Starting Mar 1, 2024 you won’t be able to open Dropbox files in Google editors

[mrpete3]

I followed the Learn more link, which said, "Google editor will no longer work for opening or editing non-Google files in Dropbox. To continue editing these files, an additional Microsoft Office license may be required." What if I do not have a Microsoft Office license? Will another free editor be available in place of Google Docs?

[Walter]

Hey @mrpete3 - thanks for using Dropbox and posting on our Community!
 

The Microsoft Office integration and the subsequent possible license needed is based on your account's plan.

You might also need to create a Microsoft account as well. 

I hope this helps!

[iAMClare]

Hi, we use Microsoft Word to created documents and save them on Dropbox, but we then use GoogleDocs to edit them. Will this change impact this process?

Thanks

[Megan]

Hi @iAMClare, welcome to our Community! 

It all depends on the account's plan that you have. 

If the file you're editing is stored in your personal account, you will not need a Microsoft account or Office license to edit your files. If the file is stored in your business account, you will need an enterprise Microsoft account with a license that allows editing in Office Online.

I hope this clarifies! 

[ccicerone]

I followed the instructions in Dropbox for seeing if I have any affected files:

How to find Google files in your Dropbox account

Use Dropbox search to review your Google files before uploading or converting your documents. To do this:

1. Log in to dropbox.com.
2. Click the search bar at the top of the page.
3. Search for each individual file type: .gdoc, .gsheet, and .gslides.

When I search for .gdoc, .gsheet, and .gslides, the results show only .docx, .xlsx, and .ppt files, for example.

Does that indicate I don't have to worry about migrated any files, because I don't have any of the ".g..." files in Dropbox?

[mrpete3 · Accepted solution]

"If you have a Dropbox Basic, Plus, or Family account, you will not need a Microsoft account or Office license to edit your files."

I have a Family account, so I see that I'll be using MS Word online version for free. Thank you for your response!

[ccicerone]

Thanks very much for your replay, I do have this plan:

Dropbox Plus - 2TB

[ibutter]

We have a Team account and also pay for google drive. We would like to retain the functionality as there are formatting inconsistencies between word and google docs, and as such have been sticking as a policy with using google docs to edit word files in dropbox.

Also, I cannot find an email from dropbox notifying me (team admin) that this change was coming. To us this is a breakage.

[Walter]

Hey @ibutter - thanks for sharing your thoughts on this with us. 

Could you please clarify if the migration has already taken place or not? 

While we're at it, feel free to take a look at this Help Center article for additional information as well. 

[ibutter]

It has taken place. We cannot open word docs in google docs in the dropbox interface. My understanding (from the title of this thread) is that it happened March 1st?