Dropbox may already be installed on your Mac in the Launchpad or Applications folder. If you find Dropbox on your Mac, skip to Signing into Dropbox. Otherwise follow these steps.
- If you just signed up for Dropbox it may download automatically. Wait for the Dropbox icon, then skip to step 6.
- Sign into Dropbox on the web. See instructions.
- Click your name in the upper-right corner and choose Install.
- Wait for Dropbox to download.
- Open your Downloads folder in the dock and double-click the Dropbox.dmg file inside.
- Double-click to install Dropbox.
- Follow the steps below for Signing into Dropbox.
Signing into Dropbox
You need to sign into Dropbox the first time you use it on this Mac. From then on, you’re automatically signed into Dropbox when you log into your computer.
- Click the Launchpad. Or click the Finder (desktop), then click the Go menu at the top of the screen and choose Applications.
- Open the Dropbox application.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to sign into Dropbox with your email address and password.
- Don’t have a Dropbox account? Sign up for one from this window.
- Click the Finder (desktop). Then click the Go menu and choose Home.
- Drag the Dropbox folder to the dock bar next to (not into) the Trash icon.
- Drag the Dropbox folder to the left sidebar underneath (not into) the Downloads.
- Dropbox will start automatically when you turn on your Mac. You won’t see an application screen but you’ll find settings in the top menu bar.
This completes your first-time Dropbox configuration.
Accessing files in your Dropbox
When you’re on your own Mac, it’s as easy to work with Dropbox as any other folders.
- Open your Dropbox folder in the menu bar, dock or sidebar.
- Drag files and folders in or out of the Dropbox folder. Or save files directly into the Dropbox from any application.
- Files are updated in the cloud in minutes, or the next time you’re online.
- Click the Dropbox menu at the top of the screen to check the current status of cloud sync.
