How to Scan Documents to Dropbox on PC or Mac

Last Updated: November 11, 2020 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to scan a document directly to the Dropbox folder on your Mac or PC. Make sure your scanner is properly connected to your computer before you begin.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Windows

1
Open the Dropbox app on your Windows PC. Double-click the Dropbox icon (a white open-box icon near the clock in the taskbar) to open the app. If you don't have the app, here’s how to get it:
- Go to https://www.dropbox.com/install in a web browser.
- Click Download Dropbox.
- If prompted to choose a download location, select your Downloads folder.
- Double-click the installer you downloaded.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install the app.
- Log in to Dropbox.
2
Press ⊞ Win+S.

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3
Type scan into the search bar. It's usually at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
4
Click Windows Fax and Scan. It should be near the top of the search results.
5
Click Show more. It’s the blue text link.
6
Click Save file to. A list of folders will appear.
7
Select the Dropbox folder. If you have created a sub-folder in the Dropbox folder for scanned files, select that folder instead.
8
Place your document on the scanner.
9
Click Scan. It’s at the bottom of the window. The document will now scan to the Dropbox folder.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
macOS

1
Open Dropbox on your Mac. It’s the open-box icon typically near the top-right corner of the screen. If you don’t have the app, here’s how to get it:^{[1]
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- Go to https://www.dropbox.com/install in a web browser.
- Click Download Dropbox.
- If prompted to choose a download location, select Downloads.
- Double-click the installer you downloaded.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install the app.
- Log in to Dropbox.
2
Open Image Capture. It’s an app in the Applications folder.^{[2]
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3
Select the Dropbox folder. If you are not prompted to select a folder in the “Scan to” pop-up, select the Dropbox folder from the first drop-down menu (which defaults to Pictures).
4
Place your document on the scanner.
5
Click Scan. It’s at the bottom-right corner of the app. The document will now scan to the Dropbox folder.

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