This tutorial explains how to install Dropbox on Fedora, Ubuntu, and Linux Mint and get the Dropbox desktop application running on your Linux computer.
Dropbox provides official 64-bit Linux packages for Ubuntu and Fedora. The package installs a small helper application, which then downloads the latest Dropbox Linux application.
1. Download Dropbox
Download the official Dropbox package for Linux:
For Ubuntu and Linux Mint, download the 64-bit .deb package.
For Fedora, download the 64-bit .rpm package.
Dropbox currently lists Ubuntu 22.10 or later and Fedora 37 or later among its current download options.
2. Install the Downloaded Package
After downloading the appropriate package, open your Downloads folder and double-click the file.
Your software manager should open and allow you to install the package. You may be asked to enter your administrator password.
You can also install the packages from the Terminal.
Ubuntu / Linux Mint
From the directory containing the downloaded .deb file:
sudo apt install ./dropbox*.deb
Fedora
From the directory containing the downloaded .rpm file:
sudo dnf install ./dropbox*.rpm
Using apt or dnf is preferable to installing the package with a lower-level package command because the package manager can handle dependencies.
3. Launch Dropbox
Open your application menu and search for Dropbox.
Launch the application.
The installed package is a helper application. On the first launch, it downloads and installs the latest Dropbox Linux software.
4. Sign In to Dropbox
After the Dropbox software has been installed, the login process will normally open in your default web browser.
Sign in to your Dropbox account.
Once authentication is complete, Dropbox connects your computer to your account and begins synchronizing your files.
5. Find Your Dropbox Folder
Your Dropbox folder is normally created inside your home directory:
/home/{username}/Dropbox
You can also refer to it using:
~/Dropbox
Files placed in this folder are synchronized with your Dropbox account.
6. Find the Dropbox Icon Near the Clock
After Dropbox is running, you can normally access it from the system tray or indicator area of your Linux desktop.
For example, in Ubuntu the system tray is generally located toward the top-right of the screen, although its exact location depends on the desktop environment and panel configuration.
The Dropbox icon provides quick access to features such as:
- Synchronization status
- Recent activity and notifications
- Dropbox folders
- Search
- Preferences
Clicking the icon opens the Dropbox desktop interface.
Dropbox Status and Sync Icons
Dropbox also displays status information for files and folders inside the Dropbox folder.
These indicators allow you to see whether files are synchronized or are still being processed. Dropbox notes that some online-only functionality and associated icons are not available on Linux.
Dropbox icon near the status bar
A useful visual check is the Dropbox icon near the clock or system tray:
Fully synchronized: Dropbox shows its normal desktop icon without a sync warning.
Synchronizing: Dropbox displays status information indicating that synchronization is in progress.
Notifications: The Dropbox icon can display a notification indicator when there are unread Dropbox notifications.
The exact appearance and location of the icon can vary between Ubuntu, Fedora, Linux Mint, and different desktop environments.
7. Dropbox Icon Missing?
If Dropbox is installed and running but you cannot see its icon, the issue may be related to AppIndicator support.
Dropbox states that its Linux tray icon requires a desktop environment that supports AppIndicator. GNOME environments generally require an AppIndicator extension, while some other environments provide support natively.
First, check which desktop environment you are using:
echo $XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP
Ubuntu / GNOME
Dropbox documents the following package for Debian/Ubuntu systems:
sudo apt install libappindicator3-1
GNOME may also require an AppIndicator extension for the system-tray icon to appear.
Fedora
Install the AppIndicator library with:
sudo dnf install libappindicator-gtk3
This is the package currently documented by Dropbox for Fedora.
Linux Mint
The exact steps depend on the Mint desktop environment.
For Linux Mint MATE, Dropbox documents using the Indicator Applet Complete applet to display the Dropbox icon.
8. Dropbox Does Not Start or the Icon Disappears
The Dropbox icon appears only when the Dropbox desktop application is running. If the application is inactive, the icon may disappear. Dropbox recommends relaunching the application and ensuring that you are using the latest version.
You can also start Dropbox from the application menu by searching for Dropbox.
For command-line installations or troubleshooting, Dropbox provides Linux commands and a separate headless installation method.
9. Linux File-System Requirements
Dropbox’s current Linux requirements also specify supported file systems for the Dropbox folder.
The Dropbox folder should be located on a supported Linux file system such as:
ext4
btrfs
xfs
zfs
eCryptFS backed by ext4
Dropbox’s current documentation lists additional limitations for some of these file systems, including 64-bit requirements for certain configurations.
Conclusion
Installing Dropbox on Ubuntu, Fedora, or Linux Mint is straightforward: download the appropriate 64-bit package from Dropbox, install it, launch the application, and sign in through your browser.
Once Dropbox is running, your files will appear in the Dropbox folder in your home directory. The Dropbox system-tray icon provides a convenient way to check synchronization status and access Dropbox features.
If the icon does not appear, the most likely issue is desktop-environment or AppIndicator support rather than the Dropbox installation itself.