Dropzone for Dropbox – Quick and painless file transfer for your clients

Hey Patreons,

Yeah, another weird one… something outside the usual audio plugin madness. But it turned out so useful in my own workflow that I figured some of you might want it too. If you’re running your business on Dropbox and WordPress, this plugin will save you a ton of hassle when collecting files from clients.

So… a little detour from my usual stuff. I promise, next up I’ll get back to plugins and Reaper scripts.

Johannes

Dropzone for Dropbox – Installation & Setup Guide

This is the official manual for installing and using the Dropzone for Dropbox WordPress plugin.
It’s designed for easy setup and safe operation.

1) Server Requirements

To make sure large uploads work smoothly, increase your PHP limits if possible:

• memory_limit: 2G

• upload_max_filesize: 1G

• post_max_size: 1G (must be equal or larger than upload_max_filesize)

Tip: You can usually adjust these in your hosting control panel or ask your host to do it for you.

Always run your WordPress site over HTTPS. This is required for secure Dropbox connections.

2) Install the Plugin

1. In WordPress, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.

2. Select the plugin ZIP file and click Install Now.

3. Click Activate.

4. After activation, go to Settings → Dropzone for Dropbox.

3) Create a Dropbox App (Full Dropbox)

To connect your site to Dropbox, you need your own Dropbox App.

1. Go to Dropbox Developers.

2. Click Create app → Scoped access.

3. Select Full Dropbox.

4. Name your app (example: WordPress Uploads) and create it.

5. Copy your App key and App secret from the app’s Settings page.

6. Important: In your Dropbox app, under OAuth 2 → Redirect URIs, add the exact URL shown in your WordPress plugin settings. It will look like:

   https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=dropzone_for_dropbox

   (Copy it directly from the plugin’s settings to avoid mistakes.)

7. In Permissions, enable:

   • files.content.write

   • files.content.read

   • files.metadata.read

8. Save your changes.

4) Connect WordPress to Dropbox

1. In WordPress, go to Settings → Dropzone for Dropbox.

2. Enter your App key and App secret.

3. Click Authorize with Dropbox.

4. Approve access and return to WordPress.

5. Status should now show Authorized.

5) Configure Plugin Settings

Inside Settings → Dropzone for Dropbox you can adjust:

• Base Path: Root folder in Dropbox where uploads will be saved (e.g., /Uploads).

• Date Folder: If enabled, the plugin will create a subfolder for today’s date automatically.

• Allowed File Types: Limit uploads to certain extensions (e.g., .wav,.zip,.pdf).

• Max File Size (MB): Client-side cap for uploads.

• Texts & Colors: Customize the dropzone look and labels.

• Email Notification: Send yourself an email when a file is uploaded.

6) Add a Dropzone to Your Site

Basic shortcode

[dropbox_dropzone]

Place this shortcode on any page or post. Visitors can upload directly to your Dropbox.

Client-specific (fixed folder) shortcode

You can lock a dropzone to always upload to the same client folder:

[dropbox_dropzone name=”Client-ACME”]

Example path with Date Folder enabled:

/Uploads/2025-09-25/Client-ACME/mymix.wav

With Date Folder off:

/Uploads/Client-ACME/mymix.wav

This is perfect for creating one page per client, where all their files always end up in the same Dropbox folder.

7) Security & Reliability

• The plugin is safe to use and communicates securely with Dropbox through OAuth.

• Always use HTTPS on your site.

• If you ever notice strange behavior (files missing, unexpected uploads), you can:

  1. Log in to your Dropbox account and check recent activity.

  2. Revoke the app’s access under Dropbox → Connected Apps.

  3. Reconnect the plugin by creating a new App secret and re-authorizing.

8) Troubleshooting

• Large files fail to upload: Double-check your PHP limits (memory_limit, upload_max_filesize, post_max_size).

• Cannot connect to Dropbox: Make sure the Redirect URI in Dropbox matches the one shown in the plugin settings.

• Wrong folder: Verify your Base Path, Date Folder setting, and shortcode.

• File type rejected: Add the extension under Allowed File Types.

9) Important Notes

• This is a paid plugin – it’s sold and distributed by me.

• Users are free to install it on their own sites after purchase, but they must create their own Dropbox App (with their own keys).

• Keys and access are never shared between different users.

✅ That’s it! You are now ready to use Dropzone for Dropbox and collect files directly into your Dropbox account.