How to share Dropbox files directly in Facebook Messenger
Dropbox, Inc. on Monday announced that users of its Dropbox mobile apps can now share files — photos, videos, GIFs, and documents — directly inside the Facebook Messenger app of from the Dropbox app.
This makes Dropbox the first file sharing service to integrate with Messenger and the latest in a growing list of third-party apps and services Facebook has added to its popular messaging app. Last month Facebook added Lyft Inc. and Spotify Ltd. integration to Messenger to allow users to hail a Lyft and share their favorite music — all without leaving the app.
What you need to share Dropbox files from Messenger
The new sharing functionality is available in the latest iOS and Android versions of the Dropbox and Facebook Messenger apps. Download Dropbox for iOS or Dropbox for Android if you do not already have it installed and update your Messenger app.
How to share a Dropbox file from Messenger
Inside a conversation, tap the More button (three dots) and select Dropbox from the list of available source apps. Provided you are logged into Dropbox on your smartphone, you will be able to browse for a photo, video, GIF or any other file to share. If not, you will be prompted to sign in to your Dropbox account first.
If you did not install the Dropbox mobile app as per above, you can do so now by tapping on Install next to Dropbox under the Get Apps for Messenger section. This will take you to your app store to install the app. Once the install is finished, sign in to Dropbox and go back to Messenger to start sharing.
Videos, images, and GIFs are displayed — and can be opened — directly in Messenger chats. All other files, like PDFs, spreadsheets, etc. — will be shared as a link to the Dropbox file. Tapping Open will take the recipient to their Dropbox mobile app to preview and save the shared file.
You can also share files to Messenger directly from the Dropbox mobile app. Simply select the file to share and tap the Share menu, select Messenger and select the Contact or Group to share with.
Dropbox integration for Messenger started rolling out on Monday and will be broadly available “soon”, according to Facebook.
Facebook is set to announce more new features for Messenger at the company’s annual F8 developer conference later today, including support for bots like those found in other apps such as Slack, Kik, WeChat, Skype, and others.
Main image credit: Kārlis Dambrāns, Flickr
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