How to create and use Dropbox folders

Updated Sep 12, 2023

You can create, upload, and move files, folders, and subfolders on dropbox.com. You can also create and move files and folders on paper.dropbox.com for users on the old release of Dropbox Paper. 

How to create a folder on dropbox.com

To create a folder:

  1. Log in to dropbox.com.
  2. Click Create folder under the search bar at the top.
    • You can also click + Create and select Folder.
  3. Name your folder.
  4. Select who’ll have access to your folder: Only you or Specific people.
    • If you select Specific people, type emails, names, or groups you want to share your folder with and select Can edit or Can view from the dropdown.
  5. Toggle on Add automation to set up your folder to automatically organize your content and convert files, if you’d like.
  6. Click Create or Share.

To create a shared folder:

  1. Log in to dropbox.com.
  2. Click + Create under the search bar at the top.
  3. Select Folder.
  4. Select Shared folder.
  5. Name your folder.
  6. Type emails, names, or groups you want to share your folder with.
  7. Click the dropdown arrow next to Can edit to change their access to Can view, if you’d like.
  8. Check the box next to Add automation to set up your shared folder to automatically organize your content and convert files, if you’d like.
  9. Click Share.
To create a subfolder within a shared folder:
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Note: Everyone with access to the shared folder will have access to the subfolder.

  1. Log in to dropbox.com.
  2. Click All files or click “<” next to Folders in the left sidebar.
  3. Open the shared folder you want to add a subfolder to.
  4. Click Create folder under the search bar at the top. 
  5. Name your folder.
  6. Toggle on Add automation to set up your folder to automatically organize your content and convert files, if you’d like.
  7. Click Create.

How to create a Paper folder on paper.dropbox.com

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Note: Paper folders are only available to people on the old release of Dropbox Paper. The new 2020 release of Dropbox Paper allows you to keep your Paper docs in regular Dropbox folders. Learn more about the 2020 release of Dropbox Paper.

To create a Paper folder:

  1. Log in to dropbox.com.
  2. Click the grid icon in the top-left corner.
  3. Click Paper from the menu that appears.
  4. Click Create new folder.
  5. Type a name for your folder.
  6. Click Create.

 

How to upload files to a folder on dropbox.com

To upload files to a folder: 

  1. Log in to dropbox.com.
  2. Open the folder you’d like to add files to.
  3. Click Upload under the search bar at the top.
  4. Click File.
  5. Navigate to the file you’d like to upload.
  6. Click Open.

 

How to move files or folders to a folder on dropbox.com

To move files or folders to a folder:

  1. Log in to dropbox.com.
  2. Click “” (ellipsis) next to the file or folder you’d like to move to a folder.
    • To move multiple files to a folder at once, hover over the files you want to move and check the boxes to the left of the files. Then, click “” (ellipsis) to the right.
  3. Click Move.

 

How to move a Paper doc to a folder on paper.dropbox.com and dropbox.com

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Note: If you’re on the old release of Dropbox Paper, you can only store your Paper docs in Paper folders on paper.dropbox.com. If you’re on the new 2020 release of Dropbox Paper, you can store your Paper docs in regular Dropbox folders on dropbox.com.

To move a Paper doc to a folder:

  1. Log in to dropbox.com.
  2. Open the Paper doc you’d like to move to a folder.
  3. Click “” (ellipsis) in the upper-right corner.
  4. Click Move or Add to folder, depending on which release you’re using.
  5. Click the folder you’d like to move your doc to.
  6. Click Move or Add.
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