Camera uploads is an optional feature that automatically uploads photos from your mobile device to Dropbox.

Once you enable camera uploads, your photos will upload to the Camera Uploads folder in your Dropbox account. After they’ve uploaded, you can move them to a different folder in your Dropbox account if you’d like.

Learn more about uploading photos:

Note: If you’re using macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or higher, you’ll see a notification that says “Dropbox would like to access files on a removable volume.”

Clicking OK will allow camera uploads to work. You can change this preference anytime:

Open System Preferences. Click Security and Privacy. Click the Privacy tab. Click Files and Folders. Check or uncheck the box next to Removable Volumes under Dropbox.

Mobile: Turn camera uploads on or off

iOS: iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

Open the Dropbox mobile app. Tap Account (the person icon) in the bottom right. Tap Camera Uploads. Toggle Camera Uploads to on. Tap Upload.

Android phone

Open the Dropbox app. Tap the menu button. Tap Settings. Under Camera uploads, tap Turn on camera uploads. Tap Allow.

Windows 10 in S mode (Windows Mobile)

Open the Dropbox app. Tap the menu icon. Tap Settings. Tap Camera upload. Toggle Camera upload on.

Desktop: Turn camera uploads on or off

When you plug a camera (or mobile device) into a computer with the Dropbox desktop app installed, you’ll see a prompt asking if you’d like to enable camera uploads for that device. Once you accept, that device will automatically upload your camera roll each time the device is plugged in to that computer.

You can also turn camera uploads on or off with the following steps:

Click the Dropbox icon in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac). Click your avatar (profile picture or initials). Click Preferences…. Under Backups check the box next to Enable camera uploads for. Choose Photos only or Photos and videos from the dropdown.

System requirements for camera uploads

To use camera uploads, we recommend a supported device and the latest version of the Dropbox desktop or mobile app. Camera uploads doesn’t work if your mobile device battery is too low or if it’s roaming.

If camera uploads isn’t working, see if there are any additional requirements in this troubleshooting guide.

Background uploading

Background uploading allows Dropbox to upload photos even when the Dropbox app is closed. It automatically uploads your photos whenever it detects a change in your device’s location.

If you have an Android device, you can prevent photos from uploading when your device’s battery is low.