19 Ways To Unlock The True Power Of Dropbox

The blue box is hiding some mad tricks. Think Dropbox is just good for backups? Think again.

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

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Dropbox is one of the most popular cloud storage platforms on the web. It has a simple interface and syncs well across devices, which is probably why it's a crowd favorite.

But if you're only using Dropbox to back up your files — you're doing it wrong. Here's how to UNLEASH THE POWER WITHIN.

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1. 1Password (free for iOS and Android, $50 for Mac and Windows) create super-strong passwords for all of your accounts and saves the passwords on an encrypted Dropbox file.

This app basically does two things: 1) it creates very strong passwords, and 2) it stores those strong passwords in Dropbox so you don't have to memorize them and so you can access the passwords on all of your devices.. All you need to remember is one master passphrase to unlock the 1Password app on your computer or phone. On iPhone, you can also use TouchID to unlock the app. From there, you can copy and paste the password you need.

If you're traveling and using a PC at an internet café or other device that doesn't belong to you, all you need to do is log into Dropbox.com, go to your 1Password folder (probably in "Apps"), click 1Password.html, and enter in your Master Password to unlock 1PasswordAnywhere.

It also periodically checks through your logins and informs you when sites are compromised, so you can change your password immediately.

2. DBinbox allows you to send and receive files that are too big for email.

With DBinbox, people can send bigger files right to your desktop. First, you create a custom URL that looks like: "dbinbox.com/[yourname]." Then, anybody can go to that URL and send a file to you (up to 20MB per file for the free version). The file will appear seconds later in a Dropbox folder named "DBinbox." It's a simple solution for sending PDFs, videos, and more that are too big for email.

You'll need to install the Dropbox desktop app for this to work.

3. Scanbot (free, iOS and Android) is an app that can scan any document using your phone's camera and store it in the cloud.

https://scanbot.io/en/

Sign any document.

https://scanbot.io/en/

Scan any document.

Say good-bye to the pains of filing expense reports. Receipts, handwritten notes, newspaper articles, contracts, and more are all fair game for high-quality scans taken by your phone's camera.

The scans can be converted into JPEG or PDF instantly, then saved to a custom folder in Dropbox, as well as Evernote, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Box. The app also allows you to highlight information in PDFs, add comments, or add your signature.

4. GoodNotes 4 ($7, iOS) is an app for handwritten notes. The app recognizes handwriting, so all of your notes are searchable and automatically saved to Dropbox.

In GoodNotes, you can easily export handwritten notes as a PDF to your Dropbox account. Like Scanbot, you can annotate PDF documents, as well as fill and sign forms.

5. Treev is a free Chrome extension that can search for files in Dropbox, Google Drive, and Trello — at the same time.

Using Treev is as simple as clicking the Treev icon in your Chrome toolbar. It's a search tool that can pull up anything from your cloud accounts.

The extension also makes it easy to share files from the cloud as you type. A Treev icon will also appear in the Gmail compose window. Click the icon to quickly attach a file or folder.

IFTTT stands for If This Then That. It's a service that allows you to connect products and apps with automated "recipes."

6. Running out of Dropbox storage? Move photo files to Google Drive.

Did you know that only photos over 2048 x 2048 pixels count toward your 15GB Google Drive storage limit? If you're running out of Dropbox space, transfer your medium-size photos to Google Drive easily with this IFTTT recipe. The photos will appear in a Google Drive folder named "Dropbox" unless you edit "Drive folder path" (shown below).

7. Save all of your Instagram photos to Dropbox.

After activating this recipe, you'll need to connect both your Instagram and Dropbox accounts to IFTTT. Then, any new Instagram photo uploaded by you will be added to one of your Dropbox folders.

You can customize the file name of the photos and which Dropbox folder the photo is added to. Just head to ifttt.com/myrecipes, click on the Instagram to Dropbox recipe, scroll down, and edit "File Name" or "Dropbox folder path."

8. Download your favorite Soundcloud tracks as MP3s (if available) to Dropbox.

w.soundcloud.com

You can preserve your "liked" Soundcloud tracks (find them here) in perpetuity!

If a download button appears beneath the track (see below), this IFTTT recipe can save the "liked" tracks as an MP3 to a Dropbox folder.

9. Easily send PDFs (and other files) from Dropbox to your Kindle.

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This is an awesome alternative to reading long articles on your phone or laptop before bed. Those bright screens can destroy your sleep! First, create a Dropbox folder named "Kindle."

Then, locate your Kindle email address. Find your Kindle address at Manage Your Content and Devices > Settings > Personal Document Settings. The address should look like this: [e-mail]. Then add your personal email to the Approved Document Email List.

Now, activate the IFTTT recipe. To send a document to your Kindle, simply drag the file into the "Kindle" Dropbox folder and IFTTT will email the file to your e-reader.

10. Favorited Pocket articles can be converted to PDFs and saved to Dropbox.

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This is especially useful for articles that you'll reference again and again, like recipes or class readings.

Pocket is an app that bookmarks articles so you can read them later. You can mark especially good articles as a "favorite" (the star icon). This IFTTT recipe can turn those favorited articles into PDF files and save them to a Dropbox folder named "Pocket."

11. Record an audio note as a voicemail and upload the MP3 to Dropbox.

After activating this recipe, IFTTT will provide you with a number to call. When you leave a voicemail for that number, the audio will be converted into an MP3 and sent to your Dropbox account.

12. Save screenshots to Dropbox and a link to the screenshot will be copied to your clipboard automatically, so you can share it quickly.

To set this up on Mac or Windows, click on the Dropbox icon in the menu bar > click the gear icon > Preferences > Import > and check Share screenshots using Dropbox.

On Mac, Use command + shift + 3 to capture the whole screen or command + shift + 4 to capture part of the screen (just drag your cursor).

On Windows, press Print Screen to simply save to screenshot to Dropbox or Control + Print Screen save the screenshot to Dropbox and copy the link.

13. On a mobile device, marking a file as "favorite" (star icon) will save the document for offline access.

If you have a digital ticket for a show or a flight, DO THIS so you don't have to wait for the ticket to load or rely on data. You won't regret it. It's also super useful for traveling. Favorite all of your hotel and transportation reservations, just in case.

On iOS, swipe to the right over a file name and tap the star icon. You can also open the file and tap the star icon at the bottom.

On Android, tap the down arrow to the right of the file and select the star icon.

14. When applying for a job, share a Dropbox link to your resumé instead of sending it as an email attachment (if you can.)

That way you can update the document on the fly if you spot any last-minute spelling errors — just save over the old version to update the document. Your resumé will still be accessible at the same URL.

On desktop, right-click the file to "Share Dropbox link." On mobile, swipe right (iPhone) or tap the down arrow (Android) and select the Share icon.

15. In Dropbox for web (Dropbox.com), you can use these time-saving keyboard shortcuts!

These shortcuts are for Mac. For Windows, change the command key (⌘) to ctrl.

dropbox.com

16. If one of your devices is stolen, unlink your Dropbox account and remotely wipe the files from it immediately.

Sign in to Dropbox.com, click your name on the top right, select Settings > Security > Devices and click the X next to the stolen device.

Next, if you have Dropbox Pro or Dropbox for Business, you can wipe the files from the Dropbox folder on that device the next time it comes online. The remote wipe command is always sent after unlinking mobile devices. When you unlink computers, remote wipe is optional.

17. Download Dropbox's photos app Carousel (free, iOS and Android) and get 3GB for free.

To redeem your free storage, you'll need to verify your email address. Once you've verified your email, check that you've received the bonus space in your account settings.

18. Download the email client Mailbox (free, iOS and Android) and earn 1GB when you connect your Dropbox account.

Via fox.com

19. Connecting your Facebook account to Dropbox and following @Dropbox on Twitter will earn you 125MB each.

There are so many things you can do with Dropbox!

(DR.) WHO KNEW.