How to use multi-file organize to sort Dropbox files

Updated Jan 17, 2024

This feature is available to all Dropbox users on dropbox.com.

Multi-file organize helps you arrange your Dropbox content. The feature organizes your files using options such as date, keyword, or file activity.

How to use multi-file organize

To use multi-file organize for your files on dropbox.com:

Log in to dropbox.com.
Open the folder you’d like to organize.
Click the gear icon next to the folder name.
Click Organize.
Select Multi-file organize from the dropdown.
Select the filter option you’d like to apply.
- Learn more about filter options below.
Click Preview.
- This will open a preview that shows how the folder will look after organizing.
- From the Preview screen, you can unselect any files you don’t want included in the grouping.
- To apply multi-file organize to files that are moved into the folder in the future, check the box next to Apply rule every time a file is added to this folder.
Click Apply.

Note: You can use multi-file organize to sort files in both automated and non-automated folders. The organization options you see for a folder may vary, depending on the files in your folders. Learn more about folder automations.

Filter options for multi-file organize

The filters available to you depend on your plan. You can combine different rules to create filters.

Keyword - This will organize content by an assigned keyword, then move them to a folder of your choosing.

Note: To filter by keyword, type your keyword and then press enter. To filter using multiple keywords at the same time, press enter after each keyword.

Inactivity - This will group all content that hasn’t been accessed recently. You can choose the inactive timeframe from the dropdown.
Timeframe - This will group your content together based on the date it was created or uploaded.
Smart move - This will group files into existing sub-folders based on Dropbox recommendations.

Custom filters - This will sort files by size, file extension, or keyword, then move them to a folder of your choosing. To filter content into one folder using multiple rules, click Add rule. To organize content into multiple folders using different filters, click Create new filter.

Note: To filter by keyword, type your keyword and then press enter. To filter using multiple keywords at the same time, press enter after each keyword.

Timeframe - This will group your content together based on the date it was created or uploaded.
Inactivity - This will group all content that hasn’t been accessed recently. You can choose the inactive timeframe from the dropdown box.
Smart move - This will group files into existing sub-folders based on Dropbox recommendations.

Note: To undo multi-file organize, click Undo in the panel that appears at the bottom of the screen. This will load after you click Apply and the action is completed.