Cloud services like Dropbox have changed the way we all use our computers and mobile devices. When was the last time you actually took files home from work on a USB stick? However, one sometimes annoying aspect of using cloud services is that features and interfaces change at the whim of the platform owner. Who will have time for all the settings?
So, here are some new (and old, but updated) tips for getting more efficient use of Dropbox. If you are indifferent to your cloud hard drive, one of these helpful tips might thrill you again.
Restore Dropbox files
While at first glance you only see one copy of your data in Dropbox, the service actually has a sliding window that you can return to for any file. The window is different for free and paid accounts, but free users can restore any changes in the last 30 days.
You can restore individual files and folders manually. However, if you need to bring your entire Dropbox back to an earlier date (for example, due to a ransomware attack), you will need to write an email to Dropbox support.
- Log in to Dropbox.com to use this.
- Click Files, and then delete the files.
- Select the file you want to recover, click on it and then click “Recoverâ€.
- Your files should now be in place.
How to Use Two-Factor Authentication on Dropbox
Let’s face it, the current password system that most sites use is not perfect. We constantly hear about new data leaks and hacks where user credentials are revealed. When it comes to a service like Dropbox that can store sensitive personal information, the need for a better solution becomes much more urgent.
This is where two-factor authentication comes into play. It combines two separate sources of verification such as a password and one-time phone PIN to make it much more difficult for hackers to access your data.
Here’s how to use two-factor authentication with Dropbox:
- Sign in to the site.
- Click your account picture, then select settings.
- Click the security tab and enable two-step verification.
- From here, just click “Get Started” and follow the instructions.
When the process is complete, you will have much more protection from the embarrassing collection of poetry.
Use LAN sync to speed up local Dropbox devices
Most people have multiple devices these days, and if you have wired internet at home, you also have a small local area network via a router. If all of your connected machines sync Dropbox over the internet, it can seriously reduce your network bandwidth.
Once LAN Sync is activated, devices connected to the same local network and Dropbox account will exchange files with each other. This means you don’t download the same data more than once.
- To activate or check that it is activated, right-click the Dropbox icon in the notification area.
- Click the gear icon and select settings.
- Click the Bandwidth tab and make sure the checkbox is checked in the LAN Sync section.
Your devices will now work fine and communicate with each other.
Rocks camera upload for iOS users
While Android users can easily find their photos on their Google Drive without any effort, iOS users are limited to using iCloud, which can be a little less elegant to use. Fortunately, Dropbox offers an auto-upload camera feature that works on Android too, but it’s especially useful for iOS users.
- To check if camera upload is enabled on iOS, open the Dropbox app.
- Click Account.
- Click Camera Upload.
- Switch downloads as you see fit.
- Your pictures will now be automatically uploaded to your Dropbox.
Selective sync saves wasted bandwidth and space
Selective sync saves bandwidth and space wastage
On desktops and laptops, Dropbox syncs each folder by default. This is fine for most people, but if you only want certain folders synced to a specific device, you can use selective sync to ensure that only the appropriate folders are downloaded to that device.
- To activate it. , right-click the Dropbox icon in the notification area.
- Click the gear icon and select settings.
- Click the Synchronization tab.
- Click Custom Sync and uncheck the box next to anything you don’t want to sync. Now these folders will not take up space or bandwidth for that particular computer.
Make important files “available offline” on mobile devices
By default, Dropbox doesn’t download anything to your mobile device at all. It just shows you all the files in the app that are loaded if you try to open any of them. Obviously, this is a measure for dealing with expensive data and limited memory on phones.
However, you can mark certain files so that they are always up to date and available on your device, even if you do not have an Internet connection.
It’s just like pie. In the Android or iOS app, tap the three dots next to any file and tap Make Available Offline. They will now always be available until you cancel the process. Just keep in mind that this is now a paid feature of DropBox Plus.
Use Dropbox and the Open With Integration to edit files directly
Use Dropbox integration and Open With to directly edit files
Editing Word or another Office file from a synced folder on your computer is a breeze. All you have to do is open it as usual and then save it when edits are done. The problem occurs when you need to quickly edit a file from a computer that does not have a synced folder.
Thankfully, Dropbox now lets you open a file from a website directly in the app and then automatically save your changes. This saves you the hassle of manually uploading the file, editing it, uploading and then deleting or renaming the original.
How to use Open With in Dropbox:
- Open the file preview in Dropbox.
- Click Open With and select the application you want. In the case of a Word file, this is the correct application, of course, Word.
The file will open in Word, where you can edit it as usual. After you save and close the file, your changes are immediately reflected in the Dropbox online file.
Use Dropbox Paper to collaborate and collaborate
Use Dropbox to collaborate and work seamlessly
Dropbox is quickly becoming more than just a place to store and share documents. There is fierce competition from companies like Google and Microsoft that are integrating their cloud storage solutions with cloud productivity tools.
Paper is a collaboration tool where team members can work together at the same time. Dropbox didn’t create it simply as an alternative to Google Docs. It is also a versatile workspace where remote teams can execute projects. You can use Paper for meeting notes, brainstorming, and project planning, while leveraging all the resources you store in your shared Dropbox cloud.
Paper can be used through a browser interface or through dedicated Android and iOS apps.
How to integrate Dropbox with G Suite
Dropbox Paper is a smart, minimal collaboration tool. However, this is definitely not a major replacement for the productive cloud apps you get with Google’s G Suite. G Suite is the paid business version of the Google Cloud apps we all know and love.
If your workplace uses both Dropbox and G Suite, you can now combine them using Dropbox for G Suite This is one of the most successful integrations of two completely different cloud services ever seen, and the benefits are substantial. With Dropbox for G Suite, you can store native Google file formats in your Dropbox file storage. This way, Documents, Sheets, and Presentations will sit side by side with your regular Office documents.
By the way, this integration also lets you edit Office documents directly from Dropbox using Google’s editing tools – without having to convert them. This option means you no longer have to make the difficult choice between the two leading cloud storage providers.
Bring Dropbox to Slack
Just as G Suite has become indispensable in many companies, Slack has become an important team management and communication tool. It’s a great way to let people work together on a computer network, but Slack lacks good file storage and management tools.
Fortunately, Dropbox again recognized the need to combine the two products and provided official integration for Slack
You can start Slack conversations from within Dropbox itself about specific files. You can send Dropbox files to people directly through Slack, and Dropbox Paper docs can also be accessed and collaborated on right from Slack.
If you’re using both Dropbox and Slack, this feature will reduce the amount of inelegant fudge you need to do right now.
Think outside the box
These are just a few of the ways you can use Dropbox more effectively, but the community also comes up with a lot of unofficial hackers and Dropbox itself continues to work hard to stay ahead of the competition. You can literally write a book about everything that’s possible with this seemingly simple cloud service.
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