Among its best features we can highlight:
- Safe and reliable storage. Transfers use SSL and data is encrypted with AES-256.
- Advanced file and folder synchronization features.
- File history. It allows us to save copies of the modified files to return to their previous versions.
Account types and prices
Dropbox offers two . On the one hand, it has its individual user plansfor those who are going to use them for personal purposes, while on the other hand we find the plans for professionals, or “business”, for use at the enterprise level. Each one has different characteristics and prices, let’s see them.
The first thing to keep in mind is that Dropbox gives us 2 GB of free storage just for signing up. This is small compared to OneDrive, Google Drive or Mega that give us between 15 GB and 50 GB, but it has always been the case. Also, it only lets us share 100MB files via Dropbox Transfer.
The first of the payment plans that we find is the Plus. This plan allows us, for 9.99 euros per month, to have 2 TB (2000 GB) of storage in the cloud to save what we want. In addition, it also allows us to have 3 electronic signatures per month, and send files of up to 2 GB by Transfer. If we are going to use it at the family level, we have the plan Familia, which offers us 2 TB of shared storage with 6 people, each with their own account, and a family folder where files can be shared with all members. This has a cost of 16.99 euros per month.
Then we enter the professional plans, for companies. First, professional, gives us 3 TB of cloud storage for 16.58 euros per month. It also has a 180-day deleted file recovery function, advanced file security controls, and the ability to send files of up to 100 GB by Transfer.
And finally, we have group subscriptions. The standardfor 12 euros per month per user (3 users minimum) gives us 5 TB of storage in the cloud, and the Advancedfor 18 euros per month per user (3 users minimum) that offers us all the space we may need once the plan is purchased.
free storage
But is it mandatory to pay to be able to use this cloud storage server? As we have already explained, it offers us 2 GB of free storage as standard, which we can use to save whatever we want. But, unlike other storage platforms, here it is much more complicated to add free gigabytes.
In addition to some specific promotion that we can find, for example, for the purchase of a smartphone (which can give us 100 GB of free storage for 6 months, or a year), if what we want is to maximize the storage space of for free we only have two options:
- Recommend Dropbox to friends. We must log in and to send requests to friends. For each one that registers we will obtain 500 MB of extra storage, with a total of 16 GB (which, added to the initial 2 GB, make 18 GB).
- Complete the list of steps to start using the cloud. In addition to learning how it works, we will get a few hundred megabytes more to save everything we want in the cloud.
If we have a professional account, for each person we share, double the space will be added, so we can get up to 32 GB of additional storage space.
How to create a Dropbox account
Anyone can create an account on this cloud to start uploading their files and sharing them with others. To do this, the first thing we must do is , and in the upper right part of the page we click on “Register”.
The first thing we will see will be an assistant from which we can create our account. If we want, we can click on the “Continue with Google” button to link our Gmail account directly with Dropbox and save ourselves from having to complete the wizard. Otherwise, we will have to enter our name, surname, email and password that we want to use to create a new Dropbox account.
Ready. We already have our account created. Now we will have to choose if we want to use the Dropbox Basic plan, with its 2 GB of storage space, or contract one of the payment plans with more space in the cloud. All plans have a 30-day free trial, so why not give it a try?
After choosing the plan that we want to use (we have the basic 2 GB plan), we will have to indicate what we are going to use the cloud for. We can choose to make backup copies, access files from the mobile, share files… whatever we want, it is a mere optional survey.
And ready. We will already have our Dropbox account ready and configured. Now we just have to start using it the way we want.
Share files
One of the great advantages of using a cloud storage platform like Dropbox is the possibility of accessing files and documents from any computer with an Internet connection, as well as being able to share any file and folder with other users of the platform. For this reason, today we are going to see different ways that we have to share from the Windows 10 application any file that we have hosted in the cloud.
Files and folders hosted on Dropbox can be shared in a number of ways. Either by copying a link directly from our archive, folder or application or by sending an email invitation. We must also take into account if we want the recipient to be able to edit the shared file or just view it.
The first thing we have to do to be able to share files through the application is to have it downloaded. Once we have it installed we must log in O well create a new account in case we do not have it, clicking on the button “or create an account”. We fill in our data (name, email, password…) and register with the service. When we sign up we will have 2 GB of free storage, where we can store all the material, which we can share later.
Once the program is installed and we have logged in, the program automatically creates an icon with direct access to our Dropbox account in Windows Explorer. Therefore, to upload or download files, all you have to do is drag them to that folder. In the same way, you can access the application from its icon located on the taskbar. Likewise, our folder will open in which we can add files or folders by dragging it or using the Copy and Paste commands. Once we have uploaded the content we can share it with other users from the application itself.
with the right button
The first thing we must do is have the Dropbox application for desktop open and click on the Dropbox icon which is located in the system tray. Then we click with the the right button of the mouse in the file or folder that we want to share. A contextual menu will open where the “Share” option appears and we enter the email address, name or group of the person (or people) with whom we want to share the file.
When sharing the file or folder, we must indicate whether the recipients will have edit permission or read only. If we set “Edit Permissions” on the folder they will be able to edit, delete, comment on, and add the folder to their Dropbox. In the event that we give them “Read Access”, users will be able to view, download and comment on the folder. Changes to the content of a shared folder are synced with other members almost instantly. This is ideal in case we want to collaborate on projects, share documents or family photos or for any other activity that is carried out jointly.
Finally, we click on “Share” and recipients will receive a message in their email notifying them who wants to share a folder with them. It also includes a button that will take them directly to the folder with all their content within their own Dropbox session. Shared folders are marked with two silhouettes inside the folder
From the three horizontal points
Another option available to share files from Dropbox with the application is selecting the file or folder clicking on it with the left mouse button. Later we must do click on the three dots (“More”) that we find in the upper right part. A contextual menu will appear where we must select “Share” and write the email address, name or group of the person (or people) with whom we want to share the item. As in the previous case, we must decide whether to establish “Editing Permissions” or “Reading Access” in the event that we are sharing an editable file or folder.
By clicking “Share” recipients will receive an email notifying them that we want to share a folder with them. The email also includes a button so that they can directly access the shared folder with all its content, and they will appear marked with two silhouettes inside it.
From the Dropbox folder of our PC
When we install the Dropbox desktop application we will see that we have a dropbox folder on the hard drive of our computer. We can locate it from Windows Explorer and we can recognize it because it has the Dropbox logo and name. From that folder too we can share a file or folder using the installed application for it. To do this, we access the Dropbox folder through Windows Explorer and press with the the right button of the mouse on the file or folder that we want to share.
a contextual menu where we must click on the “Share” option. Next, we write the email address, name or group of the person (or people) with whom we want to share the item. We must not forget that we must select if we want the file or folder to have “Editing Permissions” or “Reading access to it”.
Finally, we select “Share” and the recipients will receive an email with a link to the file or folder. In it they will find their corresponding button so they can access all content within your own Dropbox session. Each folder that we share will be marked with two silhouettes inside the folder.
Cloud tricks and secrets
Although simple, Dropbox is one of the most complete clouds and full of functions and features. If you want to discover everything about this platform, then we are going to tell you what are the best tricks to get the most out of it.
Add Dropbox to Windows File Explorer
Dropbox has a desktop application for Windows 10 from which we can access all our files and folders that we have stored in our account. We can download this application for free from your . In this way we can see all the…
Facebook Comments
Disqus