U-M Dropbox Updates

Upcoming changes to Google files in Dropbox

1/12/2024

Dropbox has informed the university that they are changing the way Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are created, accessed, and stored in U-M Dropbox. Since Dropbox became available at the university, you have been able to create and edit Google files within Dropbox using the Google Drive integration, but that will soon be going away.

What to Expect

There are two dates to be aware of with regard to the retirement of the Google Drive integration: January 12 and January 22, 2024.

According to Dropbox, today, January 12, 2024, they will:

  • Remove the ability to create Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides in Dropbox.
  • Remove the ability to use the Google editor to open/edit non-Google files in Dropbox.

On January 22, 2024, they will convert all existing Google files (.gdoc, .gsheet, .gslides) to their equivalent Microsoft file formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).

Important things to note:

  • There is no way to opt out of this change.
  • You should receive no emails, banners, or reminders from Dropbox about this change.
  • All existing sharing settings will remain the same after the conversion.
  • You will be unable to transfer your Google files and retain their original file type (.gdoc, .gsheet, .gslides) from U-M Dropbox to your U-M Google account.
    • You would need to download the converted file(s) from Dropbox, upload it to your Google account, and open it with its equivalent Google file editor (Docs, Sheets, Slides) in Drive.

If desired, you can search for and review your Google files before the conversion:

  1. Log in to U-M Dropbox.
  2. Click the search bar at the top of the page.
  3. Enter the following search query:
    1. type:gdoc, type:gsheet, type:gslides

New Dropbox user interface arriving November 17

11/2/2023

Dropbox has announced a new look and feel for Dropbox on the web, which will begin rolling out to U-M Dropbox on November 17, 2023.

New Dropbox interface showing updated left navigation and folder tree, as well as the new action bar and file view.

Significant updates include:

  • Your Home view is now replaced by the All files view.
  • Updated grid file view with hover-over quick actions.
  • Updated left navigation with an expandable folder tree.
    • You can no longer tell what type (i.e., private, shared, Team, external) each folder is from the left navigation. You have to look at your folders in the All files view to determine its type by using the folder icons.
  • New action bar at the top of the page.
    • Includes an updated Create button and other common actions like Upload.
  • New edit toolbar in image/video previews.
  • New dark mode that will automatically turn on/off to match your default computer OS settings.
    • There is no way to turn it on/off within Dropbox granularly. You have to adjust your computer’s dark mode settings to change it in Dropbox.

Learn more about these changes in U-M Dropbox. You can also review the Using the Dropbox website article in the Dropbox Help Center for a quick overview of the new user experience.

Enhancements to video previews in U-M Dropbox

3/22/2023

Dropbox has announced a number of enhancements to managing and previewing video files.

  • The preview duration limit has been increased to 4 hours, so you and your collaborators can preview more of a video on dropbox.com without having to download the entire file. (This preview duration only applies to videos owned by someone in U-M Dropbox or another enterprise-level domain.)
  • The preview resolution limit has been increased to allow streaming of 2160p (4k) videos. (This preview resolution only applies to videos uploaded at that resolution and owned by someone in U-M Dropbox or another paid account.)
  • More controls for video previews:
    • Skip forward and backward by 10 seconds
    • Turn on closed captioning and read auto-generated transcriptions
    • Change the playback speed
    • Scrubbing to help locate a specific point in your video

Learn more about previewing videos in Dropbox.

According to Dropbox, these updates should now be available in U-M Dropbox.

Updates to folder sharing in U-M Dropbox

2/15/2023

Dropbox recently made updates to the ways in which you can share folders in U-M Dropbox. These updates include the ability to:

Dropbox shared link settings showing new Link for editing option  Dropbox "Share this folder" dialog box with a red box around the new "Can edit" option

Refer to Dropbox: Folder Settings and Permissions for more information on sharing folders in U-M Dropbox.

Email to Dropbox feature now available

6/8/2022

Dropbox recently announced a new feature, “Email to Dropbox,” which allows you to create a unique email address to forward email attachments directly to your U-M Dropbox account into a private folder called “Email Attachments.”

Dropbox notification confirming your unique email address has been created

Some tips on using the new feature:

  • File attachments can be no larger than 20 MB per email.
  • You can share the "Email Attachments" folder just like any other file or folder.
  • Anyone can send file attachments to your U-M Dropbox account using your unique email address, so only share it with people you trust.
  • You can change your unique email address at any time.
  • Check your “Email Attachments” folder regularly, as you will not receive notifications when an attachment has been forwarded.
  • The unique email address is not connected to MCommunity, and MCommunity groups can’t be used to forward attachments to Dropbox.
  • You should not use a unique email address to send PHI / HIPAA-regulated data to your account.

Visit the Dropbox Help Center to learn more about Email to Dropbox and creating your unique email address.

This feature is now available in U-M Dropbox.