Dropbox - File Management

Overview

Manage files in Dropbox including download, delete, move, and rename operations. Covers single and bulk file operations.

URLs

Critical Constraints

• Shared Folder Deletion: Deleting in shared folders affects all members
• Trash Retention: Deleted files recoverable for 30 days (longer on paid plans)
• Bulk Operations: Large selections may take time to process
• Move Permissions: Cannot move files to folders without write access
• Download ZIP: Multiple file downloads create ZIP archive

Workflow: Select Files

Single File Selection

• Click the checkbox in the first column of the file row
• Or click anywhere on the file row (except the filename link)

Multiple File Selection

• Click "Select all" checkbox in the header to select all visible files
• Hold Shift and click to select a range of files
• Hold Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) and click to select individual files

Deselect Files

• Click checkbox again to deselect individual file
• Click "Select all" to toggle all selections
• Click empty area to clear all selections

Workflow: Download Files

Single File Download

1. Click on filename to open preview
2. Click Download button in the toolbar
3. File downloads to browser's default download location

Multiple File Download

1. Select multiple files using checkboxes
2. Click Download button in the action bar
3. Files download as a ZIP archive
4. ZIP file named after the folder or "Dropbox-[date].zip"

Download from Preview

1. Open file preview by clicking filename
2. Click Download button in top toolbar
3. Use arrow keys or navigation to browse and download other files

Workflow: Delete Files

Delete Single File

1. Select file using checkbox
2. Click Delete button in action bar
3. File moves to Trash

Delete Multiple Files

1. Select multiple files using checkboxes
2. Click Delete button in action bar
3. All selected files move to Trash

Delete in Shared Folders

When deleting from shared/team folders, confirmation dialog appears:

• Delete for everyone - removes file for all team members
• Remove from my files - only removes from your view (file remains for others)

Recover Deleted Files

1. Navigate to Trash (https://www.dropbox.com/deleted_files)
2. Select file(s) to recover
3. Click Restore to return to original location

Workflow: Move Files

Using Action Bar

1. Select file(s) using checkboxes
2. Click Move button in action bar
3. Folder browser dialog opens
4. Navigate to destination folder
5. Click Move to confirm

Using Drag and Drop

1. Click and hold on file
2. Drag to destination folder in sidebar or file list
3. Release to move

Workflow: Rename Files

Using Context Menu

1. Right-click on file
2. Select Rename from context menu
3. Type new name
4. Press Enter or click outside to confirm

Using Keyboard

1. Select single file
2. Press F2 or click filename slowly twice
3. Edit name
4. Press Enter to confirm

Workflow: File Preview

Open Preview

Click on filename to open preview mode.

Preview Features

Navigate in Preview

• Use left/right arrow buttons to browse files
• Press arrow keys on keyboard
• Click Close or press Escape to exit preview

Page Structure Reference

Action Bar Elements

Context Menu Options

Keyboard Shortcuts

Troubleshooting

Notes

• Deleted files count against storage until permanently removed
• File versions are preserved - access via "Version history"
• Shared files show collaborator avatars
• Sort columns by clicking headers (Name, Modified, Size)
• Grid view shows larger thumbnails for visual browsing
• Search supports filters: type, date, owner