To add photos from your iPad to Dropbox, open the Dropbox app, open the folder you want, tap the + button, choose Upload Photos, select your pictures, tap Next, tap Set location, and tap Upload. To upload every new photo automatically, turn on Camera uploads from the account button in the Dropbox app.
These steps follow Dropbox Help articles on uploading files on a mobile device and camera uploads. You need the Dropbox app installed and must be signed in to your Dropbox account.
How to Upload Photos From iPad to Dropbox
- Open the Dropbox app.
- Open the Dropbox folder where you want to store the photos.
- Tap the + (plus sign) at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Upload Photos.
- Tap the photos you want to upload.
- Tap Next, choose where the files should go, and tap Set location.
- Tap Upload.
Result: The photos upload to the folder you chose. Dropbox says uploaded files sync everywhere you access your files in Dropbox.
Try creating a dedicated folder first so the photos are easy to find: tap +, tap Create Folder, name it, then upload into it.
How to Upload Photos From the Photos App
- Open the Photos app and select the pictures you want.
- Tap the Share button.
- Choose the Dropbox app.
- Pick the Dropbox save location, then save.
Result: The selected photos are saved to Dropbox without opening the Dropbox app first. Dropbox notes you must already be signed in to the Dropbox app for it to appear as a share option.
How to Upload Photos Automatically With Camera Uploads
- Open the Dropbox app and tap the account button.
- Tap Camera uploads.
- Tap Upload from, then Settings, to give Dropbox access to your photos and videos.
- Back in Dropbox, choose what to back up and whether to use cellular data. You can change that choice later, as shown in our guide on how to stop Dropbox from using cellular data for uploads.
- Tap Turn on camera uploads.
Result: Dropbox backs up your photos and videos automatically. Dropbox says this keeps them backed up and accessible from any device while freeing space on your iPad. The trade-off: automatic uploads can include photos you don’t want backed up, such as screenshots, so use manual uploads if you only want certain photos. To switch the feature off later, see how to stop the Dropbox app from automatically uploading pictures.
How to Upload a Lot of Photos Overnight
For a big batch, tap the camera icon in the top-right corner of the Dropbox app and tap Start overnight uploads. Dropbox dims the screen and keeps uploading through the night. To make it work, keep the Dropbox app open, stay connected to Wi-Fi, and keep the iPad plugged into a charger. Tap Exit overnight uploads to stop. Dropbox says this feature is available on iOS devices only.
How to Upload iPad Photos Through Your Computer
If you have the Dropbox desktop app on a computer, Dropbox says plugging in your iPad shows a prompt asking whether to enable uploads for that device. Once you accept, the device uploads its camera roll each time you connect it to that computer. You can change this later under Preferences > Backups in the desktop app, and click Forget next to a device to disconnect it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upload videos the same way?
Yes. Dropbox’s camera uploads and overnight uploads cover both photos and videos, and the desktop app lets you choose Photos only or Photos and videos.
Do I need to keep the app open for uploads to finish?
For overnight uploads, yes. Dropbox says to keep the Dropbox app open, stay on Wi-Fi, and keep the iPad plugged into a charger so it doesn’t power off.
Related Guides
Prefer a physical backup? Here’s how to transfer photos from iPad to a flash drive.
Once your photos are in Dropbox, you can send them without attachments. See how to email a link to a Dropbox file from an iPhone.
Need to clean up later? Here’s how to delete a picture from the Dropbox app on iPhone.
On an iPhone, you can also back up your iPhone videos to Dropbox automatically, or follow our guide on how to upload pictures from an iPhone to Dropbox by hand.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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