How to make a file or folder available offline in Dropbox

You can make your Dropbox files and folders available offline on your computer, phone, or tablet. This is similar to downloading your files and folders, except it also keeps them in Dropbox, so they’re saved offline on your device as well as online on dropbox.com.

When you make something available offline, you can open files in Dropbox or view and edit files in applications on your device, without being connected to the internet.
 

Will Dropbox sync my files while I’m offline?

While you're offline, changes made to your files and folders on your offline device won't sync with Dropbox. This means that the changes won't show on other devices you have synced to your Dropbox account.

Once you're back online, Dropbox syncs your updates automatically. These changes will be updated across all devices where you access Dropbox.

Learn more about how Dropbox syncs your files.
 

How to make files and folders available offline in the Dropbox desktop app

You can make your files and folders available offline so you can open them without an internet connection.

Before you start

• Download and install the Dropbox desktop app on a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer.
• Make sure you have an application installed that can open the file type offline. For example, you’ll need a PDF viewer to open a PDF.
   

Make a file or folder available offline

1. Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
2. Navigate to your Dropbox folder.
3. Right-click the file or folder and select Make available offline.

If you don’t see a file or folder you want offline, you may need to adjust your sync settings.
 

Adjust your sync settings

1. Click ☑ (Dropbox) in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (macOS).
2. Click your avatar (profile picture or initials) in the bottom-left corner.
3. Click Preferences.
4. Click the Sync tab.
5. Under Selective sync, click Select folders.
6. Check the folders you’d like saved on your hard drive. Uncheck the folders you’d like removed. Learn more about selective sync.
7. Click Save.
8. Click Confirm.

Wait a few minutes while the file or folder updates. A file or folder is available offline once you see it has a solid green checkmark next to it. Learn about the different sync icons and what they mean.

The file is now available offline and can be found locally in the Dropbox folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac). Learn about Linux sync settings.
 

How to make files and folders available offline on the Dropbox mobile app

Files and folders in the Dropbox mobile app aren’t stored on your phone or tablet, so they aren’t available offline by default.

To make files and folders available offline:

1. Download and log in to the Dropbox mobile app.
2. Next to or under the file you’d like to make available offline, tap ☑ (more options).
3. Toggle Make Available Offline on. 
   • To make your file only available online again, toggle off Make Available Offline. You can also make your Dropbox files online only to save space on your devices.

How to keep your offline files and folders updated on the Dropbox mobile app

By default, your offline files don’t stay continuously updated, or synced, if you’re only connected to data. You must be connected to Wi-Fi with your list of offline files and folders open for them to update.

To update files while using mobile data:

1. Go to your list of offline files.
   • Tap the yellow “!” (exclamation point) next to a file to update it.
   • Tap the refresh icon (circular arrow in the top-right) to update all offline files.

If you want your offline files and folders to update regardless of whether you’re connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data:

1. Open the Dropbox mobile app.
2. Open your app settings.
   • On Android, tap ☑ (account) at the bottom of the screen, and then tap ☑ (settings).
   • On iPhone/iPad, tap ☑ (account) in the bottom-right, and then tap ✗ (settings) in the top-left.
3. Toggle Use data for offline files (Android) or Use Cellular Data (iPhone/iPad) on.
    

How to check storage usage for offline files and folders on the Dropbox mobile app

1. Open the Dropbox mobile app.
2. Open your app settings.
   • On Android, tap ☑ (account) at the bottom of the screen, and then tap Settings.
   • On iPhone/iPad, tap ☑ (account) in the bottom-right, and then tap ☑ (settings) in the top-left.

There, you'll see:

• Available Space: How much storage space is available on your phone or tablet for offline files and folders.
• Space Used: How much storage space your offline files and folders are currently using on your phone or tablet.