Environment
U-M Dropbox, personal Dropbox
Issue
Can I have more than one Dropbox account in the desktop application?
Resolution
You can have your U-M Dropbox and one personal account, if they are linked.
- A linked personal account in Dropbox needs to be re-linked / re-added every time the computer is rebooted
- Link the account via the web client as opposed to the app. Instructions are under "How to link a personal account to your U-M Dropbox account" below
NOTE: It is always best to log in to a U-M Dropbox account first, before trying to log in to a personal Dropbox account. You can only have multiple accounts in the desktop application by linking accounts.
If the Dropbox desktop application is logged in using a personal account, you must log out before doing the following steps.
Link a personal account to your U-M Dropbox account
- Go to dropbox.umich.edu in a browser
- At the top right, click your initials > Settings
- On the Settings > General tab, click "Link accounts"
- Follow on-screen instructions to log in to the personal Dropbox Account
- Once you are successfully logged in, you will see your personal account initials at the top right, click your initials then "switch" to your U-M account by click at the bottom of the menu
Log in to the Dropbox desktop application with linked accounts
***Verify that in your browser you are logged in to your U-M Dropbox account, not personal account***
- If you are already logged in to the desktop application using a personal account, log out:
- Open the Dropbox desktop client
- Go to Preferences
- Click Account
- Choose the Personal Account, then click the "sign out" button
- The Dropbox desktop client will pop open again
- Log in to your U-M Dropbox account
- At the Dropbox login screen, enter your U-M email address (you will not enter your password yet)
- Once you type in your email address, the login screen will change and prompt you to get a link code
- Click the "Get your link code" button
- If the link code webpage does not open verify that you have a default browser set in your computer settings
- If you are logged in to the personal account in your browser, the "link code" may not work
- Authenticate with your U-M account if needed (including Duo)
- Browser window will open with a code
- Copy and paste the code into the Dropbox client
- Click Next
- Leave "Let my admin manage" checked, then click Next
- In the desktop application, click "Now add your personal Dropbox"
- Enter the email address and password for the personal Dropbox account, click login (if the customer has their own 2FA, they will enter that)
- Click Next to complete the desktop application setup, it will close (not say "Done" etc)
- You should now see two Dropbox folders on your computer (Windows File Explorer or Mac - Finder).
- Dropbox (Personal)
- Dropbox (University of Michigan)
- In the desktop application, click on your initials to switch between accounts
Additional Information
Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.