How do I use Dropbox Paper?
Dropbox Paper is an online document workspace for you and your team. Each doc allows you to organize and display text, media, and files all in one place.
10 minute read
Collaborate with Dropbox Paper
More than a doc, Dropbox Paper is a flexible workspace that brings people and teams together. You can use text, images, videos, and more.
How to use Dropbox Paper with your team
Collaboration with your team starts from the moment you create a new Paper doc, because several team members can be working in a Paper doc at once.
Create to-dos
Click Toggle to-do list (check box) on the toolbar or type [] + Space (left square bracket, right square bracket, space).
Write the to-do item next to the box that appears.
@ (at) mention team members or yourself to assign specific to-dos.
To add a due date, click the calendar icon next to a to-do and choose a date.
Create a Dropbox Paper doc from dropbox.com
Log in to dropbox.com.
Click the grid icon in the upper-right corner and select Paper.
Click Create new doc.
If prompted, locate the folder you’d like to store your Paper doc in and click Create.
If you don’t see Paper in the menu that opens when you click the grid icon, click Create, hover over Document, and select Dropbox Paper doc.
Create a Paper template
You can use a Paper template for regularly used doc formats. Check out tips for using templates to get your project moving quickly:
You can also turn any doc into a shareable template. Customize the format that works for your team’s workflow.
Learn more about how to create, use, and share a template in Dropbox Paper.
Share a Paper doc with a direct invitation
Open the Paper doc you want to share.
Click the blue Invite (or Share) button at the top of the doc.
Enter the email address of the person or people you want to share with.
Click Settings to set permissions for viewing and editing the doc.
Click Share file. Recipients will receive an email invitation.
Share a Paper doc with a link
Open the Paper doc you want to share.
Click Copy link (chain icon) at the top of the doc. The link will be copied to your clipboard.
Paste the link into an email, chat message, or text and send. The recipient will be able to access the doc with the level of permissions given in the link settings of the file.
Note: All members of a shared folder have access to Paper docs created inside it, with the same level of permissions they have for the folder.
Comment and collaborate in a Paper doc
In Dropbox Paper, you can collaborate with others by commenting on text and images, @ (at) mentioning people in line and in comments, and creating to-dos.
If the person you @ (at) mention doesn’t appear on the list of choices, you can type their email address and they’ll receive an email invitation to join the doc.
@mention someone
- Type @(at) and then a colleague’s name.
- Select the correct person from the list that appears.
If the person you @mention does not appear on the list of choices, you can type their email address and they will receive an email invitation to join the doc.
Add a comment
Highlight a line of text.
Click the comment icon (speech bubble) in the formatting toolbar.
Type your comment. You can @ (at) mention anyone who you want to receive a notification about the comment.
Click Post.
You can also comment on images and parts of images inside your Paper docs.
Create to-dos
Click Toggle to-do list (check box) on the toolbar or type [] + Space (left square bracket, right square bracket, space).
Write the to-do item next to the box that appears.
@ (at) mention team members or yourself to assign specific to-dos.
To add a due date, click the calendar icon next to a to-do and choose a date.
Create a Dropbox Paper doc from dropbox.com
Log in to dropbox.com.
Click the grid icon in the upper-right corner and select Paper.
Click Create new doc.
If prompted, locate the folder you’d like to store your Paper doc in and click Create.
If you don’t see Paper in the menu that opens when you click the grid icon, click Create, hover over Document, and select Dropbox Paper doc.
Create a Paper template
You can use a Paper template for regularly used doc formats. Check out tips for using templates to get your project moving quickly:
You can also turn any doc into a shareable template. Customize the format that works for your team’s workflow.
Learn more about how to create, use, and share a template in Dropbox Paper.
Share a Paper doc with a direct invitation
Open the Paper doc you want to share.
Click the blue Invite (or Share) button at the top of the doc.
Enter the email address of the person or people you want to share with.
Click Settings to set permissions for viewing and editing the doc.
Click Share file. Recipients will receive an email invitation.
Share a Paper doc with a link
Open the Paper doc you want to share.
Click Copy link (chain icon) at the top of the doc. The link will be copied to your clipboard.
Paste the link into an email, chat message, or text and send. The recipient will be able to access the doc with the level of permissions given in the link settings of the file.
Note: All members of a shared folder have access to Paper docs created inside it, with the same level of permissions they have for the folder.
Comment and collaborate in a Paper doc
In Dropbox Paper, you can collaborate with others by commenting on text and images, @ (at) mentioning people in line and in comments, and creating to-dos.
If the person you @ (at) mention doesn’t appear on the list of choices, you can type their email address and they’ll receive an email invitation to join the doc.
@mention someone
- Type @(at) and then a colleague’s name.
- Select the correct person from the list that appears.
If the person you @mention does not appear on the list of choices, you can type their email address and they will receive an email invitation to join the doc.
Add a comment
Highlight a line of text.
Click the comment icon (speech bubble) in the formatting toolbar.
Type your comment. You can @ (at) mention anyone who you want to receive a notification about the comment.
Click Post.
You can also comment on images and parts of images inside your Paper docs.
Create to-dos
Click Toggle to-do list (check box) on the toolbar or type [] + Space (left square bracket, right square bracket, space).
Write the to-do item next to the box that appears.
@ (at) mention team members or yourself to assign specific to-dos.
To add a due date, click the calendar icon next to a to-do and choose a date.