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Mapping Dropbox to network drive in Windows 7
I want to map Dropbox to a network drive and link to my Dropbox in the cloud versus the Dropbox on my computer. I want to conserve my hard drive space and access, open, and save files to my Dropbox through my network drive. I can do this with other cloud-based storage systems. Can I do this with Dropbox?
No, it can't. The normal Dropbox client does not work the same as the mobile clients, and there's no way to map a virtual drive or folder to your Dropbox account.
If you're running Windows 8 or 10, you can install the Dropbox app from the Microsoft Store, which is a mobile client. Just know that you will not be able to access any files while offline (unless they are marked as a favorite/available offline).
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- Robert S.
Super User alumni
Sorry, Dropbox isn't supported on network drives.
Note sure if you're still interested in a cloud service with mapped drive, but Box (not Dropbox) just came out with a mapped drive option - called Box Drive of course.
I'm not trying to put Dropbox on a network drive. I'm trying to have a virtual drive on my PC point to Dropbox in the cloud so I don't take up space on my hard drive.
- Robert S.
It won't work, Dropbox doesn't support symlinks.
I have a similar concern---was there any solution to this application?
I'd like to map a network drive on my PC that accesses my dropbox so I have access to the files when connected to the internet, but do not necessarily have to have them permanently downloaded to my PC. This becomes critical when as my drobox size exceeds that of my hard drive.
I bought a new laptop with a smaller HD because I thought I would be able to do this too. I appreciate Dropbox automagically syncing files between my PCs - which have plenty of hard drive space to spare, but my laptop does not have this luxury.
I don't want to use selective sync because that will only allow me to view the specific folders/files.
Most simply stated, can Dropbox on my laptop act the same as Dropbox on my phone or tablet?
I expected the same fucntionality to be available now out of the box. All new laptops basically have mo more disk space,so all need to be in the cloud.
I could set up onedrive and other services as a mapped drive relatively easy, but dropbox is still pending.
- Rich
Super User II
No, it can't. The normal Dropbox client does not work the same as the mobile clients, and there's no way to map a virtual drive or folder to your Dropbox account.
If you're running Windows 8 or 10, you can install the Dropbox app from the Microsoft Store, which is a mobile client. Just know that you will not be able to access any files while offline (unless they are marked as a favorite/available offline).
- Ihave a large dropbox and a small laptop ssd. This is what i do:
If you have an old pc at home, install dropbox on it then share the dropbox folder on the networkusing windows file sharing. From your laptop make a network drive mapping to this folder.
On the laptop you dont even need dropbox installed for home use. If you need access to dropbox files while away from home use selective sync on the laptop to grab the required files. If you do the sync while you are on your home lan dropbox will use the lan sync function and sync directly between the server and your laptop.
Not sure if it meets your needs - but it might be useful for someone reading this thread. I use mac now but it worked with pcs also yes there is, expandrive will do what you ask
Rich, thank you for the reply. I am running on a Surface, so your suggestion for the Microsoft Store app is a great suggestion that I will try later today.
Are there any plans to use Dropbox as a mapped drive?
Not being able to map a network drive limits the functionality of Dropbox as a cloud storage solution.
yeah , I want this too
- Robert S.
Are there any plans to use Dropbox as a mapped drive?
Dropbox don't publish their product roadmap, but as they're pretty clear it isn't supported I doubt it.
I want to point my drop box to my mapped network drives from my NAS it is stupid that I cannot.
