How to add Dropbox or OneDrive to the Files App on Chrome OS

If you own a Chromebook, you’ll know that Google Drive is tightly integrated with the File manager on Chrome OS. All the files stored on Google Drive are available for easy access on the Files app, which makes it easy to transfer files to and from the cloud. What if your primary cloud storage service is not Google Drive, though? Thankfully, the Files app on Chrome OS supports integration from cloud storage services like Dropbox and OneDrive. Let’s see how you can integrate the cloud storage provider of your choice with your Chromebook.

In this tutorial, we will follow the steps for installing Dropbox, but OneDrive can be installed by following very similar steps. I will point out the differences in the steps whenever they arise.

Dropbox

The first step is to go to the Chrome Web Store, and search for ‘File System for Dropbox’. If you want to install OneDrive, search for ‘File System for OneDrive’ instead.

1. Click the ‘Add To Chrome’ button to install Dropbox on your Chromebook.
2. After your choice of application is installed, you will see it on the App Drawer, which can be accessed by pressing the unique ‘Search’ button on the Chromebook, or by clicking on the circular icon that is first on the shelf. This search window props up, and Dropbox shows up as a newly installed app. (If you installed OneDrive, that should show up similarly.)
   
3. If you don’t see the icon under the search bar already, then search for ‘Dropbox’ or ‘OneDrive’ inside that window, and the icon should pop up in your results.
   
4. When you open the app, it will ask for permission to mount your cloud storage data to your Chromebook.
   
5. Click on Mount, and a window will pop up asking you for your login details. Fill your details and sign in.
   
6. Click on ‘Allow’ when the app asks you for access to your Dropbox files.
   
7. Once you complete all these steps, you should see your Dropbox folder in the left sidebar of your Files app.

If you installed OneDrive, your files should appear in the Files app similarly.

All your files on the cloud, whether on OneDrive or Dropbox, will now be easily accessible and transferable on your native Files application.