Getting Started Dropbox
Getting Started Dropbox
What is Dropbox?
Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere. Any file
you save to your Dropbox will also automatically save to all your computers, phones, and even
the Dropbox website. This means that you can start working on your computer at school or the
office, and finish on your home computer. Never email yourself a file again!
After you install Dropbox on your computer, a Dropbox folder is created. If you’re reading this
guide, then that means you had no problems finding your Dropbox folder :). This folder is just
like any other folder on your computer, but with a twist. Any file you save to your Dropbox
folder is also saved to all your other computers, phones, and the Dropbox website.
On top of your Dropbox is a green icon that lets you know how your Dropbox is doing:
Green circle and check: All the files in your Dropbox are up to date.
Blue circle and arrows: Files in your Dropbox are currently being updated.
Adding files to your Dropbox
Step 2 The blue icon means your file’s syncing with Dropbox.
That’s it! The green icon means that your file has finished
saving to your other computers and the Dropbox website.
Now that your file’s in Dropbox, any changes made to it will
be automatically detected and updated to your other
computers.
• Share a Folder Invite your friends, family and teammates to a folder in your Dropbox. It’ll be
as if you saved that folder straight to their computers.
• View Previous Versions View a record of changes made to a file. You can choose to go back
to an earlier version of a file if you’d like.
• Browse on Dropbox Website... View a file on the Dropbox website.
• Copy Public Link Generate a link to any file in your Public Folder. You can then send this link
to anyone you’d like to view that file.
The Dropbox Tray/Menu bar icon
The Dropbox tray or menu bar icon is located on the bottom (Windows) or top (Mac/Linux) of
your screen, and lets you check the status and settings of your Dropbox. The same green, blue,
and red icons that appear on the files and folders in your Dropbox also appear over this icon to
let you know the status of your Dropbox.
What do I do now?
Try dragging some photos or docs into your Dropbox. Then visit the Dropbox website at https://
www.dropbox.com. When you log in, your files will be waiting for you!
To learn more about Dropbox, take our tour at http://www.dropbox.com/tour or visit the help
center at http://www.dropbox.com/help.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 trying to upload. If it senses that it al-
ready has the file, 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.