Working with Dropbox over the web

Dropbox is one of the major online storage services, just like Microsoft’s OneDrive and Apple’s iCloud Drive. The services essentially all work the same. You create an account and get a certain amount of free online storage space. You store files in ‘the cloud’, as it is called via the website, a program or an app. Then you can access the files from any device with internet after logging in with your account details. You always see the most recent version of the files.

Dropbox users require an internet connection and a free account with the storage service. The Dropbox website can be used via the website of the service, but also via a program or an app.

The different possibilities of programs and apps can all be used interchangeably, as long as you log in with the same data. This article is about using Dropbox through an Internet program, such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge browsers.

Whatever device the user has, via the Dropbox.com website he can always access or open the files in his Dropbox account.

• Go to www.dropbox.com
• Click at the top To register.
• click on E-mail address and type the email address you used to sign in to Dropbox.
• click on password and type your password.
• Not on your own PC? Then uncheck Remember my details.
• click on To register.

Two-step verification

If two-step verification is enabled, you will receive a code at the phone number provided. In that case, take the following steps:

• View the code on the phone.
• On the computer, click 6 digit code and type the received code.
• click on Enter.

The first time you visit the website, a tour is available to get to know Dropbox over the web.

The Dropbox cloud service allows the user to store and view all kinds of files. Open a file like this:

• Click on the left All files.
• The overview of the saved files opens. Click on a file’s name to open it.
• Click on the arrow at the top left to return to the file overview.

Folders are useful for organizing files. Create a new folder like this:

• click on All files.
• click on Create > Folder.
• Type the name of the folder.
• Choose whether only you or others can access the folder. Click on Only you or Specific people.
• Has ‘Only You’ been selected? Then click on To make.
• If the ‘Specific people’ option is selected, do the following:
  • click on Next one.
  • Then type behind ‘To’ the e-mail address of the person who is allowed access to the folder and press the Enter key. Enter multiple e-mail addresses in this way if necessary.
  • If you want others to also add or delete files in the folder, leave the ‘Can edit’ option selected. If they can only view the files, click on Can edit > Can display.
  • click on To share.

The folder has been created.

Upload a file or folder from the website as follows:

• click on All files.
• click on Upload > Files or on Upload > Map.
• Select the file, files or folder.
• click on To open when uploading single files or on upload if you have chosen a folder.

The file, files, or folder is now on Dropbox.

Move files to another folder in Dropbox like this:

• click on All files.
• To the far right of a file’s name, click More, which is the three-dot icon that appears when you point to the file:

• click on Move.
• Click on the folder to which the file should be moved.
• click on Move.

The file is now in the selected folder.

Delete files that do not need to be kept. This frees up space for other files.

• click on All files.
• To the far right of a file’s name, click More, which is the three-dot icon that appears when you point to the file.
• click on remove.
• click on remove.

The file has been moved to the ‘Deleted Files’ folder. Files remain here for thirty days.

Deleted files will remain in the “Deleted Files” folder online for 30 days. With a Dropbox Professional subscription, they’ll even stay in this folder for 120 days. Do you want to keep the deleted file anyway? Then put it back.

• Click on the left Deleted files.
• Click on the file.
• click on Put back.
• Did you delete an entire folder? Then choose the option Restore all files.
• The file is back in the previous location where it was before the deletion.
• Click the Dropbox logo in the top left to return to the home page.

Dropbox users can share files with others. This can be done by sharing the file via email, or creating a link to the file and sending that link to the intended recipient.

Share file:

• click on All files.
• To the far right of a file’s name, click More, which is the three-dot icon that appears when you point to the file.
• click on To share
• Enter the recipient’s email address and press the Enter key.
• Choose whether the recipient can edit the file (Can edit) or only view (Can edit > Can display). This applies to Word files, for example. For images, the recipient can only view them, not edit them.
• Enter an accompanying message, if desired.
• click on Share file.

The recipient will receive an email informing them that a file or folder has been shared.

Share file via link

If the user shares a file with a link, anyone can open it. Share a file like this via a link:

• click on All files.
• To the far right of a file’s name, click More, which is the three-dot icon that appears when you point to the file.
• click on To share
• Choose whether the recipient can edit the file (Can edit) or only view (Can edit > Can display). This applies to Word files, for example. For images, the recipient can only view them, not edit them.
• click on Copy link or on Create and copy link.
• The link has been copied in the background. Paste the link in, for example, an email with the key combination Ctrl+V (Windows) or Cmd+V (Mac).

The recipient can view the file via the link.