What to do if audio files or videos won’t play on the Dropbox mobile app

Updated Nov 15, 2023

If your video or audio file won’t play in the Dropbox mobile app, check that the following are true:

  • Make sure you have a third-party app on your mobile device that can play that file format. 
    • The Dropbox mobile app requires applications from the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (Apple) to play video and audio files
    • If you don’t want to download an app that can play your media files, you can use an app like the Handbrake desktop application that converts your files to playable formats supported by Dropbox                              
  • The Dropbox mobile app uses the third-party (non-Dropbox) media players on your mobile device to play video and audio files
  • If you don’t want to download a third-party app that can play your file type, you can use an application that can converts files (like the Handbrake desktop application) to convert the file to a playable format instead
  • Apple devices: Apple will convert most files to a playable format without needing another app as long as you’re connected to the internet (using Apple HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol
    • If you’re not connected to the internet, you’ll need to download an app that can play your file type
Was this article helpful?

We’re sorry to hear that.
Let us know how we can improve.

Thanks for your feedback!
Let us know how this article helped.

Thanks for your feedback!

Community answers

Other ways to get help