Dropbox is an application that uses cloud data management to share files between computers, tablets and phones. With a Dropbox account, you can easily share any file on your iPad, and you can even use it to stream non-iTunes compatible video files. Dropbox will allow you to sync your files across all your accounts and computers, and you can use it to share files and collaborate with others.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Install Dropbox
Step 1. Download the Dropbox app from the iPad App Store
You can download it for free.
- Open the App Store. Make sure you are connected to a network.
- Search for "Dropbox".
- Press "Get" and then "Install" next to the Dropbox app in the search results. It may take a few minutes to download and install the app.
Step 2. Launch the Dropbox app to create a new account
Accounts are free and offer 2GB of storage. You can pay to increase the space available.
Press "Sign up" and follow the directions to create your account. If you already have an account, you can press "Login" to get started
Step 3. Decide if you want to enable "Camera Upload"
If you enable this feature, all the photos and videos you take with your iPad will automatically be saved to your Dropbox account. You can disable or enable this option later if you change your mind.
If you are using the free account, you should disable this feature, because photos and videos can quickly fill up the space on Dropbox
Part 2 of 5: Learning to Use the Dropbox App
Step 1. Select the Files tab to view your files
This is the tab that opens by default when you open Dropbox, and you will be able to view all the files and folders saved on your Dropbox account within it. By selecting a file you will see its preview in the right pane.
- When you start Dropbox for the first time, the only thing you'll find is the "Getting Started" document which describes some of the basic functionality of the desktop version of Dropbox.
- You can use folders to sort your files. Click here for more details.
Step 2. Select the Photos tab to see the photos stored on your Dropbox account
The photos will be sorted by upload date.
Step 3. Select the Favorites tab to view the files you have designated for local storage
Anything you've marked as a Favorite on your Dropbox account will be downloaded and saved to your iPad. You will be able to access these files even if your iPad is not connected to the internet.
Click here for more details on how to mark files as Favorites
Step 4. Press the Settings tab to change the Dropbox app and account settings
This tab allows you to see how much space you have available, enable the Camera Upload feature, enter a code to lock the Dropbox app, and connect the app with a computer.
Part 3 of 5: Connecting the App to a Computer
Step 1. Visit the Dropbox Connect website on your computer
Enter dropbox.com/connect in your browser's address bar. You will see the Dropbox logo in the form of a barcode.
Dropbox is most useful when installed on all your devices. This will allow you to quickly share all the files Dropbox is installed on
Step 2. Open the Settings tab in the Dropbox app
Step 3. Press "Connect a computer"
Dropbox will ask for permission to access your iPad's camera, which you will use to scan the barcode during the setup process. If you have already declined the authorization, open the Settings app, select Privacy, then Camera and then turn the Dropbox switch to ON.
Step 4. Press "Yes, continue" when prompted if you are near your computer
Step 5. Point the iPad camera towards the screen, so as to frame the Dropbox logo
Hold the iPad still for a moment to scan the code.
Step 6. Run the installer
Once scanned, the Dropbox website will download an installer for the computer version of the program. Run the installer after downloading it.
Step 7. Open the Dropbox folder on your computer
You can access the Dropbox folder from the desktop shortcut, or by selecting Dropbox from the Favorites section of Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
Anything you add to the shared folder from your computer will be accessible from your iPad and vice versa
Step 8. Install Dropbox on all your devices
Dropbox is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. You'll be able to make the most of Dropbox if you install it on all your devices.
Part 4 of 5: Adding Files to Your Dropbox
Step 1. Add a file using another app's Share button
The easiest way to add a file to Dropbox from your iPad is to share it from another app.
- Open the file in the app that normally handles that type of file. For example, if you want to add a photo to Dropbox, open it first with the Photos app. If you want to add an email attachment, open it with your Mail app.
- Press the "Share" button. It looks like a box with an arrow coming out from the top. The sharing menu will open.
- Select "Save to Dropbox" from the second line. If you don't see this option, press "More" and then enable the Dropbox entry.
- Choose the Dropbox location to save the file to. You will see all your folders, with the recently used paths at the top.
- Press "Save" and wait for the file to be uploaded to Dropbox.
Step 2. Add a file from within the Dropbox app
You can use Dropbox's "Add Files" feature to add files from your Pictures app or iCloud Drive.
- Open the Dropbox app and select the Files tab.
- Press the "…" button at the top of the Files list.
- Press "Add File" and then select the source path of the file. If you select "Pictures", Dropbox will ask you for permission to access the photos on your iPad. If you select iCloud you will be shown the files and folders of your iCloud Drive.
- Selecting a file will upload it to Dropbox.
Step 3. Drag and drop files to the Dropbox folder on your computer
You can add any file from your computer to your Dropbox folder and it will be available on your iPad once uploaded. The loading time will depend on the file size and connection speed.
Part 5 of 5: Managing Your Dropbox Files
Step 1. Open files using Dropbox
You can use Dropbox to open files on your iPad that you've added from your computer. All files that can be opened using the iPad Preview function (images, documents, PDFs, etc.) will be displayed. If your iPad doesn't support that file, you'll need an app that can open it.
Dropbox can stream many video formats without resorting to another app. If the file is Favorite though, you'll need to have an app that supports that type of file
Step 2. Sort your files into folders
Folders can help you keep various files organized.
- Press the "…" button and select "Create Folder" to add a folder to Dropbox. You can also create subfolders within folders using the same method.
- Press the "…" button and then "Select". This will allow you to select multiple files at a time.
- Press "Move" at the bottom of the list after selecting the files. You will be able to choose a Dropbox folder where to move them.
Step 3. Make files Favorites
Favorites are files that you want to be saved locally on your iPad. This allows you to access files when you don't have a network connection on your iPad.
- Open the Dropbox app and the Files tab.
- Press the file you want to add to the favorites list.
- Press the Star button above the file preview. Repeat for any other files you want to add to Favorites.
- Press the Favorites tab to see all files stored locally on your iPad.
Step 4. Share a folder with other people
You can share your Dropbox account folders with other people. They will have access to the folder you shared, but not to the other files in your Dropbox account.
- Open the folder you want to share.
- Press the Share button at the top of the folder you opened. It looks like a box with an arrow coming out from the top.
- Choose how to share files. If you select "Send Link" a link to your folder will be generated, which will allow all the people who use it to download the files inside. If you select "Invite People", you will be able to add users who will be able to edit and synchronize the folder with their Dropbox account.
