How to turn photo and video uploads on or off in Dropbox App on Windows 11

Turning photo and video uploads on or off in the Dropbox app on Windows 11 controls whether your pictures and videos automatically save to Dropbox when you connect a camera or phone.

This automatic upload feature, often called camera uploads, helps back up your media without you needing to do anything. For example, Dropbox can upload photos from your phone as soon as it’s connected to your PC.

You can manage which files upload to Dropbox or stop all uploads in the Dropbox desktop application on your Windows 11 computer.

Step 1Open Dropbox Settings

To manage your Dropbox camera upload settings on Windows 11, start by opening the Dropbox app’s preferences.

• Click the Dropbox icon in your taskbar 🖥️.

  

• A small menu will appear. Click on your profile picture or initials in the bottom-left corner of this menu.

  

• From the list of options, choose Preferences.

  

The Dropbox icon in your system tray 🔔 might be hidden. Click the small upward-pointing arrow (^) in your system tray 🔔 to show hidden icons. If the Dropbox icon is still missing, Dropbox might not be running. You can open Dropbox from your Start Menu ⊞.

Step 2Go to the Backups Section

In the Preferences window, you will see different tabs. Find the section related to backups.

• Click on the Backups tab. This is where you control automatic photo and video uploads.

  

Step 3Control Camera Uploads

You can easily turn your Dropbox camera uploads on or off from the Backups section in Dropbox settings on Windows 11.

• Look for an option like "Enable camera uploads" or a similar switch.
• To turn uploads ON: Make sure this switch is in the "on" position.
• To turn uploads OFF: Move this switch to the "off" position.

Step 4Choose What to Upload (If Turned On)

When you enable Dropbox camera uploads on Windows 11, you can choose to back up only photos or both photos and videos.

• If the "Enable camera uploads" option is on, you should see a dropdown menu nearby.
• Click the dropdown menu. You will likely see options such as:
  • Photos only
  • Photos and videos
• Choose the option that works best for you. For instance, if you only want to back up your pictures, select "Photos only."

Step 5Adjust Windows AutoPlay Settings

• Within the Backups section of Dropbox Preferences, look for a setting labeled something like "Import photos and videos" or "Change AutoPlay Settings". Click on it.

  

• This will likely open a Windows settings window. You will see options for different devices, such as "Removable drive" (this could be your phone or camera) and "Memory card."
• For "Removable drive":
  • Click the dropdown menu next to it.
  • To turn on Dropbox uploads: Choose the option that says "Import photos and videos (Dropbox)" or something similar.
  • To turn off Dropbox uploads through AutoPlay: Select a different option, such as "Take no action" or "Ask me every time."

    

• Repeat this process for "Memory card" if you use SD cards from your camera.

References:

https://help.dropbox.com/create-upload/camera-uploads-overview

Summary

You can control Dropbox camera uploads on Windows 11 by opening Dropbox preferences and going to the Backups tab.