Best Way to Download Files from Dropbox Without Errors!

You have just received a Dropbox link from your boss, client, or colleague. But saving it to your local drive seems a challenging task for you. Don’t worry! This blog will provide a complete step-by-step guide to download files from Dropbox easily. You will get every solution to download files regardless of any platform, such as PC, Mac, or mobile device.

Download Dropbox Files: Get These Benefits Now!

Here are the top benefits that you can avail by downloading files from Dropbox.

• View and edit files without the internet.
• Keep a secure local copy of important files.
• Manage your files the way you want locally.
• Move files to external storage or between systems.
• Share content access to others without a Dropbox account.

How to Download Files from Dropbox using Manual Solutions?

Go through the following section to download Dropbox files on different devices based on your convenience.

Method 1. Download Shared Dropbox Files/Folders

Here are the steps to download files through the shared link:

Step 1. Copy and open the link in your browser.
Step 2. Click on the Download icon to save the file.
Step 3. It will start the downloading file.
Step 4. Now, access the file from your download folder.

Method 2. Download Files from Dropbox Website (PC/Mac)

Follow the given steps to download the files from Dropbox website directly.

Step 1. Log in to your Dropbox account.
Step 2. Locate the file or folder you choose to download.
Step 3. Check the files and click on the three dots icon to Download them.

Step 4. It will start downloading files to your system.

Note: Zipped folders will automatically be compressed before download.

Method 3. Use Dropbox Desktop App to Save Data Offline

Here’s how to download a file from Dropbox using the desktop application of Dropbox.

Note: When you install the Dropbox desktop application, create a Dropbox folder on your local drive. It syncs files automatically with your online Dropbox account.

Step 1. Locate to the Dropbox folder with default folder paths:

• Windows: C:\Users\<YourName>\Dropbox
• Mac: /Users/<YourName>/Dropbox

Step 2. Browse to the file or folder you want to download.
Step 3. Make the File Available Offline by following the steps:

• If the file has a cloud icon (online-only), right-click on it.
• Select Make Available Offline or Smart Sync > Local.
• It will download the file to your hard drive and store it locally.

Step 4. You can copy/move it to any other folder once marked as local.

Method 4. Download Dropbox Files on Mobile (iOS/Android)

Use the given instructions to download Dropbox file using your mobile devices:

For Android Devices:

Step 1. Launch the Dropbox and navigate to Files.
Step 2. Select the files you wish to download and click on the three dots icon.

Step 3. Then, click on the Save to Device option.

Step 4. Choose the saving location and tap on USE THIS FOLDER.

Step 5. It will save the selected files to that location.

For iOS Devices:

Step 1. Open Dropbox and go to Files.

Step 2. Tap on the three dots icon to download that specific file.
Step 3. Click on the Share option to Export file.

Step 4. Then, tap on the Save to Files option.

Step 5. Select a location and save the file on your mobile.

Step 6. Now, go to the selected folder to access the downloaded files.

Note: Not all file types are downloadable directly.

Method 5. Force File Download via URL (Technical Solution)

Dropbox, by default, opens files in the browser when you share them. However, by making small changes in the URL, you can force the Dropbox file to download automatically. Here’s how:

Step 1. Copy the shared link to the Dropbox files and paste it into Notepad.
Step 2. Modify the URL parameter? dl=0 to? dl=1.

Original: https://www.dropbox.com/s/abc123xyz/sample-file.pdf?dl=0
Modified: https://www.dropbox.com/s/abc123xyz/sample-file.pdf?dl=1

Step 3. Now open the modified URL in your browser.
Step 4. It will automatically start downloading the file to your default downloads folder.

Alternate Solution: Automate Your Dropbox Download Process!

All the above-mentioned methods help you to download Dropbox files to your local drive. However, these methods can be helpful only when the number of files is limited.

If you want to back up data on a large scale, you can rely on professional tools like the Recoveryfix Dropbox Backup tool. The Dropbox Backup tool allows you to backup selective data to your system drive. You can also automate the backup jobs with an innovative scheduling feature.

Solve Dropbox Download Issues: Try These Quick Fixes Now!

Fix the common errors like download failures or sync errors with the provided solutions.

Efficient Dropbox Download Process: Smart Tips You Need to Know!

Follow these tips to download Dropbox files faster with a smooth experience every time.

• Use the Dropbox client app for ongoing access and syncing.
• Prefer wired internet for large file downloads.
• Avoid downloading large folders on mobile browsers.
• Rename files or folders before downloading if they contain special characters.
• Check storage space on your device before initiating large downloads.

Key Notes

Hopefully, this guide helped you learn every reliable way to download files from Dropbox, regardless of the platform. All the provided solutions work well for personal or small-scale data backup.

But, if you are planning to backup data on a large scale, then go with the recommended solution. It helps you backup Dropbox data to a hard drive or even migrate data directly to Amazon S3 and Azure Blob Storage in a few clicks. Take the free trial now.