Dropbox: sign in with Google

Dropbox users who have associated a Google email address with their account may use Google directly now to sign in to their account.

Dropbox users up until now could only use the service’s own authentication system to create an account and sign in to it using apps, desktop clients or the web version.

This changed recently as it is now possible to authenticate using a Google account. While that means association the account with Dropbox, the solution may be preferred by some users to unify accounts on the Internet.

So, instead of having to use two accounts, one for Google and another for Dropbox, users could use Google for both.

Dropbox: sign in with Google

Users who are new to Dropbox can sign up to Dropbox using their Google account. This simplifies sign up as there is no need to specify a password for the account.

You are probably wondering if the change applies to Dropbox users who have set an email from a different provider as their Dropbox account email.

They don’t directly. These users may change their Dropbox email address however to benefit from the new sign in option as well.

Here is how that is done:

1. Load https://www.dropbox.com/account/security#profile in the web browser of choice.
2. You may need to sign in using your existing account depending on your preferences.
3. You find a “change email” option under personal email on the main profile page.
4. Follow the steps outlined there to switch it to your Google email address.

You should have a Gmail address listed under personal email after the process. Once that is out of the way, you may use the “sign in with Google” option on Dropbox to sign in to the account.

The first time you do that you are asked to add an account. Pick your account on the page that opens, or click on add account if it is not listed on that page.

The next page lists the permissions that Dropbox requests. This includes viewing your email address, basic profile information, and managing your contacts.

Please note that you cannot disallow this if you want to proceed. There is no option for instance to block Dropbox from accessing your contacts.

This process works only if the personal email listed under the Dropbox account is identical to the Google email address.

You will get an error message in the last step otherwise. Please note that Dropbox distinguishes between email addresses ending in gmail.com and googlemail.com.

You will still be asked to enter the two-factor authentication code of the Dropbox account if you have enabled it for the account.

Now You: Do you use Dropbox or do you prefer a different cloud storage provider?