How to Upload to Dropbox (Web, Desktop App and Phone)

Uploading to Dropbox is how files get from your computer or phone into the cloud, where you can open them anywhere and share them with a link. There are three ways to do it, and for anything big, the method you choose makes a real difference.

Three ways to upload to Dropbox

Method	Size limit per file or folder	Best for
dropbox.com	Up to 350 GB	A few files from any computer
Dropbox desktop app	Up to 2 TB	Large files, big folders, everyday work
Dropbox mobile app	Depends on your phone	Photos, scans and documents on the go

How to upload on dropbox.com

1. Log in at dropbox.com.
2. Open the folder you want the files in.
3. Click Upload under the search bar at the top.
4. Choose File to pick individual files, or Folder to upload a whole folder.
5. Select what you want and click Open or Upload.

Dropbox's upload menu also lets you import files from Google Drive, and on some individual plans from OneDrive, which is handy if you're moving everything into one place.

How to upload with the Dropbox desktop app

1. Install the Dropbox app and sign in.
2. Open the Dropbox folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
3. Drag and drop files into it, or copy and paste them.
4. Wait for the sync icon to show a tick. That means they're in your Dropbox online.

The catch: the website has a lower limit than the app

Dropbox's own help page gives two different limits. Each file or folder uploaded on dropbox.com can be up to 350 GB, while the desktop app handles up to 2 TB. Even well under those limits, a big upload through a browser tab is fragile: close the tab or lose your connection and it stops. For video, design archives or anything you'd measure in gigabytes, use the desktop app, which keeps going in the background and resumes after a dropped connection.

How to upload from your phone

1. Open the Dropbox app.
2. Tap the + button.
3. Tap Upload files (or the photos option for pictures).
4. Choose the files and the folder they should go into.

If you want every photo you take saved automatically, turn on camera uploads in the app. It's convenient, but it fills your storage quickly if you shoot a lot of video.

A Mac quirk: package files

Some Mac files, like Keynote presentations and certain app files, are packages, really folders that look like single files. Dropbox notes that on a Mac you may need to zip a package file before you can upload it through the website. Right-click it, choose Compress, and upload the zip. The desktop app usually handles them without that step.

Uploads and your storage

Every file you upload counts towards your Dropbox storage. That includes files you later make online-only on your computer: Dropbox says online-only files free space on your device but still take up storage on dropbox.com. Check your storage before uploading a large archive so you don't stop syncing halfway through.

Getting files from other people

If you need someone else to upload files to you, you don't have to give them access to your Dropbox. Dropbox's file request feature gives you a link they can use to upload straight into a folder you choose, without seeing anything else in your account. It's ideal for collecting client photos, signed documents or event submissions.

If you're still deciding whether Dropbox is the right home for your files, my guide to Dropbox alternatives compares the main options.

If an upload won't finish

• Check your internet connection and try again on Wi-Fi.
• Check you have enough Dropbox storage left.
• Switch to the desktop app for big files.
• Zip Mac package files before uploading on the website.
• Rename files with unusual characters.

Organise before you upload

It's much easier to upload into the right place than to tidy up afterwards. Create a few top-level folders first, such as Clients, Marketing and Admin, open the folder you want, then upload. If you're uploading to share with a client, put the files into a folder you've already shared with them, so they appear for the other person without you sending a new link. Name files clearly before uploading, with the date and what they are, so search can find them later.

My verdict

For a handful of files, dropbox.com and the Upload button is fine. For anything large, drag it into the Dropbox folder and let the desktop app do the work: it handles files up to 2 TB against the website's 350 GB, and it survives a patchy connection. Use file requests when other people need to send you files, and keep an eye on storage. If your photos are coming from an iPhone, my guide to getting iPhone photos onto a Mac covers the first step.

Frequently asked questions

Can I upload straight into a shared folder?

Yes. Open the shared folder first, then upload, and the files appear for everyone it's shared with.

How do I upload a folder to Dropbox?

On dropbox.com, click Upload and choose Folder, or drag the folder into the Dropbox folder on your computer.

What's the largest file I can upload to Dropbox?

Dropbox says up to 350 GB per file or folder on dropbox.com, and up to 2 TB with the desktop app.

How do I upload to Dropbox from my phone?

Open the Dropbox app, tap the plus button and tap Upload files.

Why won't my Keynote file upload to Dropbox?

On a Mac, package files may need zipping before you upload them on the website.

Can someone upload files to my Dropbox?

Yes. Send them a file request link and they can upload into a folder you choose.