Why Do I Have to Open Dropbox for It to Upload

Dropbox is simple. It's only a binder on your computer that syncs everything yous put in it up to the cloud. Earlier Dropbox, file sharing and sync was geeky and confusing, then information technology's no wonder that information technology speedily became the de facto cloud storage platform later on it launched in 2007.

Keep your Dropbox organized, automatically

But if you've only added files to your /dropbox folder over the past few years, and oasis't dug into Dropbox.com or its mobile apps, yous might be in for a surprise. Backside Dropbox'south simplicity are sophisticated tools that let you back up your photos, edit documents online, roll back time, and secure your files from prying optics.

While it's far from the only way to sync your files, the subconscious features put Dropbox a step ahead of the rest. Here are 14 of the all-time features you may take never noticed in Dropbox earlier.

View whatsoever file without installing actress software

Dropbox's file preview tool is actually one of its more handy features. If y'all desire feedback on an Adobe Illustrator file, and the rest of your team doesn't have Illustrator installed, no problem: Dropbox tin preview dozens of file types online, and then the simply software you lot demand is a browser. Just open Dropbox in your browser, then browse to the file you lot want to preview.

You can read full PDF documents, flip through PowerPoint presentation slides, preview Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator designs, and watch full-length videos right from Dropbox.com. There's a zoom tool to dig in deeper—peculiarly handy for larger blueprint files—and even a print push button to brand a hard re-create.

Dropbox won't let you preview every file, only usually if Dropbox shows an icon or thumbnail for a file online, you can click it to see a full preview.

Share screenshots apace

Tired of taking screenshots, dragging them into Dropbox, and then copying the share link?

At that place's a quicker way: all yous need to exercise is enable Dropbox's screenshot-sharing feature on your Mac or PC. Open your Dropbox app preferences (click the Dropbox icon in your card bar, click the gear icon, then select Preferences), select the Import tab, and cheque the Save screenshots using Dropbox box.

Now, only have screenshots equally normal, and Dropbox volition salve them to /dropbox/screenshots and re-create a share link to your clipboard automatically. You tin paste the link into your chat app, email, or wherever else you want to share it.

Add comments to files

Sharing a Dropbox folder is pretty straightforward: you lot tin can right-click on any folder or file, and either invite someone to join your folder or just share a link to the file. Dropbox'due south commenting feature, which non everyone notices, lets you discuss your changes to a file.

You can find this feature on the web and mobile version of Dropbox, and in the desktop app (not your system file browser, the actual Dropbox app). Select whatever file, or open it in the preview tool to see the sidebar with the comments. Type out your comments, and add your colleagues' names with an @ symbol to mention them in a comment. They'll get a notification in Dropbox or their email inbox, and you'll see the comments appear in real-time as they're added.

Information technology's an easy way to continue the conversation well-nigh your files in the same place, so nothing gets lost. Plus, as you work on the file together in Dropbox, the online preview will update so everyone always sees the latest version.

Use selective sync to save local infinite

With online previews and Office file editing online, you might find that y'all need fewer of your Dropbox files really stored on your calculator. If you lot demand some extra space, you can use Dropbox'southward Selective Sync to store but your near of import files on your computer.

But open your Dropbox preferences, select the Business relationship tab, and so click the Change Settings … button abreast the Selective Sync entry. At that place, you tin select the folders and files you desire to sync to your reckoner. Everything else will stay online, where you tin can still view and comment on information technology.

It'southward an peculiarly handy trick if you're using Dropbox to back up your photos, videos, and other larger files. You can upload them to Dropbox, and so one time they're finished syncing, just remove their folders via Selective Sync.

Support your entire Desktop and Documents folders

Dropbox used to sync only the files in your Dropbox binder, but these days it can also support your Desktop, Downloads, and Documents folders, if you lot want to. Open your Dropbox settings, then head to the Backups tab and click the Backups option. You'll be asked which folders you desire to sync.

It's an easy fashion to back up files that otherwise aren't synced to Dropbox, and you can also utilize it to automate your Desktop binder.

Favorite files to view offline on mobile

When y'all're on the go (i.e., using a mobile device), yous might need admission to specific files even when an cyberspace connection is nowhere to exist found. Dropbox sync will keep all your important files on your desktop and laptop just fine, just on a mobile device, Dropbox relies on your internet connection to download files as you need them.

But for must-have files, Dropbox includes a favorites feature in its mobile apps. Merely find the files y'all need to view offline, tap the 3 dots beside it, and then cull the Make available offline option. Dropbox will download the file to your device, and you can view them when your mobile device isn't online.

Note that the gratuitous version of Dropbox can only mark private files, not unabridged folders, for offline access.

Admission previous versions

In that location'southward a big difference betwixt Save and Salve Every bit..., equally anyone who's accidentally overwritten an important document tin tell you lot.

Dropbox has your back with its Version History characteristic. Whenever yous realize you lot've messed up a file, just right-click on the file and select Version History. Or, if you deleted a file and want to bring information technology back, find its parent folder in Dropbox.com and click the View Deleted Files button at the top.

Either fashion, you'll get a list of the older versions of your file, where you can restore the correct version in a click.

For example, if you shared your resume via Dropbox link, but noticed a typo, you lot could restore an earlier version even afterward striking send; your potential new employer will come across the corrected document, not the ane you sent at beginning.

Dropbox saves changes to your files for 30 days for gratis accounts; Dropbox Professional and Business accounts can admission 180 days of history.

Remotely delete your files on stolen devices

You wake up on a Saturday morning and realize that y'all left your phone in a cab terminal night (nosotros've all been there). In your panic, you lot realize that your telephone was logged in to Dropbox—which, besides some embarrassing selfies, has sensitive info that you wouldn't want anyone to get their hands on.

Don't panic. Dropbox still has your back with several features to go on your information condom. First, with any Dropbox account, y'all can add together a Pin to your Dropbox mobile app. That way, if yous do lose your phone, someone will need to hack your phone password and your Dropbox Pin before they tin can go to your files.

If you have a paid Dropbox account, there's another option: you can remotely wipe your Dropbox files from whatsoever device that's been synced with Dropbox, every bit long as it's still online. Just open your Dropbox.com account settings, select the Security tab, and click the trash tin icon beside the device you lost—yous will come across the selection to remotely delete the files afterward you do then.

If you're worried about online hackers, you can add together 2-factor verification to your account, so an aggressor would need to know your password plus the security code that's sent to your telephone to access your business relationship. It might not assistance if your phone gets lost, but it could protect your files if your password ever gets leaked online.

Find everything you're sharing

E'er wondered if you've accidentally shared the wrong file in Dropbox? That'd exist almost every bit bad as losing your phone in a cab, only thankfully Dropbox has a quick mode to see everything you've shared. Just open Dropbox.com, and select the Shared button in the left sidebar.

You will come across all of your shared folders and files, along with the time they were last modified. Note that this shows both shared folders you've added to your Dropbox and folders that you lot have admission to but haven't added. From here, you can meet who can access the folders, and remove or add contributors as yous like. The Links screen, in the top bar, will bear witness you every file or folder you've shared individually with a link. Yous can then run across when you lot shared it, or delete the sharing link and take that embarrassing photograph offline.

Support all your pictures to Dropbox

At present that you lot're a scrap more confident with your Dropbox security, why non have advantage of your Dropbox storage and utilise it to back up your pictures?

The Dropbox mobile app tin practice that with your phone pictures, and the desktop app tin automatically grab photos from whatsoever photographic camera you plug in. Merely open your Dropbox settings, select the Import tab, and Dropbox can automatically import new photos from cameras and SD cards you connect to your computer. On mobile, head to the settings and brand sure Camera uploads is enabled.

Customize your Dropbox notifications

If you're sharing and commenting on a lot of files, Dropbox's email and button notifications can get overwhelming. Don't worry: you tin can get things nether control.

Kickoff, let'south change your electronic mail notifications. Head to Dropbox.com, and so to the Notification settings. From there, yous tin adjust your notifications until they're just right.

You lot tin can also modify your desktop notifications. Open the Dropbox settings, then head to Notifications. From there, you tin can choose which settings do and don't show upwards on your computer.

Wish you could get these notifications somewhere besides your inbox, or push notifications? The other choice is Zapier, an automation tool that gives you the ability to create customized notifications about what's happening in Dropbox. It can watch specific folders in your Dropbox business relationship, and let you lot know via electronic mail, a chat app, or any other app you lot use when annihilation happens in your Dropbox account. You can even add together filters, so you lot'll only become notified when, say, y'all add files of a specific blazon.

Zapier tin can likewise connect Google Drive, Box, OneDrive, and other apps to Dropbox, to add files from other storage apps and more. Check out Zapier's Dropbox integrations for more than great ways to automate Dropbox and read more virtually how to customize your Dropbox notifications.

Be the starting time to get new features

Each time Dropbox rolls out a new feature, they practice it in stages, starting with a select grouping of users who get to endeavor an update beginning. If you're eager to get the latest features, and don't heed occasional glitches, you can add yourself to the group of early adopters.

To do that, open your Dropbox settings page and toggle the Early releases pick.

Be sure to follow the Dropbox Forum and Dropbox Web log to stay up-to-date on when the Dropbox squad adds new features.

Request files via Dropbox

Dropbox offers a File Requests feature. It's a simple tool to allow you request files from others, and accept them automatically evidence up in your Dropbox folder—the person sending your files doesn't even accept to take a Dropbox account.

Just go to the File Requests folio in your Dropbox account, and add a subject area for the files you want to collect—family reunion pictures, project files, or annihilation else. Y'all'll then get a unique link to share and request files, or can transport the invite via electronic mail.

Information technology's a simple manner to get files from everyone pulled together in i place, even if all your friends and colleagues aren't using Dropbox. And once you have all the files, you can easily share the folder with them.

Utilise keyboard shortcuts

If yous beloved Dropbox'south simplicity, you might not really desire any extra hidden features. How about some keyboard shortcuts to speed up your work instead?

When you're working in your Dropbox files on your computer, you tin use your standard keyboard shortcuts to select, move, rename, and remove files. Many of those aforementioned keyboard shortcuts will work online in Dropbox.com, likewise. Just press ? while browsing the Dropbox site to see the keyboard shortcuts for your figurer anytime.

This article was originally published in June 2015 with contributions from Matthew Guay. Justin Pot has since contributed updates.

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Source: https://zapier.com/blog/dropbox-hidden-features/