Keep your digital life safe with PC and Mac backup

Use Dropbox Backup to automatically back up folders on your computer and external hard drive to the cloud. Individuals and teams can back up folders like Desktop, Documents, and Downloads directly into Dropbox and access them from anywhere.

Explore Backup
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Easily back up your Mac, PC, or external hard drive*

Set up Dropbox Backup in just a few clicks. Files on your PC or Mac are continuously backed up to the cloud . Easily access your automatic backup anytime, anywhere—even on your Android or Apple device with the Dropbox mobile app.

* For select plans

A list of files and folders being added to Dropbox Backup
Be prepared with an automated safety net

Get peace of mind with our “always on” backup solution. Any file type of any size gets effortlessly backed up to the cloud. And your files stay safe with our encrypted cloud storage.

A list of saved devices in Dropbox Backup, including two computers and a portable hard drive
Recover lost or deleted files—fast

Quickly restore your favorite files from accidental deletions, hard drive crashes, loss, theft, and ransomware. Our fast file download speeds help you quickly pick up right where you left off. Your content is secure in the cloud , no matter what happens to your computer.

Files being selected and added to Dropbox Backup

Frequently asked questions

With Dropbox Backup, files saved in folders like Desktop, Documents, and Downloads are automatically and continuously backed up to the cloud, so you don’t need to manually select and drag files from Finder / File Explorer into your Dropbox account.

We have a number of different plans so it will be easy to find the plan that is right for you.

  • If you are new to Dropbox, go to our backup solution page to see your options.
  • For existing Dropbox customers (across Dropbox Basic, Plus, Professional, Family, Standard, and Advanced), you can set up Dropbox Backup through Preferences → Backups → Manage Backups through Dropbox in the menu bar/system tray in the Dropbox desktop app.
  • For Enterprise users: If your admin has enabled Dropbox Backup for your team, you can set it up through Preferences → Backups → Manage Backups through Dropbox in the menu bar/system tray in the Dropbox desktop app.
  • For step-by-step instructions, visit the help center .

When you move, add, or delete files within backed-up folders, your files stay safe and up to date automatically.

Computer backups run continuously in the background and are backed up to the cloud in real time. For external drives, we’ll prompt you to back up to the cloud when you plug in your external hard drive.

Dropbox makes cloud data security its top priority—we use multiple layers of protection across a distributed, reliable cloud infrastructure.

Yes. Download Dropbox to get the most out of your account, including computer backup. Use the desktop app to keep all your content together in one place: files, folders, and now backups of your Mac or PC.

Automatic backup made easy

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