox icon in the system tray or menu bar. Click the app to launch it; you’ll then be prompted to sign in.
Be sure to sign in with the same email address and password you used to join your Dropbox Business team. By signing in, you’ll “link” your computer directly to your Dropbox account. If you’re able to sign in, move on to step 4 of this guide.
If you already use Dropbox, you can also complete the desktop setup using a QR code reader on your phone.
What to do if you don’t see the password box
If you don’t see the box to enter your password, it’s likely that your team admin enabled single sign-on (SSO). If this is true, follow the steps below to access Dropbox. You’ll use the same username and password you use to sign in to the organization's network or other organization tools (like Active Directory).
When you sign in to Dropbox on your computer, you might see some folders already in your account. They’ll have different icons to help you understand what each means. You can work with these folders just like you do with any other folder on your hard drive.
There are four different kinds of folders you might see:
Team folder (or a folder in the team space). These folders are shared with all or part of your Dropbox Business team, and managed by your admin. They can also be shared with people outside of your team. |
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Personal folder (or team member folder). By default, your team member folder isn't shared with anyone else. But you can share it if you choose. |
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Regular folder. A regular folder works just like any other folder on your computer: it's a good way to organize files, but not shared with anyone. |
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Shared folder. You can turn a regular folder into a shared folder at any time. Members of a shared folder (those you share it with) can view, comment on, and edit the files in that folder.
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Note: The way these folder icons look varies depending on where you're viewing them. The icons above are from the Dropbox website (dropbox.com).
There are two ways to add files to these folders:
Files in the Dropbox folder are available on any other computer, phone, or tablet that you’ve linked to your Dropbox account. If you already have the Dropbox app on your phone or tablet, simply sign in to it with your work account. If you don’t yet have the app on your other devices, you can download it:
Sync works across any device that you’ve linked to your account. Simply sign in to Dropbox with the same username and password on any computer, phone, or tablet, and you’ll always see the same files.
If you’re using the mobile app for the first time, launch it and sign in with the username and password for your work account. If you’re already a Dropbox user, follow the steps below:
The admin of your Dropbox Business team may allow you to connect a personal Dropbox account on your work computer. This means you can access both personal and work files on the same device.
Once you connect your personal and work accounts, you’ll see two separate Dropbox folders on your hard drive or in the mobile app. Your work account will appear as Dropbox (Organization name), while the personal account will appear as Dropbox (Personal).
You can access files in the Dropbox folder on your computer even when you’re offline. That's because copies of these files are also stored on your hard drive. If you edit a file while you're offline, Dropbox will sync these changes the next time you're online.
Okay. You finished installing Dropbox and signing in on all your devices, and you’ve added your most important files. You’re ready to start using Dropbox.
Need anything else? The admin on your Dropbox Business team is your advocate, and the best place to bring ideas or questions.
Find the admin on your Dropbox Business team.