Find and work with files
This module walks through practical ways to search, preview, and work with your files on dropbox.com, including how to use filters, image and text search, file previews, third-party apps, and comments. By the end, you will be able to move quickly from a high level search to the exact file, view, or comment thread you need, without leaving your browser.
10 minute read
Searching for files and folders
When your Dropbox account grows, finding the right file can take longer than it should. You might remember a client name, a keyword in a document, or what an image looks like, but not where the file lives.
Instead of browsing folder by folder, you can use search on dropbox.com to quickly find files, folders, and even content inside documents and images.
On dropbox.com, the search bar at the top of the page is your main starting point. You can search by file name, people who have collaborated on a file, tags, and for many plans, the contents of files and images. Once you have results, you can refine them using filters, such as folder, type, last modified date, or image specific options like date taken and dimensions.
In the sections below, you’ll see how to use search in three common ways:
Searching across your files and folders.
Finding images based on what’s in them.
Searching for specific text inside documents.
How to search your Dropbox files
Use general file search when you know part of a file name, who shared it with you, or roughly when it was last updated, but you don’t know exactly where it’s stored.
On dropbox.com, search scans your files and folders and matches results based on file names, extensions, and, on supported plans, the contents of files and images.
This lets you start with a broad search and narrow things down as you go.
To search your files on dropbox.com:
Log in to dropbox.com.
Click the search bar at the top of the page.
Type your search term, then press Enter or Return to see all results.
You can search for:
File and folder names.
People who have collaborated on a file.
Tags you have added.
File contents (on supported plans).
Image contents and image properties, such as resolution or date taken (on eligible plans).
Once you see results, you can refine them using filters like:
Folder: Limit results to one or more specific folders.
Type: Focus on images, folders, videos, PDFs, documents, spreadsheets, presentations, audio, Paper docs, or other file types.
Last modified: Filter by when content was last changed, such as the last 7 days, 30 days, 90 days, 12 months, or a custom range.
People: Filter content by people you have collaborated with.
Image date taken and Image dimensions: Narrow image results by capture date and size.
On some English language paid plans in certain countries, you might also see dynamic filters above your file list. These are automatically generated buttons, such as themes, file extensions, or collaborators, that help you narrow down large sets of content quickly.
Note: Dynamic filters are only available on dropbox.com.
How to search for images in Dropbox
Use image search when the visual content stands out more than the file name. This is helpful if you’re looking for things like a logo, a whiteboard sketch, or a set of product photos, but don’t remember where they’re saved.
On eligible plans, image search lets you use plain language to search for images in your Dropbox account. For example, you can search for “logo” or “floor plan” and see images that contain those things, even if the words do not appear in the file names.
To search for images on dropbox.com:
Log in to dropbox.com.
Click the search bar at the top.
Start typing what you want to search for, such as "logo", "floor plan", or "whiteboard".
Press Enter or Return to see all results.
Click the Images tab above your results.
Dropbox then shows image files that match your search term, either because the word appears in the name or because the image content matches. Supported image types for image search include GIF, JPG or JPEG, and PNG.
You can combine image search with the usual dropdown filters on dropbox.com, such as Folder, Type, Last modified, Image date taken, and Image dimensions, to narrow your results even further.
How to search for text in Dropbox files
Use text search when you know a specific word, phrase, or number appears somewhere in your Dropbox, but you’re not sure which file contains it.
On dropbox.com, there are two ways to search for text, depending on how broad your search needs to be:
Search across your files with full-text search which looks inside supported files across your account (available on eligible plans).
Search within a single file, which lets you find text inside an open file preview and is available to all users.
Search across your files
Full-text search lets you search the contents of your files in Dropbox. When you search from the main search bar on dropbox.com, the results can include files that contain your keyword inside the content, as well as files with that keyword in the name.
When full-text search is available for your plan and language, a short text snippet appears below each result to show where your keyword is located inside the file. Supported file types include common document, spreadsheet, presentation, text, image, and subtitle formats, such as DOC, DOCX, PDF, TXT, XLS, XLSX, PPT, JPG, PNG, GIF, and more.
To search the contents of your Dropbox files:
Log in to dropbox.com.
Click the search bar at the top.
Start typing the word or phrase you are looking for, then press Enter or Return.
Note: If your search results only show files where the keyword appears in the name, and not in the content, full-text search may not be available in your language yet.
Search within a single file
If you already have a file open in a preview on dropbox.com, you can search inside that document without leaving the page. This works for many common document formats, such as DOC, DOCX, PDF, PPT, and several others.
To search for text in a file on dropbox.com:
Open the file on dropbox.com.
Make sure the preview is in Full screen mode.
Click the search icon (magnifying glass) in the toolbar at the bottom of the page, or use control-f (Windows) or command-f (Mac).
Type the word or phrase you want to find.
You will see the total number of matches in the search bar. Your current match appears in green, and other matches appear in yellow. You can move between them using the arrow keys in the search bar or by pressing Enter.
Opening Files
As you organize your Dropbox, you will often want a quick look at a file to check whether it is the right one, without downloading it or opening another app. Maybe you want to scan a contract before you send it, skim a PDF for a specific section, or check that a video is the correct version. File previews on dropbox.com give you that quick view, and, for many file types, let you comment, share, or even edit content directly in your browser.
Previewing files
Often, you just want to confirm whether a file is the right one before taking action. File previews on dropbox.com let you view files and folders without downloading them or opening another app.
From a preview, you can view content, share files, leave comments, and, for many file types, make simple edits directly in your browser.
You can preview both files and folders:
File previews show the contents of a file and available actions.
Folder previews show everything inside a folder in a focused view, making it easier to scan and take quick actions.
Previews can open in full screen or quick view. Full screen helps you focus on one item, while quick view lets you move through multiple files without losing your place. You can change this preference at any time.
To preview a file or folder on dropbox.com:
Log in to dropbox.com.
Right-click the file or folder you want to preview.
Click Open in.
Click Preview (Dropbox).
What types of files can I preview in Dropbox?
Dropbox supports previews for many common file types, including documents, images, videos, audio files, text files, compressed archives, and some 3D and design formats.
Preview availability depends on file type, size, and your plan. For example:
Documents and presentations may show only the first page.
Videos preview up to size limits.
Archive previews show the folder structure inside the file.
Why can’t I preview my file?
Sometimes a file doesn’t preview as expected. This usually happens for one of a few common reasons:
The file type isn’t supported.
The file is still uploading or syncing.
The file is too large for preview.
The file is encrypted, password protected, or corrupted.
The file extension is missing or incorrect.
If preview isn’t available, downloading the file and opening it in the original application is often the fastest workaround.
Opening and editing files with third-party apps
When you need more than a quick preview, you can open Dropbox files directly in connected third-party apps. This lets you edit files without downloading them and re-uploading new versions manually.
From dropbox.com, supported apps appear in the Open menu for compatible file types. After you edit and save a file in a connected app, Dropbox saves the updated version back to your account, next to the original.
To open a file in a third-party app from dropbox.com:
Log in to dropbox.com.
Hover over the name of the file you want to open, then click more options (the ellipsis).
Hover over Open, then click the third-party app you want to use.
The options you see depend on the type of file you selected. If the app you need does not appear, click Connect apps in that menu and follow the prompts to connect it.
Edit or take action on the file in the third-party app.
When you are done, save or apply your changes in that app.
The new, edited file is saved back to your Dropbox account next to the original file. The edited file keeps the original name with additional details added, so you can see which one is the version that came back from the app.
You can also open and edit files from your Dropbox folder on your computer using desktop apps. Any saved changes sync automatically.
Connecting third-party apps
Some apps need to be connected to your Dropbox account before they appear in the Open menu.
You can manage connected apps from the App Center on dropbox.com. From there, you can connect new apps, review existing connections, or remove access at any time.
If you don’t see an app you expect, the file may not be saved to your account, or your team admin may have restricted app connections.
How to comment on Dropbox files
When you work with other people, it’s often easier to leave feedback directly on a file than to track separate email threads or chat messages. On dropbox.com, you can open a preview of a file, leave comments in the side panel, and see what others have said in one place. This is especially helpful when you want to ask a quick question about a slide, confirm a number in a spreadsheet, or respond to client feedback without downloading the file.
To comment on a file on dropbox.com:
Log in to dropbox.com.
Click All files in the left sidebar.
You can also click Folders in the left navigation bar to locate your file.
Click the name of the file you want to comment on.
Click the comments icon in the top right.
Add a comment to an area in the file, or a precise point in the file.
To comment on an area in the file, click and drag a box around the area of the file you’d like to comment on. Then, click again to create the box.
Note: You can’t change the size or placement of a box after it’s been made.
To comment on an exact point in the file, click anywhere on the file to add a comment to that precise location.
To comment on a piece of text, highlight the text to select it, and click the comments icon.
Type your comment in the box that appears.
To mention someone in your comment, type @ and then their name or click @.
Add an emoji to your comment by clicking the happy face icon.
Press enter on your keyboard to create a new line.
Click the up arrow next to your comment.
You can add comments in full screen preview or in Quick view. Quick view keeps the file list visible, which makes it easier to move through several files and leave quick feedback.
Comment on a specific part of a file on Dropbox
When you want to be clear about exactly what you’re referring to, such as a section of a document or an area in an image, you can attach a comment directly to that part of the file. On dropbox.com, this works by selecting a region in the preview.
To comment on a specific part of a file on dropbox.com:
Open the file you want to comment on in a preview on dropbox.com.
When prompted, drag over the part of the file you want to comment on.
Click the comment box in the right sidebar.
Type your comment
Click Post.
In many document and image previews, you can also highlight text directly. When you select text, a comment icon appears, allowing you to leave a comment attached to that exact selection.
How to comment on a specific time in a video or audio file
When reviewing video or audio files, you can attach comments to a specific moment so your feedback appears directly on the timeline. This makes it easier to point out exactly where a change or question applies.
Time-based commenting behavior depends on the plan of the file owner.
To comment on a specific time in a video or audio file on dropbox.com:
Log in to dropbox.com.
Click All files in the left sidebar.
You can also click Folders in the left navigation bar to locate your file.
Click the name of the video or audio file you want to comment on.
Make sure you have your previews set to Full screen.
Click the comments icon in the top right.
Click in the text field in the bottom right, then type your comment:
To mention someone in your comment, type @ and then their name or click @.
Add an emoji to your comment by clicking the happy face icon.
Check the box next to the timestamp to add your comment at that timestamp.
To mention someone in your comment, type @ and then their name or click @.
Add an emoji to your comment by clicking the happy face icon.
Press enter on your keyboard to create a new line.
Click the up arrow next to your comment.
Note: Anyone with permission to comment on that file can see and reply to time-based comments in the side panel and on the media timeline.
How to edit or delete a comment
To edit or delete a comment on dropbox.com:
Log in to dropbox.com.
Click All files in the left sidebar.
You can also click Folders in the left navigation bar to locate your file.
Click the name of the file you've left a comment on.
Click the comments icon in the top right.
Click more options (vertical ellipsis) next to the comment you’d like to edit or delete.
Click Edit or Delete.
In this module, you’ve explored file previews, opened content in connected apps, and used comments and annotations to review work without creating extra copies. In the next module, you’ll learn how to share files and folders safely, use shared links, and see who is viewing your content.