read Dropbox in three steps

Go to dropbox.com, click the read button on the homepage, and run the installer file that appears in your Downloads folder. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way on Windows and Mac. After installation, you'll sign in with your email and password, and Dropbox will create a folder on your computer that syncs with your online account.

The installer is small — around 100 MB — so it downloads quickly even on slower internet. Once installed, Dropbox runs in the background and automatically syncs any files you add to your Dropbox folder with the cloud and any other devices where you've signed in.

Key Takeaways

  • read the installer from dropbox.com, then run the file from your Downloads folder to install Dropbox on Windows or Mac.
  • You need a Dropbox account (free or paid) and your login email and password to complete setup after installation.
  • The Dropbox folder appears on your computer like any other folder, and files you save there sync automatically to the cloud.
  • The free plan gives you 2 GB of storage; paid plans start at 2 TB and cost money per month or year.

Step-by-step installation on Windows

Visit dropbox.com in your web browser and look for the blue read button near the top of the page. Click it, and your browser will read a file called DropboxInstaller.exe. Open your Downloads folder (usually at the bottom left of your screen or in File Explorer under Downloads), find DropboxInstaller.exe, and double-click it to start the installer.

A window will open asking where you want to install Dropbox. The default location (usually C:\Users\YourName\Dropbox) works for most people — you can leave it as is and click Next. The installer will then read the rest of the files it needs, which may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed. Once complete, the installer will ask you to sign in with your Dropbox account email and password. Enter your credentials and click Sign In.

After you sign in, Dropbox will ask which folders you want to sync. For a first installation, the default settings are fine — just click Next. Dropbox will then create your Dropbox folder and begin syncing. You'll see a notification when setup is complete, and Dropbox will appear as an icon in your system tray (the small icons at the bottom right of your screen).

Step-by-step installation on Mac

Go to dropbox.com and click read. Your browser will read a file called Dropbox.dmg. Open your Downloads folder (in Finder, click the Downloads icon in the dock, or press Command+Shift+L), find Dropbox.dmg, and double-click it. A window will open showing the Dropbox icon and an Applications folder.

Drag the Dropbox icon into the Applications folder. This copies Dropbox to your Applications folder so you can run it like any other Mac program. Once the copy is complete, close the window and open Applications (in Finder, press Command+Shift+A). Find Dropbox in the Applications folder and double-click it to launch the app for the first time.

Dropbox will ask for your email and password. Sign in with your Dropbox account credentials. You may see a prompt asking Dropbox to access your files — click Allow. Dropbox will then ask which folders to sync and create your Dropbox folder in your home directory. Accept the defaults and click Next. Setup is complete when you see the Dropbox icon in your menu bar (the small icons at the top right of your screen).

What happens after installation

Once Dropbox is installed and you're signed in, a folder called Dropbox appears on your computer in the same place as your Documents and Downloads folders. Any files you save into this folder are automatically uploaded to your Dropbox account in the cloud. If you sign in to Dropbox on another computer or phone with the same email address, those files will appear there too.

Dropbox shows a small icon in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) that tells you whether files are syncing. A green checkmark means everything is up to date. A spinning icon means Dropbox is currently uploading or downloading files. You can click this icon to see which files are syncing and to pause or resume syncing if you need to.

Free storage versus paid plans

When you first install Dropbox, you get a free account with 2 GB of storage. This is enough for documents, spreadsheets, and photos from a few months, but fills up quickly if you store videos or large design files. You can see how much storage you're using by clicking the Dropbox icon in your system tray or menu bar and selecting Account.

Dropbox offers paid plans if you need more space. Dropbox Plus gives you 2 TB (2,000 GB) and costs money per month or per year — the yearly option is cheaper if you commit upfront. Dropbox Family lets multiple people share one account with 2 TB total and costs more per month or year. You can change your plan at any time from the Dropbox website under Settings > Plans.

Troubleshooting common installation problems

If the installer won't run on Windows, right-click DropboxInstaller.exe and select Run as Administrator. This gives the installer permission to make changes to your computer. If you see an error about .NET Framework, your computer may be missing a required component — visit microsoft.com/net/read to install it, then try the Dropbox installer again.

On Mac, if you see a message that Dropbox is damaged or can't be opened, the file may not have downloaded completely. Delete Dropbox.dmg from your Downloads folder, go back to dropbox.com, and read it again. If Dropbox still won't open after reinstalling, restart your Mac and try launching Dropbox again from Applications.

If Dropbox installs but won't sync files, check that you're signed in by clicking the Dropbox icon in your system tray or menu bar. If you see a sign-in button, click it and enter your email and password. If you're already signed in but files aren't syncing, restart your computer — this fixes most sync problems. If the problem continues, uninstall Dropbox, restart your computer, and reinstall it using the steps above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Dropbox account before I install the app?

You can create a free Dropbox account during installation, or create one at dropbox.com before you read. Either way works. If you create it beforehand, you'll have your email and password ready when the installer asks you to sign in.

Can I move my Dropbox folder to a different location on my computer?

Yes. Right-click the Dropbox icon in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac), select Preferences or Settings, go to the Sync tab, and click Change. Choose a new location for your Dropbox folder. Dropbox will move all your files to the new location and continue syncing from there.

What if I want to uninstall Dropbox later?

On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Apps and Features, find Dropbox, and click Uninstall. On Mac, open Applications, drag Dropbox to the Trash, and empty the Trash. Your files on dropbox.com stay there — uninstalling only removes the app from your computer, not your cloud storage.

Will Dropbox slow down my computer?

Dropbox uses very little memory when it's running in the background. You may notice a small slowdown while it's syncing large files, but this is temporary. If you want to pause syncing while you work on something demanding, click the Dropbox icon and select Pause Syncing.