7 Top Tips for Freeing Up Dropbox Space
There are a few options to choose from when you’re looking for online cloud storage. In spite of Dropbox’s lower storage space, it remains a popular option because of its user-friendly formatting.
Still, let’s talk about that low amount of storage space. What do you do when you get the dreaded message that you’ve run out and can’t upload any more files?
The good news is that there are a few methods you can use to free up Dropbox space (or create more). We’re here to let you in on all of the Dropbox secrets that will keep your cloud storage organized and capable of storing more files.
Read on for seven tips to try when you’re running out of space on Dropbox.
1. Leave Shared Folders
Are you part of any shared folders that you don’t need current or regular access to? If so, consider leaving the folder.
Because they’re shared, the documents won’t cease to exist and you can ask to access those documents again in the future.
To temporarily leave a shared folder, sign in to Dropbox and navigate to your shared folder. Hover over the folder title and click the ellipsis option that pops up. Then, click Delete.
To leave a shared folder for good, navigate to the folder and hover over the folder title. Click on the share icon and select the menu of people who have access. Find your name, open the dropdown menu next to it, and click Remove my access.
2. Remove Duplicate Files
Sometimes when we’re uploading files to cloud storage–especially from multiple devices–it’s easy to add duplicate files by accident. Naturally, you don’t need these duplicates, and you may not even know that they’re there.
Check out this guide to Dropbox duplicates. This guide will tell you how you can locate and remove duplicates with ease.
3. Delete Files You No Longer Need
How long have you been using the same Dropbox account? There may have been a time when you needed to save files that are no longer important to you. Maybe they’re old assignments from college or old documents for work that no longer serve any purpose.
This one can take some time, but go through your Dropbox and remove the files you no longer need. Hover over the file title and click the ellipsis option. Then, select Delete to permanently delete the file.
4. Separate Work Cloud Storage from Personal Cloud Storage
To create a new Dropbox account, all you need is an email address that isn’t already associated with your existing account. In fact, Dropbox makes it easy to switch back and forth between separate Dropbox accounts by saving multiple login names and passwords.
If you’re currently using Dropbox for both work and personal use, consider dividing them up.
If needed, make a new email address to manage your personal Dropbox account. Transfer any personal files from your existing Dropbox account to your new personal account and then delete the duplicates to free up space in both.
5. Complete a Few Simple Tasks to Get More Storage
You may not have known that you can access more free storage space on your Dropbox account by completing a few simple tasks.
For example, you can earn an additional 250MB of Dropbox storage by completing the Get Started Tour.
Then, connect your Twitter and Facebook accounts to Dropbox to earn an additional 250MB of Dropbox storage. You can get another 125MB of Dropbox space simply by following the official Dropbox account on Twitter.
If you’ve completed our first four tips and still need more Dropbox storage, these tasks can give you more wiggle room.
6. Refer Friends or Coworkers to Dropbox
Believe it or not, Dropbox does offer a whopping 32 additional gigabytes of storage to users for free. However, it will take a bit of planning on your end.
To gain access to all of this additional storage, you’re going to need to start referring people to Dropbox. You’ll get 1 additional gigabyte of space per referral you make, capping off at 32 gigs.
Technically, you can “refer” yourself for extra space, but there is a catch. While it’s easy to make multiple Dropbox accounts, you can only use your own as a referral if you sign in on a separate device–like your smartphone or personal computer.
If you’re having trouble making referrals, remind your family and friends that Dropbox is free and they don’t have to use it if they don’t want to. Simply making an account is enough for you to gain access to those sweet extra gigs.
7. Upgrade Your Account
When all else fails, there’s only one more thing to do: upgrade your account. Paying for cloud storage may not be your first move, but if you rely on Dropbox for a large number of files, it may be worth it.
Dropbox Plus comes with 2TB of storage space. That breaks down to 2,000 gigabytes, which is a pretty impressive amount of space. Dropbox Plus also comes with additional perks, such as computer backup features, “Smart Sync” features, and more.
To upgrade to Dropbox Plus, you can pay either $11.99 per month or $119 per year (which comes out to about $9.99 per month).
Clear Up Dropbox Space and Keep Storing New Files
Dropbox is a user-friendly online cloud storage system that many people have relied on for years.
The only problem is that running out of space on Dropbox doesn’t take long if you don’t know a few tricks. Follow our seven tips to gain access to more Dropbox space and keep all of your files safe and sound.
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