How to create and set up a Dropbox account

Updated Nov 20, 2024

The information in this article applies to all Dropbox users.

Dropbox is a single, organized place for all your files. Learn how to get Dropbox set up by installing apps and adding files to your account. With features like folder suggestions and calendar integration, Dropbox helps you stay focused on your most important work.

Not using Dropbox yet? See how Dropbox makes organizing files easy.

How to sign up for Dropbox

It's easy to create a Dropbox account. Follow the steps below to sign up and set up your Dropbox account:

Create an account on dropbox.com.
Type in your email (your email address will be the username for your Dropbox account).
Type your first name, last name, and a unique password.
Click the box to agree to the Dropbox terms.
Choose a paid plan, or click Continue with 2 GB Dropbox Basic Plan.
Choose your user preferences.

If you already installed the Dropbox mobile app or desktop app, you can also create an account by launching the app and clicking Sign up.

Once you’ve created your Dropbox account, you can log in or out with your email and password, Google, or Apple.

How to install and set up your Dropbox apps

You can access your Dropbox files from dropbox.com, the Dropbox desktop app, or the Dropbox mobile app. Follow the guide below to learn how to install and set up the Dropbox apps on your computer, phone, or tablet to access your files from all your devices.

To install the Dropbox app on your computer:

Download the Dropbox desktop app on your computer.
Run the installer.
Log in or create a Dropbox account.

You only need one account no matter how many devices you want to keep in sync.

Note: Dropbox Basic users are allowed a maximum of three devices.

To install the Dropbox app on your phone or tablet:

Download the Dropbox mobile app on your phone or tablet.
- Download through the App Store.
- Download through Google Play Store.
Open the app.
Log in or create a Dropbox account.

You only need one account no matter how many devices you want to keep in sync.

Note: Dropbox Basic users are allowed a maximum of three devices.

How to add files to your Dropbox account

Once you create an account, you can add files to your Dropbox account. Any files you add to your Dropbox account sync across all your devices where you installed Dropbox.

To add files from dropbox.com:

Log in to dropbox.com.
Click Upload.
Click Files or Folder.
- If you chose Files, select as many files as you like and click Open.
- If you chose Folder, select a folder and click Upload.

Note: Each file or folder that you upload on dropbox.com must be 50 GB or smaller. For larger files or folders, use the desktop or mobile apps, which don’t have a file size limit.

To add files from your computer:

Open your file explorer, Finder, or Linux file manager, depending on which operating system you’re using.
Navigate to the Dropbox folder.
Copy and paste or drag and drop files into the Dropbox folder.

When you add files to your Dropbox folder, they'll upload to Dropbox. Once your files have been successfully uploaded to Dropbox, your syncing status should state Up to date.

To add files from your phone or tablet: