Dropbox is one of the best solutions to save your files in the cloud, storing documents, photos and videos in a safe and always accessible space. The company offers up to 2 GB for free, otherwise you can activate one of the pricing plans, with costs starting at €8.25 per month for 1 TB of space. In addition to the ability to save files on the cloud, with Dropbox you can take advantage of many additional features, to share resources, edit them, create photo albums and presentations, manage online projects and synchronize all connected devices.
What is Dropbox
Dropbox is a cloud storage service for individuals and businesses, which provides users with a file hosting system to save in the cloud any kind of resource. The service is managed by the company Dropbox Inc. based in the United States, a company founded in 2007 and today one of the world leaders in cloud computing, along with Google Drive, iCloud and Amazon Drive. With Dropbox you can save your files on external servers, including documents, photos, videos and software, use the automatic synchronization service and request a private cloud space.
In particular, the American company provides a free package, with which you can use a storage space of up to 2GB, otherwise there are a series of paid pricing plans, to increase the space according to your private and professional needs. Dropbox currently has millions of customers around the world, provides a graphical interface in Italian, also offers many innovative features and, in addition to the official website, also a new application for mobile devices, compatible with smartphones and tablets Android and iOS.
How Dropbox works
Dropbox allows you to save files in the cloud, uploading them to servers owned by the American company, to free up space within your computer or mobile device. It also lets you synchronize files with other programs, to manage the same resource at the same time from different terminals. In this way, a user can save a video in Dropbox, after which another person can edit the movie, while another user can work on the resource later, for example by inserting subtitles or using the video for marketing campaigns.
With file sharing you can operate remotely in a simple and efficient way, you can manage work groups with locations all over the world, plus the service is also available in offline mode. You can also create various access levels, to let each user view only certain resources. With Dropbox you can avoid risks to your documents, related to theft or loss of terminals, and keep your work files safe because at any time you can just request a copy of the folder, thanks to an automatic backup system.
How to use Dropbox: download and account creation
Dropbox is available in two modes, the desktop version to connect via PC or the mobile application, to use the cloud storage features from any Android and iOS device. To start using the service you need to go to the official website, register to Dropbox by entering your first and last name, email address and a security password, or select the quick option Sign up with Google, which allows you to register via your Google account.
Then you need to verify your email address, clicking on the link inside the automatic message you received in your email inbox, finally performing the Dropbox download. Finally you just need to go back to the portal and scroll down the main page, clicking on the Desktop version item at the bottom left to download the.exe file, starting the installation and following the step-by-step wizard. At this point you can manage your resources from your PC, to upload, share and edit files even offline.
Otherwise just go to the official Dropbox portal, log in with your credentials and use the online mode. Instead, to use the service from your mobile device you need to download the Dropbox App from Google Play Store for Android smartphones and tablets, or from iTunes for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch iOS. Alternatively, you can download the application from the Dropbox website, by clicking on the Mobile App item at the bottom left and entering your phone number, to receive the download link via SMS, or your email address to get the link by email.
How to upload files to Dropbox
Uploading a file within Dropbox is really simple, in fact you just need to access your account, opening the program installed on your PC or using the desktop version online, and enter the resource management interface. Here you can view all the files you have worked on, deleted files, folders and resources shared with other users. To upload a file to Dropbox you just need to click on the Upload File item on the right, select the document, photo or video and confirm the operation.
At this point you can edit the file, just click on the eye icon on the right to access the editing screen, where you can enter comments, highlight a part of the resource, zoom in, print the document, view information, view the activities performed by other users or download the file. In the same way you can also create folders within Dropbox, to organize your files into categories. To do this you have to click on New Folder, choose a name and enter the access mode, leaving the folder private or adding specific people.
How to share files and folders on Dropbox
One of the most interesting features of Dropbox is the sharing of files and folders, an operation that happens by sending special links, which allow other users to view the resources. Also in this case you just need to access the program installed on your PC, or go to the Dropbox portal and enter your private work area. Then just select a resource, ticking the blue checkbox on the side, click on the three dots to the right of the file name and choose the Share option.
With Dropbox you can also share entire folders, clicking on Share to the right of the file, entering the email address of the recipient, adding a message if necessary and choosing Create link. The other user will receive an email from Dropbox, containing a link to access the resource, which he can edit or just view according to the type of permission set. In addition to that you can create shared folders, to manage an online project with other people, specifying the contacts that will be able to access it automatically.
How to synchronize Dropbox with your PC
A very important Dropbox feature is file synchronization, an option that lets you update all the changes you make in real time, updating the servers of the cloud computing service. Usually this happens automatically, so every time you carry out an operation on a file or folder, after saving the change the system immediately updates the resources in the cloud. In this way, any user can immediately access the latest version of the file, avoiding viewing resources that are not recent.
To speed up this service even more, you can enable LAN synchronization, which lets Dropbox find files even when they are in a local network. To use this feature you have to download the Dropbox program on your pc, authorizing the Windows firewall so that it doesn’t block the software. The only authorization required is access to TCP and UDP on port 17500, so just check that these two settings are enabled.
Synchronization happens automatically with any device, so not only from PC but also from smartphones and tablets. When working with a file in offline mode, without an internet connection, it is possible to encounter old resources, but the system will always notify you if there is an updated file. In some cases, however, error messages may appear, for example if the resource is in use at that moment, if there is not enough space available on Dropbox, if the necessary permissions are missing or if there is no internet connection.
Storage, management and sharing of photos on Dropbox
With Dropbox you can create photo albums in the cloud, to save in the storage space all the most important shots. In this way the photos will always be safe, they won’t take up space in the memory of your phone or PC, and you can also edit and share the images with your contacts. To create an album with Dropbox just go to the official website, access the private area by entering your credentials, click on New Folder from the right menu, choose a name and upload photos or an entire folder of images.
Then you can share the album, activating the Shared Folder option or clicking on Share a link, to send via email the link of the folder to another person. To view the photos you can follow an alternative path, through the Gallery View feature, also located within the main screen of the Dropbox account. The service supports various file types, including JPEG, RAW, PNG, but also videos, PDFs and other files made with Adobe or Microsoft’s Office package.
Dropbox apps for Android and iOS
In addition to the desktop version for PCs, Dropbox also provides users with an app for mobile devices, compatible with Android smartphones and tablets or iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch iOS. The app can be downloaded for free on Google Play Store and iTunes, otherwise just go to the Dropbox portal and click on Mobile App, at the bottom of the main screen, choosing whether to receive the download link via SMS or email.
The application allows you to take advantage of all the features of the version for the PC, you can also upload photos and files using the native applications of the device. From Android just open the Dropbox app, enter the settings, tap the Enable camera uploads item and select Allow, while from iOS you need to access the main menu of the app, tap Camera uploads and set the Enable and Upload options. With the Dropbox app you can also scan documents and receipts with your phone’s camera, uploading them directly to the Dropbox cloud.
Additional features of Dropbox
In addition to the ability to store files in the cloud, Dropbox provides users with many other features. For example, it is possible to use the Dropbox Paper program, an online workspace that lets you manage digital projects with other users in a real-time shared mode, to carry out meetings, gatherings and follow group activities. Within the platform you can send messages, exchange files and resources, invite contacts and show documents to other users.
Another feature is Dropbox Showcase, an advanced editing service, which lets you customize your files online via the cloud storage system. You can create professional layouts, insert captions and information, share files and build previews, making them available to other users in the Dropbox community. In this way you can get feedback in a short time, to test people’s interest or get comments on a work presentation, to improve it before the official communication.
How much does Dropbox cost: the pricing plans
Dropbox provides a series of pricing plans, however you can register for free, using the cloud storage service without paying anything, getting a storage space up to a maximum of 2 GB. To increase this value, you can subscribe to one of the paid subscriptions, choosing between two options for individual users and two plans for groups and businesses. For each solution you can get a 15-day trial period, to test the service and at the end decide whether to confirm or cancel the subscription.
In the first case you can request the Dropbox Plus profile, which at €8.25 per month offers up to 1 TB of storage space, 30-day history, automatic file deletion in case of theft or loss of connected devices, two-factor authentication, integration with the Office 365 package and priority email support. Alternatively, you can activate the Dropbox Professional plan for €16.58 per month, which includes all the features of the previous option, plus chat support, access to the Dropbox Showcase service, security control of shared links, 120-day history and up to 2 TB of cloud space.
As for pricing plans for teams and businesses, Dropbox provides two solutions: the Standard and Advanced options. The former requires a payment of €12.5 per month for each registered user, offering all the services of Dropbox Professional plus the group management program, the administration console and up to 3 TB of storage space. The Advanced version, on the other hand, also includes unlimited cloud space, connected device approval system, monitoring program and phone support, with a fee of €20 per user.