Introduction
Dropbox at U-M
Dropbox at U-M is a secure, cloud-based storage option for storing all types of files and collaborating with colleagues inside and outside of U-M. All active Michigan Medicine faculty, staff, and students can access Dropbox at U-M.
- Single Sign On (SSO) — Authentication via U-M SSO
- Data Protection Agreement (DPA)
- 5TB of storage for individual accounts
Dropbox at U-M includes:
- All of the core features (e.g., storage, anytime/anywhere access to files, secure sharing, and more).
- Advanced data protection (e.g., version history and file recovery, advanced sharing permissions, password protection, granular permissions, and more).
- Advanced collaboration and productivity tools (e.g., Dropbox Paper, file locking, commenting, Dropbox badge, and more).
Sensitive Data with Dropbox
Dropbox at U-M can be used with some types of sensitive university data, including Protected Health Information (PHI).
Dropbox Self-Guided Course
The following course requires logging in to U-M Dropbox. You will be prompted to log in to your U-M Dropbox account before accessing these videos. Enter your (Level-1) @umich.edu email address, and you will be directed to log in through SSO.
DropBox PowerPoint
Instructions
Getting Started with Dropbox at U-M
Join U-M Dropbox
Create your U-M Dropbox account
- Go to dropbox.umich.edu.
- Log in with your @umich.edu email address to create your account, and select the option to Sign in with SSO. (You may be taken directly to the U-M Weblogin page, where you can sign in using your uniqname and UMICH (Level-1) password.)
- After authenticating through U-M Weblogin, you will be taken to the "Single sign-on" page. Click Continue.
- Finally, on the "Welcome to University of Michigan's Dropbox Business" page:
- Confirm your name is correctly listed.
- Check the "I agree to the Dropbox Business Agreement" box.
- Click "Finish joining the team."
After following these steps, your account will be automatically created, and you will be taken to the U-M Dropbox homepage. For best practices on accessing your data in U-M Dropbox, refer to Dropbox: Best Practices for Accessing Your Data.
Additional Information
- Installing Dropbox on Your Device (MiWorkspace and non-MiWorkspace users)
- Dropbox: Best Practices for Accessing Your Data
- Getting Started with Dropbox
- How to use Dropbox Quick Start Guide
- Download the Dropbox Mobile App
Managing Files/Folders
- Dropbox: Best Practices for Accessing Your Data
- Dropbox file size limits and how to upload large files
- How to delete files/folders from Dropbox
- How to search your Dropbox files
- Move Dropbox files and folders
Collaborators and Permissions
- How to share a Dropbox file/folder
- Set file permissions for members of shared folders
- How to view file activity in Dropbox
Dropbox - Adhoc File Transfers To An External User
With Dropbox Transfer, you can securely send files to others. A Dropbox account isn't required to access or download a transfer, so sharing files is easy.
Dropbox Transfer allows users to securely hand off large files or collections of files and confirm delivery to anyone even if they don't have a Dropbox account. This can be a great way to transfer a completed project or even just a large number of files.
To get to Dropbox Transfer from your Dropbox account, click on the app button in the top right and select Transfer. This takes you to the managed transfer page where you can see all of your active and expired transfers and also create a new transfer.
Once you click create transfer, it takes you to the page where you can start adding files into the transfer. There are a couple different ways to do that. The first is to select this plus button, which will allow to pull in files from the local machine. This could be from Documents or desktop folders or download folders and upload those directly into the transfer.
The other option is to pull in files directly from Dropbox. So if you select the Add from Dropbox button, you can navigate through the Dropbox itself and start adding files that you want in the transfer.
Now you have a few additional options here. You can rename this transfer. You can add additional files, and can even set some more advanced features like setting an expiration date on this transfer or setting a password on this transfer. In addition, there is an option to let you know when someone downloads this particular file.
Beyond that, you can customize these transfers by changing both the background and the logo of this Dropbox transfer. Once you do that, it generates a link that you can send out to anyone who needs access to these particular files. Now it's important to note that this process actually creates a point-in-time copy of all of these files. So the recipient does not get access to the original files, nor can they see or access any updates made to those files after the transfer was created? That's even if those files live inside of Dropbox.
Dropbox File Transfer Help Video
Adhoc File Transfer Logs
To get to Dropbox Transfer from your Dropbox account, click on the app button in the top right and select Transfer. This takes you to the managed transfer page where you can see all of your active and expired transfers.
And if you select a particular transfer, you can view and edit this information after that transfer has already been created. So you could update the expiration date or set a new password or even just copy this link again to be able to send out via an email or post it on the website.
Request files from an External User
Notes:
- Anyone can send a file to you, whether they have a Dropbox account or not.
- All files collected with a file request will take up space in your Dropbox account. To be sure you can accept the files you need, check how much space you have available. If there isn't enough space for the files you want to request, recipients will receive an error when they try to upload.
How to create a file request
- Log in to dropbox.com.
- Click File requests in the left sidebar.
- Click More if you don't see File requests.
- Click New request above the file request list.
- Under Title, enter a name for your request.
- Under Description, add details about the request, if you'd like.
- Under Folder for uploaded files, you'll see the path to a new folder for your requested files. To change the destination, click Change folder.
- Add a password (optional).
- Note: If you use a password, be sure to share it with the person you're requesting files from. You can share the password in the Description or via text, email, or any other communication medium you prefer.
- Click Create.
- Type the email or name of the person or people you'd like to request files from. They'll receive an email about your request.
- To copy a link instead, click Copy next to Share a link instead. You can paste the link into an email, message, or wherever you'd like people to access it.
- Click Share. You'll receive an email confirmation that you've sent the request, and email notifications whenever a file is uploaded.
Request a Dropbox Team Folder
You can self-service request a Dropbox Team Folder for groups, teams, or departments. Team Folders are designed to share data with your group/team, and protect against the potential for data loss when individuals leave the university. Both files and folders inside a Team Folder can be shared externally. Content in the Team Folder is owned by the MCommunity group, which is also where Team Folder membership is managed.
Complete the self-service Dropbox Team Folders request form to create a Dropbox Team Folder and refer to Team Folders in U-M Dropbox and Team folders: an overview for more details.
Additional Support Links