How to start using Dropbox – 2 Methods
There used to be a time when sharing computer files meant placing them in physical media storage
devices such as CD's and flash drives and then lending or giving said media to someone. But the Internet,
through a development now known as Cloud Computing, has provided a way of sharing files online
through certain websites. Dropbox.com is one such site. Let's take a look at how to share files using
Dropbox.
Method 1: Using the Web Interface (www.dropbox.com)
When you arrive at
Dropbox.com, here is what
you’ll see:
Jump right in by creating your very own Dropbox account. Fill it out with your name and valid email
address. Use a strong password
to ensure the security of your
Dropbox. After providing all
required details, click the 'Sign
Up' button.


If your registration is
successful, you'll then be
directed to the Web
Interface of your
Dropbox. It looks
something like this:
Now that you have a
Dropbox account, here's
how to share files.
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Click the “Share a Folder” Button.
You'll then be asked if you want to create a new shared folder or share an existing one.
A shared folder automatically
appears in the Dropbox of the
person you want to share it with.
Choose the option to create a
new shared folder and give it a
name. Then click 'Next.'
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You'll arrive at a page with two text fields. In the top field you can place the email address of the
person you want to share your
folder with. The bottom text field is
for an optional message to the
person. When you're done
accomplishing the text fields, click
the 'Share Folder' button.
If all goes well the next page you will see is your newly created shared folder. Time to upload some
files!
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To upload a file, click the 'Upload'
button:
Then on the menu that appears
click 'Choose Files.'
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A window pops up. Go to the directory where the file you want to share resides. Highlight it and then
the 'Open' button.
You will be taken back to the upload menu where a progress bar appears and automatically uploads
your file. Here you can choose to
upload more files.

Once the upload finishes
the file should be visible
inside the shared folder. All
done!
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Method 2: Using the Desktop Application:
You can also share files using Dropbox without having to use a web browser like Internet Explorer or
Mozilla Firefox. Dropbox has a desktop application that is free to download from the main site. To
download it go back to Dropbox.com's homepage and click on the 'Download Dropbox' button.
Once the download is done, click on the file to run the installer application. After it opens, click
'Install.'
After the install completes, a menu should pop-up. Enter your e-mail address and password that you
registered with Dropbox earlier.
Then, click 'Sign In.'
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A "Congratulations!" message should appear, informing you that your Dropbox was successfully
installed. Click 'Open my Dropbox
Folder.'
To transfer files to your Dropbox, you can either use the 'Drag and drop' method or the 'Copy - Paste'
method. After the transfer
completes, a check mark will
appear to indicate that your files
are synced. All done!
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Dropbox Quick Start
What is Dropbox?
Dropbox is software that links all of your computers together via a single folder. It’s the easiest
way to back up and sync files between computers.
The Dropbox Desktop Application is software that watches a folder on your desktop
computer and syncs any changes to the web and to your other computers.
The Dropbox Website allows you to access your files on any computer from a web browser.
You can also use the Dropbox website to share your files or folders with others.
The Dropbox mobile website and Dropbox for mobile devices allow you to connect to your
Dropbox from your pocket, so you can take your files with you wherever you go.
Is it for me?
Transferring data between computers usually requires uploading via web forms, connecting to
network drives, carrying around thumb drives, or sending emails with attachments to yourself
and others. Dropbox makes all of these methods obsolete. If you're looking for a better way to
transfer data over the internet or are just looking for a way to improve productivity within your
team, Dropbox is for you.
Adding files to your Dropbox
You've found your Dropbox folder, and you're ready to start using it. Let's move a file to your
Dropbox folder.
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Step 1: Drag and drop a file into your Dropbox.
Step 2: The blue icon means your file is syncing with Dropbox.
That’s it! The green icon means that your file has finished
syncing and is now available from your other computers and the
website. Now that Dropbox is watching your file, any changes
you make will sync instantly.
What do I do now?
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There are three ways to interact with the Dropbox installation on your computer:
The Dropbox Folder
When you install the Dropbox desktop application, Dropbox creates a Dropbox folder on your
hard drive. In fact, if you’re reading this guide, then you probably already found your Dropbox
folder!
Your Dropbox folder is just like any other folder on your hard drive. When you move a file to
your Dropbox folder, you are also moving your file to your Dropbox folders on the web and
your other computers. You don’t need to do any manual copying or uploading; Dropbox takes
care of all of that for you!
The green circle and check mean Dropbox is fully synced.
The blue circle and arrows mean Dropbox is currently syncing and files are
uploading/downloading.
The red circle with an “X” means Dropbox is unable to sync. Usually, this is because your
storage quota is full (can’t upload), your hard drive is full (can’t download), or you are
experiencing connection problems (no internet).
The Dropbox Contextual Menu
When you Right-Click (Windows/Linux) or Control-Click (Mac) a file or folder in your Dropbox,
you’ll see a menu. This is called a contextual menu. The Dropbox desktop application installs a
sub-menu there that allows fast access to some of Dropbox’s best features.
Some things you can do via the Dropbox contextual menu:
Share a folder invites your friends to access a folder in your Dropbox. That folder and its
contents will appear in their Dropbox folders as well as yours.
View Previous Versions allows you to view your file’s change history and revert your file to
an older version.
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Browse File on Dropbox Website... to view the file on the Dropbox website.
Copy Public Link lets you share a file with your friends via a URL, or internet link.
The Dropbox System Tray/Menu bar icon
The Dropbox system tray or menu bar icon is where you can check the current syncing status
and change your Dropbox settings.
The same green, blue, and red icons that appear over the files and folders in your Dropbox also
appear over the system tray icon to alert you to Dropbox’s overall syncing status.
You can get more detailed information when you right-click on the Dropbox icon from the
system tray or menu bar lining the bottom (Windows) or top (Mac/Linux) of the screen. The
resulting pull-down menu allows you to do such things as:
Access your Dropbox folder, the Dropbox website, or the Dropbox help center.
See which files were recently changed.
View an estimate of how long it will take your Dropbox folder to fully sync.
Change your Dropbox preferences including your Dropbox folder location, Dropbox account,
and network settings.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Dropbox cost?
Dropbox is a free! If you run out of space, visit https://www.dropbox.com/plans to upgrade your storage
quota up to 100 GB.
How much space does my Dropbox have?
Free accounts come with 2GB of storage (deleted files and revisions don't count against your quota). You
can always check your quota by visiting your account settings page at https://
www.dropbox.com/account. Also keep in mind that the files in your Dropbox folder are still on your
hard drive, so you need at least as much space on your hard drive as your Dropbox account.
Dropbox is slow! How long until my files are fully synced?
Dropbox will download as fast or as slow as your network allows, doing its best not to interfere with
your normal activity. If you’d like to alter the speed in which Dropbox uploads or downloads, you can do
so through your Dropbox application preferences. For step by step instructions, visit the help center
article at https://www.dropbox.com/help/26.
Dropbox is fast! How could it have possibly synced all of my files in that time? Dropbox will look to
see if it already has the file you’re uploading on our servers before it uploads it. If it recognizes a file
that has already been uploaded, it won’t bother to upload it again. If the file has been changed
recently, it will only upload/download the changes rather than the whole thing.
How secure is Dropbox?
We take the utmost care to ensure Dropbox is secure. All transport of file data and file metadata occurs
over SSL. All files are encrypted with AES-256 before being stored on our backend. These are the same
standards that banks and the military use to protect their data!
Can I access Dropbox on my mobile device?
Yes! Just point your mobile device to the Dropbox website for an optimized version of the site. If you
have an iPhone, iPad, or Android mobile device, native Dropbox applications are available for free. To
install Dropbox on your mobile device, visit http://www.dropbox.com/anywhere.
Find Out More About Dropbox
If you don’t see what you’re looking for here, take our tour at http://www.dropbox.com/tour or visit the
help center at http://www.dropbox.com/help.
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