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How to Switch from Dropbox to Nextcloud

📦
Dropbox
Nextcloud
Nextcloud
Medium 45 minutes Updated 21 January 2026 Privacy Registry Team

Introduction

This guide will help you switch from Dropbox to Nextcloud, an open-source, self-hosted cloud storage and collaboration platform. Nextcloud gives you complete control over your data while offering features that match or exceed Dropbox.

Why switch?

  • Dropbox stores data on US servers
  • No zero-knowledge encryption
  • Dropbox employees can access your files
  • Privacy policy allows data sharing
  • Limited free storage (2GB)

Why Nextcloud?

  • Self-host or use EU providers
  • Open source and auditable
  • Optional end-to-end encryption
  • Generous storage with many providers
  • Full suite: files, calendar, contacts, notes
  • GDPR compliant hosting available

Prerequisites

  • Dropbox account with files to migrate
  • Nextcloud instance (self-hosted or provider)
  • Nextcloud desktop sync client
  • About 45 minutes of time
  • Sufficient storage space

Info: Many EU hosting providers offer Nextcloud, or you can self-host on a VPS.

Step 1: Set up Nextcloud

Option A: Choose a Nextcloud provider

  1. Visit nextcloud.com/providers
  2. Select an EU-based provider
  3. Create your account
  4. Note your Nextcloud URL

Popular EU providers:

  • Hetzner (Germany)
  • Ionos (Germany)
  • Infomaniak (Switzerland)

Option B: Self-host Nextcloud

Using Docker:

docker run -d \
  --name nextcloud \
  -p 8080:80 \
  -v nextcloud:/var/www/html \
  nextcloud

Or use the Nextcloud AIO (All-in-One) for easy setup:

docker run --sig-proxy=false \
  --name nextcloud-aio-mastercontainer \
  -p 80:80 -p 8080:8080 -p 8443:8443 \
  -v nextcloud_aio_mastercontainer:/mnt/docker-aio-config \
  -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock:ro \
  nextcloud/all-in-one:latest

Step 2: Download your Dropbox data

  1. Install Dropbox desktop app if not already
  2. Enable selective sync for all folders
  3. Wait for full sync to local computer
  4. Your files are now in ~/Dropbox folder

Using web interface

  1. Go to dropbox.com and log in
  2. Select files/folders to download
  3. Click “Download” (creates ZIP)
  4. Repeat for all folders
  5. Extract downloaded archives

Tip: The desktop app is faster and preserves folder structure better.

Step 3: Install Nextcloud desktop client

  1. Download from nextcloud.com/install
  2. Install the application
  3. Add your Nextcloud account
  4. Enter your server URL
  5. Authenticate with your credentials
  6. Choose sync folder location

Step 4: Transfer files to Nextcloud

  1. Copy files from Dropbox folder to Nextcloud sync folder
  2. Wait for synchronization to complete
  3. Verify files appear in Nextcloud web interface
  4. Check for any sync errors

Method 2: Via web upload

  1. Log into Nextcloud web interface
  2. Navigate to Files
  3. Click ”+” and select “Upload file”
  4. Upload files or folders
  5. Better for smaller amounts of data

Tip: For large migrations, upload during off-hours when you won’t need the bandwidth.

Shared Dropbox links need recreation in Nextcloud:

  1. Identify important shared links in Dropbox
  2. Create equivalent shares in Nextcloud
  3. Update any shared links in documents, emails, etc.
  4. Notify collaborators of new links

Nextcloud sharing options:

  • Public links (with optional password)
  • Share with specific users
  • Set expiration dates
  • Configure permissions (view/edit)

Step 6: Set up mobile sync

  1. Install Nextcloud app on iOS/Android
  2. Log in with your account
  3. Enable auto-upload for photos/videos
  4. Configure which folders to sync offline

Tips & Gotchas

Warning: Dropbox Paper documents need export before migration. They don’t transfer as files automatically.

  • Dropbox Paper: Export to Word or PDF before migration
  • Shared folders: Recreate sharing in Nextcloud
  • File conflicts: Watch for sync conflicts during transition
  • Storage usage: Check Nextcloud quota before migration
  • Special characters: Some filename characters may need renaming
  • Camera upload: Configure Nextcloud auto-upload to replace Dropbox

What’s Next?

After completing this guide:

  1. Set up calendar sync: Import Google Calendar to Nextcloud
  2. Install apps: Tasks, Notes, Deck for project management
  3. Configure auto-upload: Replace Dropbox camera upload
  4. Enable E2EE: Set up end-to-end encryption for sensitive folders
  5. Disconnect Dropbox: After confirming all data migrated

Related Guides

How to Switch from Google Drive to Nextcloud

📁
Nextcloud
Medium 45 minutes