How To Use Dropbox, The Best Free File Storage Service Around

2011-02-02T22:43:26.235Z

Dropbox is the popular online file storage service that acts as a virtual hard drive for your data.

It's insanely useful for swapping files with friends and colleagues, or backing up your important stuff and accessing it from any computer or mobile device.

If you're not using it yet, you should be.

Dropbox gives you 2 GB of storage for free, but if you need more space you can get up to 100 GB for $19.99 per month.

And it's more than just file sharing and storage. Check out our clever tricks for using Dropbox to do things like manage your passwords and sync your iTunes music across several computers.

We'll walk you through how to sign up for Dropbox and use it to back up your files. To get started, head to Dropbox's home page.

If you have a smartphone, you should also download the Dropbox app for iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry. These apps will let you view your documents and upload documents with your phone.

Here's the Dropbox home page. To register, click the tiny arrow next to Log In at the top.

Click "Create an account" to go to the registration screen.

Here's the registration screen. Enter your name, email address, and password you'd like to use. Click "Create Account" when you're done.

Dropbox will automatically begin downloading to your computer. Save the .dmg file (Mac) or .exe file (PC) to a location you'll remember.

Open the .dmg or .exe file. For Macs, a window will pop up prompting you to drag Dropbox to the Applications folder. Drag the icon into the folder to install Dropbox.

You'll find the Dropbox icon in your Applications folder in the Finder. Double click it to launch the program.

For Mac users, you'll be asked to enter your computer's password before launching Dropbox. This is because Dropbox needs permission to add a folder to your Home folder. Type in your password and click OK.

Here's your Dropbox folder. It syncs between all computers you install Dropbox on and your online account. (Which we'll show you later)

Now click on your home folder under "Places" in the Finder. This is where your Dropbox lives. We suggest dragging it under "Places" for quick and easy access from the Finder.

Now you're ready to start uploading files. Find the ones you want and simply drag and drop them into the Dropbox folder. Dropbox will automatically upload the files to your online account. Easy.

Go back to your Dropbox folder. You can see your newly-uploaded files there. The green check marks mean the sync is complete.

Now let's check out the Dropbox web app. Go back to Dropbox.com and use the log in you created earlier to sign in.

Here's the screen you'll be taken to after logging in. The web app is a great way to use Dropbox if you are on a friend's computer and want to upload a file to your account. Let's try that now. Click "Upload" to get started.

Here's the upload tool. Click "Choose files" and select the ones you want to upload from your desktop. You can select multiple files if you want.

Once you have selected your files, click "Start upload" to begin the upload.

Once the files have uploaded, they will appear in the main menu. If you go back to the Dropbox folder on your desktop, they will be there too. That's very useful for transferring files between multiple computers.

Now let's check out Dropbox's iPhone app. Download it from the link provided below. After the download, tap the icon to launch the app.

Download the Dropbox iPhone app here.

Here's the welcome screen. Since you've already created an account, tap "I'm already a Dropbox user" to sign in.

Log in with the email and password you registered with earlier and tap "Log In to Dropbox"

After you log in, you'll see this welcome screen. Read it if you want, then tap "My Dropbox" at the top to view your files.

This is the My Dropbox menu where you can view all your files and folders. Tap on a file to view it.

You can view PDFs like this and other files within the app. Use the touchscreen to pan up and down or pinch to zoom in and out. Now let's upload a new file. Tap "My Dropbox" to go back to the main menu.

Tap the camera icon at the bottom of My Dropbox. This will let you upload a new photo to your account.

You have the option to take a new photo or video or upload one you already have in your iPhone's photo album. We're going to use an old photo so we'll tap "Existing Photo or Video"

You'll be taken to your photo album. Tap the photo you'd like to upload to Dropbox.

Your photo will begin uploading immediately. When it's finished, you can tap it from your My Dropbox list to view. You can also access it from your account online or your computer.

How To Use Dropbox, The Best Free File Storage Service Around

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

How To Use Dropbox, The Best Free File Storage Service Around

Here's the Dropbox home page. To register, click the tiny arrow next to Log In at the top.

Click "Create an account" to go to the registration screen.

Here's the registration screen. Enter your name, email address, and password you'd like to use. Click "Create Account" when you're done.

Dropbox will automatically begin downloading to your computer. Save the .dmg file (Mac) or .exe file (PC) to a location you'll remember.

Open the .dmg or .exe file. For Macs, a window will pop up prompting you to drag Dropbox to the Applications folder. Drag the icon into the folder to install Dropbox.

You'll find the Dropbox icon in your Applications folder in the Finder. Double click it to launch the program.

For Mac users, you'll be asked to enter your computer's password before launching Dropbox. This is because Dropbox needs permission to add a folder to your Home folder. Type in your password and click OK.

After you type in your password, Dropbox will appear in toolbar at the top of your screen. Click it, then select "Open Dropbox Folder" to see where your files will go.

Here's your Dropbox folder. It syncs between all computers you install Dropbox on and your online account. (Which we'll show you later)

Now click on your home folder under "Places" in the Finder. This is where your Dropbox lives. We suggest dragging it under "Places" for quick and easy access from the Finder.

Now you're ready to start uploading files. Find the ones you want and simply drag and drop them into the Dropbox folder. Dropbox will automatically upload the files to your online account. Easy.

Go back to your Dropbox folder. You can see your newly-uploaded files there. The green check marks mean the sync is complete.

Now let's check out the Dropbox web app. Go back to Dropbox.com and use the log in you created earlier to sign in.

Here's the screen you'll be taken to after logging in. The web app is a great way to use Dropbox if you are on a friend's computer and want to upload a file to your account. Let's try that now. Click "Upload" to get started.

Here's the upload tool. Click "Choose files" and select the ones you want to upload from your desktop. You can select multiple files if you want.

Once you have selected your files, click "Start upload" to begin the upload.

Once the files have uploaded, they will appear in the main menu. If you go back to the Dropbox folder on your desktop, they will be there too. That's very useful for transferring files between multiple computers.

Now let's check out Dropbox's iPhone app. Download it from the link provided below. After the download, tap the icon to launch the app.

Here's the welcome screen. Since you've already created an account, tap "I'm already a Dropbox user" to sign in.

Log in with the email and password you registered with earlier and tap "Log In to Dropbox"

After you log in, you'll see this welcome screen. Read it if you want, then tap "My Dropbox" at the top to view your files.

This is the My Dropbox menu where you can view all your files and folders. Tap on a file to view it.

You can view PDFs like this and other files within the app. Use the touchscreen to pan up and down or pinch to zoom in and out. Now let's upload a new file. Tap "My Dropbox" to go back to the main menu.

Tap the camera icon at the bottom of My Dropbox. This will let you upload a new photo to your account.

You have the option to take a new photo or video or upload one you already have in your iPhone's photo album. We're going to use an old photo so we'll tap "Existing Photo or Video"

You'll be taken to your photo album. Tap the photo you'd like to upload to Dropbox.

Your photo will begin uploading immediately. When it's finished, you can tap it from your My Dropbox list to view. You can also access it from your account online or your computer.

Want to learn about another useful app?

Click here to learn how to use Evernote, the amazing note taking app →

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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