How to open and edit Dropbox files with third-party apps

Updated Dec 19, 2024

The information in this article applies to all Dropbox users.

Learn how to open and edit Dropbox files with third-party apps directly from your Dropbox account. The new, edited file will be saved alongside your original file, but the edited file name will have additional information appended.

How to open files in Dropbox

Log in to dropbox.com.
Hover over the name of the file you'd like to open and click "..." (ellipsis).
Hover over Open and click the third-party app you’d like to open the file with.
- Note: The dropdown options depend on the kind of file you’re trying to open. If the app you need doesn’t appear, click Connect apps and follow the prompts to connect an app — or learn more about connecting apps. If the Open menu doesn’t appear, see below.
Once you’ve edited or taken action on the file, save or apply the changes (this step will vary, depending on the app).

Open the Dropbox folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
Right-click the name of the file you’d like to open and click Open with….
Click the third-party app you’d like to open the file with, then click OK.
- Note: The app options depend on the kind of file you’re trying to open. You can click More apps for more options.
Once you’ve edited or taken action on the file, save or apply the changes (this step will vary, depending on the app).

If the Open menu doesn’t appear

There are several reasons why the Open menu may not appear:

The file isn’t saved to your Dropbox account. This happens if someone shared the file with you, but you didn’t save it to your Dropbox account.
Your admin has disabled your ability to connect new applications. If you’re a member of a Dropbox team, you may not see the Open menu if your admin has disabled your ability to connect third-party applications to your Dropbox account.