Getting started with Dropbox

Welcome to Dropbox! I think it's about time we get started revolutionizing the way you work. Let’s start by adding your first file. This one’s easy. To do this, just click on the upload button, select the file you want, and…there it is! If you like, you can also save time by dragging and dropping files into your Dropbox account too.

You probably want to organize these files, right? Create a folder by clicking ‘Create’ and ‘Folder’. Give your folder a name, and you are good to go. Now you can drag files into folders, or create folders inside that folder too.

Linking your Dropbox account to your desktop and mobile makes it easier to create and access files on the go. To link your desktop, download the Dropbox installer, follow the installation prompts, and then sign in to your account. To link your mobile device or tablet, just download the Dropbox app and sign in. Now you can access all your Dropbox files on the go, much like any other file!

Did you know Dropbox can act as a backup for your most important computer files? To set up computer backup, click on the Dropbox icon then your profile and ‘Preferences’. Once you reach the Backup menu, click ‘Setup’, check the folders you want to backup, and follow the prompts. Now, any files you change or delete on your desktop will automatically be reflected in your Dropbox account, and vice versa.

It’s time we started sharing some files. To share a file, first find what you want to share. As you select the file, you’ll see a menu option on the right. Select the ‘Share’ button to continue. From here, you can either add the email of the people you want to share the file with or select 'Create link’ which can be copied and sent to anyone you like. The same works for folders. Remember, sharing a folder grants permission to view every file inside it, so make sure everyone you’re sharing with has permission to view the files. You can always change this later.

Dropbox makes it easy to share photos, videos, or scans of your physical documents from your mobile too. To upload a photo or video from your mobile device or tablet, open the Dropbox app and tap the ‘Create’ button. Tap ‘Upload photo’ and choose the photos or videos you’d like to upload into your Dropbox account. Choose the folder you want to upload them into, and away you go.

Dropbox can also back up your photos automatically. Just head to your account preferences, select 'Camera Uploads', then 'Turn on camera uploads'. Now your photos will back up automatically, saving you time, stress, and storage space. For all your physical documents, Dropbox also comes with a built-in scanner to create and save digital versions of these documents. To use this, tap the 'Scan document' option, and position your mobile camera so the document is in full view. Tap 'Scan' and let the app work its magic. Now your photos, videos, and documents can all coexist in one easy-to-access place.

This is just the beginning of what Dropbox can do. If you want to find out more, there are loads of resources online at help.dropbox.com. Make sure you check out our user community, too. We’re excited to have you here. Let’s get going.