The process is simple:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Install Dropbox on Windows or Mac<\/li>\n
- Prepare your data for transfer<\/li>\n
- Install Dropbox on Linux<\/li>\n
- Sync your data to Linux<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Once that is done, you can carry on and use your chosen Linux operating system while retaining access to your important files and folders!<\/p>\n
Step 1: Install Dropbox on Windows or Mac<\/h2>\n
Get started by ensuring you have Dropbox installed on your current operating system. You may already have it. Windows 10 comes with a suggestion to install it, which often (depending on your computer\u2019s manufacturer) comes with additional storage space.<\/p>\n
![\"Linux](\"\/\/static.makeuseof.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/muo-linux-dropbox-download.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nHead to dropbox.com\/install<\/a> to download whichever version is right for you. Once installed, you\u2019ll need to create an account on the website, then sign into the desktop client.<\/p>\n
To save time, you may opt to sign up with your Google account. However, as seamless as this is, one of your reasons for moving to Linux may be to embrace open-source software and online privacy. In this case, relying on Google wouldn\u2019t be in tune with those aims, so you should sign up with your own email account instead.<\/p>\n
Step 2: Prepare Your Data for Transfer<\/h2>\n
Next, make sure you know where all the data you wish to sync to the cloud can be found. In Windows, photos are typically found in the Pictures library, videos and movie files in Videos, music in Music, and so on. You\u2019ll find your spreadsheets, word-processed documents, etc. in Documents.<\/p>\n
Making sure that what you\u2019re backing up to the cloud isn\u2019t going to exceed the remote storage limit is important. Save time here by copying everything you plan to sync into a temporary, interim folder first. When you\u2019re done, right-click the folder icon, and check how big it is. If the data total is less than your Dropbox limit, you\u2019re fine to proceed.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"\/\/static.makeuseof.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/muo-linux-dropbox-windows-location.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nWhen you sign in, you\u2019ll be asked to confirm the location of the Dropbox folder. Once you know this location, you can use File Explorer or Finder to begin copying from the interim folder into the Dropbox folder. As this happens, Dropbox will begin syncing data between your computer and Dropbox\u2019s servers.<\/p>\n
Note that this could be unwise on a mobile internet connection. Save it for when you\u2019re on an unmetered connection.<\/p>\n
Step 3: Install Dropbox on Linux<\/h2>\n
Leave your PC to complete syncing data to Dropbox. This can take a while. Slowing factors include the amount of data, the speed of your PC, and the speed of your internet connection.<\/p>\n
Once the process is complete, sign into your Dropbox account via your browser, and confirm the data has uploaded successfully. It\u2019s also wise to make a backup of the data to an external drive, just in case.<\/p>\n
At this stage, you\u2019re ready to switch to Linux. This might be a case of using a different computer, or installing Linux on your main PC. Whatever the case, with Linux up and running, you\u2019re ready to install Dropbox and start syncing data.<\/p>\n
To install Dropbox, you\u2019ll need to first download the right version for your Linux version. Head to dropbox.com\/install-linux<\/a> and download the version that suits your family of Linux distributions. For Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, etc., use the .deb<\/strong> link; for Fedora, Red Hat, openSUSE, PCLinuxOS, etc., choose .rpm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Be sure to use the right link: 32-bit and 64-bit downloads are available, depending on the host operating system and system architecture.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Once downloaded, run the installer file with the default package manager. Dropbox will unpack and install on your system, and you\u2019ll be able to sign in a few moments later.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"\/\/static.makeuseof.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/muo-linux-fileshare-dropbox.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nAgain, you\u2019ll be asked to choose a location for saving your Dropbox data on your PC, so select this, and wait for the files to be synced to your Linux computer.<\/p>\n
Step 4: Access Your Data, Use It With Apps!<\/h2>\n
By now, you\u2019re more or less done. As data is synced to your computer, it will become available to use. Images can be opened, music played, videos viewed, documents read and edited, etc. Admittedly, you may not have all of the right tools (although LibreOffice comes pre-installed on many Linux distributions), but with your data in hand, it shouldn\u2019t take you long to find and start using some new Linux-only apps.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"\/\/static.makeuseof.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/muo-linux-ubuntu5things-dropbox.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nMeanwhile, if you\u2019re concerned about accessing apps that you\u2019re familiar with from Windows, you have a few options to ease the transition further.<\/p>\n
For instance, Microsoft Office can be installed on Linux<\/a> through the magic of Wine. In fact, you can run all kinds of Windows apps on Linux<\/a>, which eases the transition if you rely on many non-Linux apps, games, and tools in Linux.<\/p>\n
Use Dropbox to Make Switching to Linux Easy!<\/h2>\n
While Dropbox is proprietary software, it doesn\u2019t quite fit into the Linux philosophy. Don\u2019t worry too much about this when you\u2019re just getting started, however. You\u2019ll find plenty of Linux-only cloud storage services to switch to once you\u2019ve embraced the open source world.<\/p>\n