Getting started with Dropbox Replay

What is Dropbox Replay?

Dropbox Replay is a rich media review and approval tool that allows collaborators to mark up, comment, and finalize PDF, video, image, and audio projects.

A limited version of Replay is available to all customers with a Dropbox account or team account. However, the Dropbox Replay Add-On, which includes premium security and collaboration features, can only be purchased by customers on Dropbox Plus, Essentials, Professional, Standard, Business, Advanced, Business Plus, and Enterprise.

Adding files & folders

Learn how to upload content into Dropbox Replay. Replay works with PDF, audio, image, and video files. Learn more about supported file types.

How to add and manage files in Dropbox Replay

To add files to Dropbox Replay:

1. Log in to replay.dropbox.com.

2. Click Add files in the upper-right corner.

3. Select Dropbox, Local drive, Google Drive, or OneDrive.

4. Choose the file you'd like to add.

   • Note: You can upload multiple files at once from Dropbox or your local drive, but only one file at a time from Google Drive or OneDrive.

5. Click Add or Open. 

Once the upload is complete, a thumbnail of your file will appear under Home. 

Note: Dropbox Replay files are stored in your Dropbox account. If you have a large file or project you’d like to upload to Replay, make sure you have enough available storage space.

How to create a new version of a file in Dropbox Replay

To create a new version of a file:

1. Log in to replay.dropbox.com.

2. Hover over the thumbnail of the file you’d like to add a new version to.

3. Click “…”(ellipsis) at the end of the row or in the top right.

4. Hover over New version.

5. Select Dropbox, Local drive, Google Drive, or OneDrive.

6. Choose the file you'd like to add.

7. Click Add or Open.

Once the upload is complete, the number of file versions will refresh in the thumbnail of the file (Example: V2). To view previous versions, click on the file, then select a version in the Versions dropdown in the upper left.

Manage files and get feedback

How to add public comments

You can give collaborators permission to add comments on video, image, or audio files. Comments can also be added to audio or video files during a live review session.

1. Log in to replay.dropbox.com.

2. Open the file you’d like to comment on by clicking on the thumbnail.

3. Drag the playhead, click on the timeline, or select the PDF page where you’d like to post a comment.

4. Type your comment in the text field at the bottom.

5. Click Post.

You’ll see your comment appear on the timeline at the timeframe or page you selected. You can also reply to comments by clicking Reply, edit comments by clicking “⁝” (vertical ellipsis) and then Edit, or resolve comments by clicking the circle icon next to a comment.

How to add team-only comments

Post comments that only your Dropbox Replay team can see, so team members working on a project file can have conversations that aren’t shared with the client or stakeholders.

Team-only comments can only be added and viewed by people with edit access to the Replay team project or a project owner.

To add team-only comments:

1. Log in to replay.dropbox.com.

2. Open the file you’d like to comment on by clicking on the thumbnail.

3. Drag the playhead or click on the timeline where you’d like to post a comment.

4. Type your comment in the text field at the bottom.

5. Click the dropdown beside Post publicly.

6. Select Project editors (view).

7. Click Post privately.

Notes:

• You’ll only see the option to add team-only comments if the file is in a Replay project.

• Team-only comments can be identified by a padlock icon in the bottom right.

• People outside your Dropbox team can add and view team-only comments if they’re given edit access to the project.

How to reply with a team-only comment

Only people with edit access to the project or a project owner can reply with a team-only comment.

To reply to team-only comment:

1. Log in to replay.dropbox.com.

2. Open the file you’d like to comment on by clicking on the thumbnail.

3. Click Reply to editors beneath the comment that you want to reply to.

4. Type your response in the Reply to project editors box.

5. Click Post.

Note: Team-only replies can only be added to team-only comments.

How to add quick reactions

You can comment with quick reactions when viewing audio and video files in Dropbox Replay. These are emoji reactions with a pre-filled out text comment for specific frames. Collaborators don’t need to type a comment or have a Dropbox account to use quick reactions. 

1. Log in to replay.dropbox.com.

2. Open the file you’d like to comment on.

3. Click on the specific place in the timeline you’d like to comment on.

4. On the right side of the comment box, select a quick reaction comment. 

   • Note: To delete a quick reaction, hover over your reaction emoji on the timeline and click Delete.

Quick reactions show up on the timeline, but won’t appear in the comment log on the right.

How to comment on a range of time

Collaborators can comment over a range of time in a video or audio file. 

1. Log in to replay.dropbox.com.

2. Open the file you’d like to comment on.

3. Click on the timeline to indicate the beginning of the clip you’d like to comment on.

4. Click in the comment box.

5. Hold shift and drag the playhead to the point where you’d like your comment to end.

6. Type your comment in the comment box.

7. Click Post.

You’ll see your comment appear on the timeline for the range you selected.

Note: You can't change this range once the comment is posted and it doesn't carry over the annotations on screen for that whole range.

How to draw on an image, PDF, or video

If you’re reviewing an image, PDF, or video, you can draw directly on the content and post your drawings as comments.

1. Log in to replay.dropbox.com.

2. Click the name or thumbnail to open your file for drawing.

3. Video only: Drag the playhead or click on the timeline where you’d like to add a drawing.

4. Hover over the image or video where you’d like to draw.

   • Your cursor will become a pencil icon.

5. Hold and drag your cursor to start drawing.

6. Click the airplane icon to post your drawing as a comment.

   • You can also click the reverse arrow to undo your last action, the trashcan to delete your drawing, the color wheel to choose a different color, and the line icon to change the stroke width.

Note: You can comment on your drawing by clicking in the comment box at the bottom, and then click Post.

Once you post your drawing, you’ll see a new comment appear at the specified timeframe on the timeline. The comment will be annotated with a pencil icon in the Comments section to signify that it’s a drawing.

Share a file

How to share files in Dropbox Replay

To share a PDF, video, image, or audio file in Dropbox Replay:

1. Log in to replay.dropbox.com.

2. Hover over the thumbnail of the file you’d like to share.

3. Click “…” (ellipsis) in the top-right corner.

4. Click Share from the menu that appears.

   • Note: You can change file permissions from the Your links tab in the Dropbox Replay Add-On.

5. Select recipient access: 

   • View and comment: Collaborators can view the file and comments, and can add comments of their own.

   • View only: Collaborators can view the file, but can’t see or add comments.

   • Manage settings: Select options to enable link access, allow downloads, require a password, or require Dropbox login.

6. Click Send or Copy link.

7. Paste the link where you’d like to share it.

Note: Links to files will display the title of the file as well as a thumbnail preview and a short description of Dropbox Replay.

How to share projects in Dropbox Replay

To share a project folder in Dropbox Replay:

1. Log in to replay.dropbox.com.

2. Hover over the thumbnail of the folder you’d like to share.

3. Click “…”(ellipsis) in the top-right corner.

4. Click Add people from the menu that appears.

5. Enter the emails of the people you’d like to add.
   Notes:

   • Adding users to a project gives them control over the whole project and everything in it. 

   • You can only add a user to your project via email. 

6. Add a message, if you’d like.

7. Choose Can edit or Can comment, depending on the permissions you’d like to grant.

8. Click Add.

Your collaborator will receive an email invitation to open your project. If you’d like to collaborate on a project in real time, start a live review session instead. How to use Live review in Dropbox Replay.

Projects

How to create and manage projects in Dropbox Replay

To create a project:

1. Log in to replay.dropbox.com.

2. Click Create project in the upper right.

3. Enter a project name in the box and a project description if required.

4. Click Create.

Your new project will open once you click Create.

How to add files to a project in Dropbox Replay

To add files to a project:

1. Log in to replay.dropbox.com.

2. Open the project you want to add files to.

3. Click Drag your files or click here.

4. Select Dropbox, Local drive, Google Drive, or OneDrive.

5. Choose the file or files you’d like to add.

   • You can multi-select files from Dropbox or your local drive, but can only upload one file at a time from Google Drive or OneDrive.

6. Click Add or Open. 

Once the upload is complete, a thumbnail of your file will appear in the project folder under Home.

Need help with Dropbox Replay? Join the Community and learn from fellow users.