How Do I View Dropbox Logs? (Updated 2023)

 

Dropbox, as a service, is great for keeping your files and folders synced across devices and members of a team.

Uploading files such as documents can allow for multiple people to access this information, and depending on their given permissions, they can edit these files.

For a variety of reasons, including security-related reasons, you may want to check out the logs or reports of these files.

Dropbox does give you options when it comes to viewing history on files and folders.

Let’s break it down together, step by step.

 

How Do I View Dropbox Logs? (Step By Step)

 

1. Check Your Events Log

 

You should check the events log when you need to check all the events on your account.

These events include any edits made to files, added files, deleted files, permissions given, permissions removed, shared files, and moved files.

1. Open your browser and go to www.dropbox.com/events.
2. Sign in to your account.
3. Check the log for events, as well as the date and time of the event.

Once on the events page, you have a few options.

The center of your screen details all of the recent events for your entire account.

To fine-tune the events and find the right event you need, look to the right of the screen.

You are given an events option drop-down menu, as well as a date picker.

You won’t see information regarding sign-ins or what files were downloaded with these logs.

 

2. View The Activity Log

 

The activity log gives you access to a few different types of activity on your account.

You will be able to see which files or folders were added, deleted, edited, moved, renamed, or rewound.

You even get the option to select exactly which type of activity you would like to see.

1. Head to www.dropbox.com.
2. Click sign in to log into your account.
3. On the bottom-right of the screen, click on the Activity tab (located in the right sidebar).
4. You will see the history of your recent activity

If you have enabled viewer info, you will be able to see who viewed a file and if someone is currently viewing that file.

The activity log is a lighter version of the events log that is easier to access.

The activity log does not give you recent login information or linked accounts.

A nice thing about the activity log is that it’s located from the All Files tab located in the Home section.

You will not see the history of any edits if a file was downloaded and edited outside of Dropbox.

File owners and people who have Can Edit access see all the file activity.

People who have Can View access can’t see the file activity.

 

3. See A Log Of Connected Devices

 

You can see the security logs regarding which devices are currently connected to your account or which browser has connected.

1. Open your browser and go to www.dropbox.com/account.
2. Click on the Security tab.
3. See the section Web Browser for information about:
   • The type of browser that is connected.
   • The location of the sign-in.
   • When the sign-in occurred.
   • Hover over the little “i” button to see the IP address.
4. Scroll down to the Devices section to see:
   • The individual device name.
   • The location of the device.
   • When the device is connected to your account.
   • Hover over the little “i” button to see the IP address.
5. See the Connected Apps section for information regarding apps that have permission to see your Dropbox information.

If you see a device or a browser that doesn’t look right, make sure you head to the events log or activity log to see if any unwanted changes were made.

Also, be sure to change your password and enable two-step verification.

 

What Can You Do With A Business Account?

 

1. Business Insights Dashboard

 

The Business Insights dashboard gives important information regarding your team’s activities as well as shortcuts to the most important and commonly used administrator actions.

The dashboard allows you to find a team member by first name, last name, or email address.

View the number of current members, pending invites, remaining licenses, and members who have recently joined.

You can invite new members and send reminders to everyone that has pending invites to join the team.

You can add licenses as you need them and receive in-progress alerts.

The dashboard also gives you the ability to find out how much the team is using Dropbox.

This data includes:

• The content and shared folders from pending and joined members.
• The content and shared folders from deleted members with data that can be transferred.
• Active and archived team folders.

 

Find The Business Insights Dashboard

1. Go to www.dropbox.com and sign in using your administrator credentials.
2. In the left sidebar, click Admin Console.
3. Click Insights in the sidebar.

 

2. Team Activity

 

The Admin Console gives you information about how your team is using Dropbox.

You can see the team members who have performed actions within the last 28 days.

This includes accessing an account, adding files, editing files, viewing files, and sharing files.

Gain access to the total amount of storage space used by your team.

The Admin Console gives you the number of shared links and the number of shared folders with at least two members that had activity over the past 28 days.

Find which computers and devices from your team have signed in and performed an activity over the last 28 days.

 

To View Team Activity

1. Go to www.dropbox.com and sign in using your administrator credentials.
2. In the left sidebar, click Admin Console.
3. Click Activity.
4. Filter the results to view the activity you want to see.

 

Filtering Activities

1. To filter activities, click add activity.
   • You can filter by date range, people, content, or activities.
2. Enter a date range to see the activity during the specified period.
3. Click members and then enter a name to view their recent activity.
4. Scan files, folders, or Paper docs by adding a keyword next to Content.

You only gain access to user data after 2017 or whenever you created your account.

If your Dropbox Business team is new, data will populate as activities are performed.

 

3. Activity Logs And Reports

 

Administrators can see many different events with the activity reports (logs) from within the Admin Console.

Administrators can see the apps that are used as well as any comments that are made.

They can see what devices and domains have accessed files or folders.

They can see any file requests, logins, or passwords that are used.

Administrators can see groups, members, team folders, team policies, and team profiles from the activity report.

It even details who has two-factor authentication enabled and who doesn’t.

In addition to that information, each event has the exact date and time that an action took place, which member initiated the action, details about the event, and where the user acted.

 

How To Create And Export An Activity Report

1. Go to www.dropbox.com and sign in using your administrator credentials.
2. In the left sidebar, click Admin Console.
3. Click Activity.
4. Use the filters to select the type of information and the date range that you would like to export.
5. Click to create the report.

You will receive an email containing a CSV file called Dropbox Business reports when the report is ready.

 

4. Team Sharing Activity Reports

 

Some Dropbox Business administrators can see how certain data is shared inside and outside of the organization.

Administrators can see when someone creates a shared folder, joins a folder, removes someone from a folder, or invites someone to a folder.

If ownership is transferred, permissions get changed, or folders get moved, an administrator will get access to that information as well.

It’s not just folders that administrators can see, they have access to the same access on a file level as well.

Administrators have access any time a file gets added, downloaded, edited, reviewed, deleted, restored, moved, copied, or rolled back.

 

To View Sharing Activity

1. Go to www.dropbox.com and sign in using your Administrator credentials.
2. In the left sidebar, click Admin Console.
3. On the Activity Page, you can find sharing events with the other event types.
4. To filter sharing events only, select Sharing from the drop-down menu.

 

How To Tell What Dropbox Plan You Have

 

Dropbox plans come in two flavors: Dropbox Consumer and Dropbox Business.

Dropbox Business accounts are sometimes referred to as Team accounts.

Your type of plan determines your capabilities when viewing your history or reports.

 

Determine Your Dropbox Plan Type

1. Go to www.dropbox.com.
2. Click Sign In, located in the upper-right corner of your screen.
3. At the top-right corner of the screen, click on your profile picture.
4. Click on Settings.
5. You can find your plan type in the:
   • General Tab
   • Plan Tab

The General tab will give you the current plan as well as the next plan above it.

The Plan tab will show you the same information as well as how much storage you have left with your current plan.

 

Upgrade An Individual Account To A Business Account

 

A Dropbox Business plan mitigates the risk of data loss or multiple copies.

It keeps files secure by requiring separate sign-in information for each team member.

It makes it easier to remove permissions when members are no longer part of the team.

Team members can keep their personal files and business files separated.

 

Steps To Upgrade To A Business Account

1. Upgrade your account to Dropbox Business.
2. Go to www.dropbox.com and sign in using your administrator credentials.
3. In the left sidebar, click Admin Console.
4. Open the Members page and click Invite Members.
5. Enter the email addresses of the people you want to invite.
6. Click Invite to the team.

If other members had access to your Dropbox account before the upgrade, you should reset your password.

This way they won’t be able to access the administrator console and they will have to create a password for their account.

 

Downgrade From Dropbox Business To A Consumer Account

 

How To Convert A Team Member’s Account

1. Go to www.dropbox.com and sign in using your administrator credentials.
2. In the left sidebar, click Admin Console.
3. Open the Members page and click the gear icon next to the name of the person you want to remove.
4. Select Delete member.
5. Click Convert to individual Dropbox Basic account instead.
6. Select Convert Account.

 

How To Convert An Administrator To An Individual Account And Keep The Team

1. Go to www.dropbox.com and sign in using your administrator credentials.
2. If there is only one administrator, make sure to add another administrator.
3. Upgrade your account to Dropbox Business.

 

How To Convert An Administrator To An Individual Account And Downgrade The Team

1. Go to www.dropbox.com and sign in using your administrator credentials.
2. In the left sidebar, click Admin Console.
3. Select Billing from the list on the left.
4. Choose why you are canceling and select Continue with cancellation.
5. Check all the boxes to acknowledge the consequences of canceling.
6. Scroll down and select Complete Cancellation.
7. The account will get converted to Dropbox Basic at the end of the current billing cycle.

 

Conclusion

Dropbox offers the ease and convenience of uploading and accessing files and folders from all over the world.

It allows organizations and people to share their files and folders securely.

To ensure this security, Dropbox has enabled access to many different types of logs and reports.

Personal accounts have access to their own events log and their activity reports.

A personal account can see what devices and browsers have access to their account as well as any changes made to files or folders.

Business plans allow administrators to have even more access to greater detail of logs and reports.

Administrators can monitor just about every aspect of their Dropbox account.

Any changes made to files or folders, including edits, deletions, or sharing, will be recorded and included in the report.

Keep that in mind the next time you are fumbling around looking through files or folders on a Dropbox business account.