If this is a basic question then we apologise, but we are confused. Having looked in the Help area we see that it says is possible to transfer files (in this case photos) from an SD card into Dropbox, using the mobile app on an iPhone. We are a wildlife conservation team and would like to be able to do this for infield teams. Unfortunately we cannot get this to work and need some help please. The instructions say that "if you cannot find the SD card you need to verify that "Show advanced devices" is checked in "Settings"". No such option exists. We cannot see the SD card connected to the phone, in order to then select the images to upload directly to Dropbox in the app. We do not want the images to upload from the SD card to the phone. This we can easily do already. We also do not want to upload to the phone and from the phone to Dropbox. The instructions tell everyone that direct SD card to Dropbox upload is possible. However, is this possible (as Dropbox claim it is), and if so how please? Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has the answer. Many thanks Eric @ 5WF Phones tried: iPhone 8, 10, and latest XE ... fully up to date iOS and Dropbox app versions.

Thank you for the prompt reply Rich.If it is not possible to upload directly from an SD card to Dropbox, from the Dropbox app, then may we suggest that you or Dropbox change the instructions on the Support section. What is there currently is incorrect and misleading to those who attempt to use it.Only being able to upload directly from SD card to Dropbox using a desktop completely defeats the practical use of Dropbox for field conservation in this extensive use case.We were assured direct mobile upload was possible when the Sales team attempted to sell us an extensive package.It is a good thing we checked before expanding our account with Dropbox, as that may have been an expensive error for us.I am afraid we will need to seek an alternative provider. Our charity does not have the money or time to waste on solutions which do not work as promised, either for us internally, or the dozens of infield conservation teams we purchase solutions for.Many thanks again. cc: Jay sales

Good morning HannahThank you for your reply.So far we have tried "upload photos", "create folder" (which obviously we discovered had no option we needed), "create or upload file", "transfer files", and of course "take photos" (which again didn't work, but we thought it worth a try).None of the above enabled us to locate the plugged in SD Card or the images thereon.The only successful method of getting the images from the SD card to the Dropbox has been uploading from the SD card onto the phone, and from there transferring them to the Dropbox.This method is time consuming (selecting, uploading, deleting, and repeating this potentially dozens of times due to the number of images, size of images or the memory on the users phone) and uses too much of the users phone memory. It would be fine in an office environment but completely impractical for an infield user.Did you have an alternate suggestion in mind?Many thanks.

No, I'm afraid it would not be possible, nor should it be required.If Dropbox mobile app is not capable of importing multiple images from an SD card directly, without uploading to the phone, then please just say so. What we have been able to establish is that uploading an SD Card of a single image only is possible under the following conditions;1) an existing folder must already have been created in Dropbox, not through the mobile app but through the PC browser site.2) the selection of the image must be through the "create or upload file" menu.However;3) The upload is only possible if the folder exists first and4) The upload is restricted to only 1 image at a time. - completely impractical if the conservationists have 100 images to upload ... and there is no other method available for uploading multiple files of images that we can find. I'm afraid we have no time, or to be honest interest, in making movies showing what we are more than capable of ascertaining for ourselves, namely that we are following the correct procedure, as laid out in the instructions. The importation of multiple images from an SD card to a Dropbox account with a few simple clicks/selections should be a basic function for the Dropbox mobile app to perform.Very disappointing it does not seem to be possible.No wonder sales were so keen we should purchase the expensive package before asking questions or evaluating if Dropbox was fit for purpose in this use case.

I have this same issue and cannot find a fix. I, too, am out in the field and need to immediately upload video to Dropbox for others to use. This needs seriously to happen right away, not when the tech guys find “available” time to get around to fixing. I have a paid subscription and have used DB for well over ten years while at Microsoft, but if this app does not work the way I need it to, I will drop it in a heartbeat. BTW, I, too, do not have time to post either a movie or screenshots of “steps-to-replicate” as my filming takes precedent over “demonstrating” my tech issues due to the limited nature of available time, light and subjects in this wooded environment. Working on a 5th generation 12.9 iPad Pro with iOS 15.5 while out in the wilderness. I do not and will not have access to a desktop, Mac or PC, so that is not an option for me. This is all so very disappointing and so am now looking for another app that can store these files as this is really something Dropbox should be able to do on both the mobile app and the desktop. The steps proposed so far in two forums from Dropbox moderators has not worked. Windwalkercj at Windwalker Media

5WF wrote: Having looked in the Help area we see that it says is possible to transfer files (in this case photos) from an SD card into Dropbox, using the mobile app on an iPhone. Importing photos from an SD Card is an option that's available on the Dropbox desktop application; not the mobile app. The mobile app has the Camera Uploads feature that will automatically upload photos and videos from your phone's camera roll, but it will not upload photos from other media. The desktop application has a similar Camera Uploads feature and it's used to import photos and videos from flash media such as SD cards and other USB devices. https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/photos/camera-uploads-overview

SD Card to Dropbox upload question | The Dropbox Community

23 Replies

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Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
4 years ago
Sure thing 5WF - you've got
windwalkercj
Explorer | Level 4
4 years ago
I have this same issue and cannot find a fix. I, too, am out in the field and need to immediately upload video to Dropbox for others to use. This needs seriously to happen right away, not when the tech guys find “available” time to get around to fixing. I have a paid subscription and have used DB for well over ten years while at Microsoft, but if this app does not work the way I need it to, I will drop it in a heartbeat. BTW, I, too, do not have time to post either a movie or screenshots of “steps-to-replicate” as my filming takes precedent over “demonstrating” my tech issues due to the limited nature of available time, light and subjects in this wooded environment.

Working on a 5th generation 12.9 iPad Pro with iOS 15.5 while out in the wilderness. I do not and will not have access to a desktop, Mac or PC, so that is not an option for me. This is all so very disappointing and so am now looking for another app that can store these files as this is really something Dropbox should be able to do on both the mobile app and the desktop. The steps proposed so far in two forums from Dropbox moderators has not worked.

Windwalkercj at Windwalker Media
Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
4 years ago
Thanks for the nudge here, windwalkercj.

We also appreciate your feedback about this. I'll make sure your comments are passed along to our team.

As a workaround, have you tried adding the files to Dropbox through your Files app?

You can go to your Files app, tap the "..." icon, and then "select", select the files you want to upload, tap the "share" option and select Dropbox from the options.

Select the location in Dropbox you want to add them and tap "save".

I hope this helps.
trishmennell
Helpful | Level 5
3 years ago
I feel your pain. I have been trying to upload to my iPad Pro all morning and experienced the same confusing instructions resulting in an hour wasted. Thanks, Dropbox.
trishmennell
Helpful | Level 5
3 years ago
This is not an internal issue, it is a request that Dropbox provide the correct information to users.
trishmennell
Helpful | Level 5
3 years ago
This needs to be the instructions posted on Dropbox, not a tip to be found in a thread.
Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
3 years ago
Hi trishmennell, thanks for posting here today!

Did you manage to upload your content using the steps Hannah had provided above? Do you face any problems when doing so?

Let me know!
iw00d
New member | Level 2
3 years ago
I have moved the camera's folder to my SD-card, and now the camera sync functionality is broken. Is there any way to camera-sync from other folders than the standard Android folder?
Rich
Super User II
3 years ago
iw00d wrote:

I have moved the camera's folder to my SD-card, and now the camera sync functionality is broken. Is there any way to camera-sync from other folders than the standard Android folder?

No, there isn't.
Maddilynxdimick
Explorer | Level 3
7 months ago
Hello. I'm looking for a solution to be able to move away from drop box, but be able to save and take all of my stored photos with me. I can't find a way to easily select the photos you would like to move to a memory card. Or possibly using as usbc as adaptor. However I still can't find a way to transfer photos off drop box to memory card. Please let me know if anyone has a solution or suggestions to help

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SD Card to Dropbox upload question

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