How to Add Dropbox to Cloud Duplicate Finder May 2, 2019 Raza Ali Kazmi Cloud Duplicates, Data Management, Duplicate Data Dropbox was founded by Drew Houston, an MIT student. While working on several projects, he found it troublesome to consistently carry external storage drives with him to access his data. So he started working on an Internet-based file sharing platform where he could upload small and medium-sized files and easily share them with others. This led him to what is known as Dropbox today. Almost a decade later, Dropbox has transformed itself into a global file sharing, sync service with over half a billion active users. It is available in 20 major world languages with over 1.2 billion files uploaded on a daily basis. Some of the distinguishing features of Dropbox are given below. File Version History Dropbox has an amazing feature that keeps track of your every move. It retains the file version history for a period of 30 days. You can restore an earlier version of your file within this period. Business users get an extended 120 days retention period. Highest Data Security Standards Dropbox protects your data with the highest security standards. It has a multilayer security standard to protect your data against unauthorized access from hackers and intruders. This security standard is designed to protect your confidential information while using public Wi-Fis and unsecured free networks. Two Layer Account Security Dropbox has a two-steps verification feature to protect user account beyond just a password. This feature grants you access only after confirming your identity as part of an extended authentication mechanism. This means that even if someone else knows your password, they cannot access your Dropbox account. There is an added advantage to it. If you lost your password, you can reset it again in a few clicks with a one-time verification code straight to your mobile or Google Authentication app. Strict Data Protection Measures Dropbox protects your privacy while using third-party apps. It has imposed a rigorous policy for third-party developers who want to connect their apps to Dropbox. Each developer has to abide by industry standard protocols. Sync Data Between Devices The ability to access files anywhere, anytime and from any device irrespective of the operating system, is a huge selling point. Moreover, it has a standalone application that continuously runs on your PC and synchronizes your data. When you create a new file locally and add text to it, Dropbox automates your task. Your file becomes available on the Dropbox server in no time. Pricing The free plan of Dropbox offers 2 GB of storage space which can be expanded by referring Dropbox to your family, friends, and colleagues. For each referral, you get 500 MB of storage. Individuals can opt for 1TB and 2TB plans costing $8.25 per month and $16.58 per month respectively. Business organizations, which have quite massive storage requirements, can choose from a variety of business plans. Dropbox Has No Duplicate Scan Feature Duplicate files can clutter your cloud account. Aside from wasting precious space, these files can bob you down while finding important files. They are the reasons you go out of storage. Most of the identical files in Dropbox account are accidental, so it‘s probably safe to delete them to reclaim your storage space. Although it is possible to manually compare each file and find duplicates, just think of the time and effort it takes on your part. Especially if you have tens of thousands of files in your cloud account, it may take several months and consistent efforts to manually compare each file. Moreover, there is an added risk of accidentally deleting genuine files. There is another simple and safe way to find duplicates at once. Using Cloud Duplicate Finder, an online scan utility, you can find duplicates more quickly. There is little to no chance deleting wrong files as the program uses advanced scan mechanisms and smart algorithms to compare file contents. Here’s how: Step # 1: Register on CDF Website Register on the website of Cloud Duplicate Finder: https://www.cloudduplicatefinder.com/ You’ll receive a verification email. Click on the verification link to instantly verify your email and set your Cloud Duplicate Finder account password. Log-in to your account. Step # 2: Add Your Dropbox Account Click on the Dropbox icon, followed by Add a New Drive. You’ll be asked to enter your Dropbox account authentication details. When you’re prompted to authenticate, provide the access permissions. Step # 3: Customize Your Scan Now, check all the folders you want to search for duplicate files. You‘ve got two options – Select All Files option (to perform a thorough scan irrespective of file types); or Custom Scan (to limit the scan to certain file types) such as music, documents, videos. Click on the Scan button and wait for some time. Step # 4: Review Duplicate Results After the scan is completed, your files will appear in different pairs. Each pair will contain the original file along with duplicate copies. Each column will show additional information about your files, such as file path, file size, creation date, and so on. Step # 5: Select Action Click on Select Duplicates. Choose whether to keep the newest or oldest file version, or any other selection criteria of your choice. Click on Select Action, followed by Move to Recycle bin option.