Sync files and folders

Sync files across devices and platforms

It’s easy to make your files accessible on your daily commute to work or on vacation. Save a file to the Dropbox folder on your computer, and it will synchronize automatically to your mobile device. Cloud file sync is available on multiple devices and platforms, from Windows and Mac to mobile devices like iPhone, iPad and Android via the Dropbox mobile app.

Newly saved or updated files are automatically synced everywhere, so you don’t have to spend time emailing the newest versions to collaborators. And you can be reassured that all your important files are completely synced by looking for the green checkmark.

Files synced in the cloud across mobile and desktop

File sync is always in your control

Update something too soon? No worries—all is not lost. Earlier versions of your files are backed up for 30 days—or as many as 180 days for Dropbox Business users—so you can always recover an earlier version of your file sync.

Get offline access on all your devices

With the desktop app, locally synchronized folders and files are available even when you’re away from an internet connection. Once you get back online, Dropbox will automatically synchronize your folders and files with all the latest changes. You can also select files to access offline on your Android or iPhone smartphone, and even your iPad.

Save space

With Dropbox Smart Sync, free up precious hard drive space by sending files to the cloud. Even though they are cloud synced and stored, you’ll still be able to view every folder and file from your desktop. And when you want to access them, the files will sync automatically to your hard drive—but only when you need it.

Frequently asked questions

What is sync?

Sync is short for the word ‘synchronize’ which means an event that happens in more than one place simultaneously. In terms of technology, when you sync a device—such as a phone or tablet, with your computer, all of the data from your computer is automatically synchronized with that device. You can feel confident knowing that all your data—such as photos or work files—is available to you on different devices. This data synching helps further protect you from data loss because it’s saved in more than one place. With Dropbox Smart Sync, you can also save space on your hard drive by removing old or ‘stale’ folders you don’t use regularly and storing them to the cloud.

What is Dropbox Smart Sync?

Dropbox Smart Sync is a feature that helps save space on your hard drive by removing stale files and folders off your hard drive and storing them to the cloud. With Smart Sync, you can see and access everything in your Dropbox account on your desktop without taking up space on your computer’s hard drive.

How do I sync files and folders in Dropbox?

You can sync Dropbox files and folders across devices with the Dropbox app. Sign in to your Dropbox account on each device, then add your files and folders to the Dropbox folder on your computer, phone, or tablet. The latest version of all your files and folders will be available across every device.

How do I use selective sync on Dropbox?

Instead of using Dropbox Smart Sync, you can also use our selective sync feature. Selective sync on Dropbox allows you to free up space on your hard drive without deleting anything from your Dropbox account. To use selective sync, you’ll need to turn on the feature from the Dropbox app on your Windows or Mac computer. Once selective sync is enabled, you can choose which folders to keep off your computer; those same folders will stay in your dropbox.com account.