Dropbox on Android with AnExplorer
AnExplorer integrates with Dropbox as a native storage location. Once connected, your Dropbox folders appear in AnExplorer's sidebar alongside your phone storage, SD card, and any NAS or network shares. You can copy files between Dropbox and local storage, move files between Dropbox folders, and manage everything in one place.
How to Connect Dropbox
- Open AnExplorer
- Tap + (plus) in the sidebar
- Select Dropbox
- AnExplorer opens a Dropbox login page in a browser view
- Sign in with your Dropbox account (email + password, or Google/Apple sign-in)
- Authorize AnExplorer to access your Dropbox
- Your Dropbox appears as a bookmark in the AnExplorer sidebar
If you have multiple Dropbox accounts (personal + work), you can add both — each appears as a separate entry.
What You Can Do with Dropbox in AnExplorer
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Browse all Dropbox folders | Tap the Dropbox entry in sidebar |
| Download a file to phone | Long-press > Copy > navigate to local folder > Paste |
| Upload a file from phone | Copy the file from local storage > Paste into Dropbox folder |
| Move files within Dropbox | Long-press > Cut > navigate to destination > Paste |
| Delete from Dropbox | Long-press > Delete |
| Share a file link | Long-press > Share (opens Dropbox share dialog) |
| Create a new folder | Long-press in empty area > New Folder |
| Extract archive to Dropbox | Not directly — extract locally, then copy to Dropbox |
AnExplorer + Dropbox vs Dropbox App
| AnExplorer | Dropbox app | |
|---|---|---|
| Browse Dropbox files | ✅ | ✅ |
| Move between Dropbox folders | ✅ | ✅ |
| Copy from Dropbox to phone | ✅ | ✅ |
| Copy from Dropbox to NAS (single step) | ✅ | ❌ (two steps via phone) |
| Open archives (ZIP/RAR/7z) in Dropbox | ✅ | ❌ |
| View alongside local and NAS files | ✅ | ❌ |
| Offline access (sync) | ❌ | ✅ (Dropbox handles sync) |
| Selective sync | ❌ (streaming) | ✅ |
AnExplorer is best for manual file management, moving files between storage locations, and accessing archives. The Dropbox app is better for ongoing sync and offline access.
Common Workflows
Back up phone photos to Dropbox
- In AnExplorer, navigate to
/sdcard/DCIM/Camera/ - Long-press > Select All (or select specific photos)
- Copy
- Navigate to your Dropbox folder (e.g.,
Dropbox/Phone Backup/Year/) - Paste — files upload to Dropbox
Move Dropbox file to NAS (one operation)
If you also have a NAS connected in AnExplorer:
- Navigate to the file in Dropbox
- Long-press > Cut
- Navigate to NAS share
- Paste — the file moves from Dropbox to NAS directly
Without AnExplorer, this would require downloading to the phone first, then uploading to NAS.
Extract and upload a ZIP from Dropbox
- Navigate to the ZIP file in your Dropbox folder
- Tap to open it (AnExplorer shows contents)
- Copy individual files out to local storage
- Re-upload to a different Dropbox folder if needed
Dropbox Free vs Paid
| Plan | Storage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dropbox Basic (free) | 2 GB | Limited but usable for documents |
| Dropbox Plus | 2 TB | Individual paid plan |
| Dropbox Professional | 3 TB | For professionals |
| Dropbox Business | Per user | Team collaboration |
AnExplorer works with all Dropbox plans — the storage available is whatever your Dropbox account has.
Troubleshooting
"Authorization failed" during sign-in:
- Check that you're signing in to the correct Dropbox account
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting: long-press the Dropbox bookmark > Disconnect > re-add
Files take long to load:
- Dropbox API browsing is slower than local storage — large folders with hundreds of files may take several seconds to load
- AnExplorer doesn't cache Dropbox directory listings — each open is a fresh API call
Upload stuck or failing:
- Check your internet connection (Dropbox uploads require internet, unlike local transfers)
- Large files over mobile data can fail if the connection drops — use Wi-Fi for large uploads
- Check Dropbox storage isn't full (Dropbox Basic is only 2 GB)