Are you looking for a way to create an upload form that automatically sends WordPress file uploads to your Dropbox? You probably want to easily manage those files or create a backup copy for safekeeping.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to add Dropbox to your WordPress website. That way, you can make contact forms that send a copy of your WordPress form file uploads to Dropbox.
If you’d prefer to read the tutorial, we’ve written how it’s done below.
Why Integrate Dropbox With Your Upload Form?
With WPForms, not only can you design an attractive contact form using a drag and drop editor, but you can also add advanced features like file upload and payment options to your forms easily.
You may have seen different types of file upload forms such as tech support forms, guest post submission forms, job application forms, and so on. These upload forms make it easier for users to send files, so users don’t have to open their email applications to send them as attachments.
WPForms also makes it simpler to manage user uploaded files for website owners like you. You can view and delete the uploaded files right from your WordPress dashboard.
With Dropbox integration, you can have a backup copy of files in Dropbox for better safety. This way, you don’t have to worry about losing your files even if your server gets corrupted.
How to Add a Dropbox Upload Form to Your WordPress Website
The first thing you need to do is to install and activate the WPForms plugin. For help with this step, learn how to install a WordPress plugin.
If you don’t have a contact form on your website with a file upload function yet, go ahead and create one.
You can easily create a file upload form using WPForms. Simply follow the instructions in the video below.
If you’re having trouble following the steps in the video, follow our guide on creating a file upload form. Once you’ve created an upload form, let’s figure out how to connect Dropbox with it to send a copy of the file as a backup. You can also read about how to create a WordPress upload widget.
Connect Zapier With WPForms
Before you can connect the WPForms plugin with Dropbox to add uploads to your website, you’ll have to connect the plugin with Zapier.
Zapier allows you to connect WPForms with many 3rdd-party apps to add more features and functions.
So let’s get started.
Step 1: Install Zapier Addon to Add Dropbox to Website
Go to WPForms » Addons and install the Zapier Addon. After installing the addon, Activate it.
Step 2: Enter Zapier API Key in WPForms
Go to WPForms » Settings » Integrations and copy the Zapier API key. This key is required to connect your website with Zapier.
Step 3: Log in to Zapier
Log into your Zapier account and click on the Make A Zap button.
Step 4: Choose Zapier Trigger App
On the next page, search for WPForms and choose it as the trigger app.
Step 5: Select New Form Entry
Select New Form Entry as the trigger and proceed to next step.
Step 6: Connect Zapier Account to Add Dropbox to Website
Zapier will now ask you to connect your website with your Zapier account. Click on Connect an Account.
In the connect account window, enter your website URL and the Zapier API key that you copied from WPForms earlier. Choose the right account and proceed to the next step by selecting the account you just added.
Step 7: Choose Upload Form
In the next step, choose the upload form you’ve just created in WPForms and click Continue.
Step 8: Test Upload Form
Now, Zapier will ask to test your new upload form to see if it works correctly. Before performing the test, you need to enter a test message with a file attachment using your file upload form.
To do this, go to WPForms » All Forms. Find your upload form and click on Preview. Then enter a test message and upload a simple file through the contact form. After submitting a test entry, go back to Zapier and click Fetch & Continue.
Step 9: Confirm Success
When the test is successful, click Continue to connect Dropbox with WPForms.
Integrate Dropbox With WPForms
To connect Dropbox with WPForms, sign in to your Dropbox account and create a new folder to save your WPForms upload files. Then, go back to Zapier to connect the app.
Step 1: Select Dropbox Action App
Search and select Dropbox as the Action app.
Step 2: Choose Upload File Action
Choose Upload File as the Action and click Save + Continue.
Step 3: Connect Account to Add Dropbox to Website
Select Connect an Account to connect your Dropbox account with Zapier.
Now once your account is connected, click Save + Continue.
Step 4: Pick Folder
You’ll now need to specify the correct folder in Dropbox where you want to upload the files to. In addition, you’ll also need to specify the file upload field that you want to upload to Dropbox.
Step 5: Send Test to Dropbox
Click Send Test to Dropbox to test the Action step you’ve just created.
When successful, click Finish to complete the Zap.
Step 6: Name Zap to Add Dropbox to Website
Give your Zap a name and turn it On to active it.
Embed Your Dropbox Upload Form on Website
To add Dropbox to your website, you’ll need to embed the form. WPForms allows you to add your forms to many locations on your website, including your blog posts, pages, and even sidebar widgets.
So let’s take a look at the most common post/page embed option.
To begin, create a new page or post in WordPress, or go to the update settings on an existing one. After that, click inside the first block (that’s the blank area below your page title) and click on the +plus sign then the WPForms icon.
Now, the WPForms widget will appear inside your block. Click on the WPForms drop-down and pick which one form you’ve already created that you want to insert into your page.
And if you like the way the form looks go ahead and publish it make the form live on your site.
Final Thoughts on Adding Dropbox to Your Website
Bravo! You’ve just completed creating an awesome upload form that also sends a copy of the file uploads to Dropbox. You now know how to add Dropbox to your website through your forms.
For more awesome ways to use WPForms and Zapier together, check out these posts:
- How to save contacts from a WordPress form to Google Sheets
- Learn how to connect your WordPress contact form to Discord
- How to create a custom Airtable form for WordPress
And this is only some of the many superpowers you get when using WPForms. Check out dozens of amazing features of our WordPress plugin and explore the blog for more tutorials like this one.
Also, follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more WordPress guides and tutorials.
Is there a way to just send the photos to Dropbox? So they don’t take space within wordpress?
Hi Gabriela,
While you can send a copy of all uploaded files to Dropbox, as described in this tutorial, we don’t currently have a way to avoid also uploading the file to your site. This is because our Dropbox integration isn’t direct, but rather uses Zapier as a middle man. But we’ve noted direct Dropbox integration on our feature request list, and will keep that on our radar as a potential option down the road.
If you have any additional questions, please get in touch 🙂
Any way to bypass Zapier?
Hi David,
Unfortunately we don’t have a built-in integration with DropBox so you won’t be able to send form data from WPForms to DropBox without the Zapier addon. I apologize for the inconvenience! 🙁
Is there an upload limit? I need to be able to upload up to 1gb.
Hi Hemal!
The file upload size limitation in your forms defaults to the maximum that your web host allows. For most web hosts this is 8 or 16MB, though some are much lower or higher.
While we provide the option for you to decrease the upload size limit in your forms, we have no control over the upper limits imposed by your host’s server. To get this increased (or find out if an increase is possible), you’ll need to get in touch with your hosting provider.
I hope this helps.
Have a good one 🙂
Is it possible to send files to different folders within Dropbox? For example, can I create two forms with WPForms and have one send files to http://www.dropbox.com/home/Folder1 and the other form send files to http://www.dropbox.com/home/Folder2?
Thanks.
Hi Chris!
Yes, when you create a Zap for a form you are choosing a Dropbox folder where your files will be saved to. This way if you have two forms then you can create two different Zaps and choose different folders for them.
I hope this helps.
Have a good one 🙂
Is there a reason why when using the modern version of the upload field (where you can upload multiple files), it uploads a .txt file to my Dropbox? When I force the .PDF on zapier, it pops out a corrupted PDF file. Any way to move around this issue?
Hi Ernesto!
If you have a WPForms license, you have access to our email support, so please submit a support ticket.
Otherwise, we provide limited complimentary support in the WPForms Lite WordPress.org support forum.
Have a good one 🙂
When using the new upload field that allows for multiple documents to be uploaded at once, it ends up uploading a .txt file. When I force the file extension to .pdf, it comes out as corrupted.
I believe this issue doesn’t happen when it’s done by separate “classic upload fields”.
So, 4 years laters and you still don’t have a direct upload to dropbox? I don’t want a copy of the file, or to use Zapier, can’t you just upload to dropbox like Ninja Forms?
Hi there- We apologize for the frustration you are facing here! This is still under the review of our development team. I have added your vote and email address to the feature-request list and you’ll be notified once this integration is added!
Thanks, and sorry!