Dropbox Paper Migration Checklist
This article covers the Dropbox Paper migration happening in December 2025 and how impacted campus users can prepare for the migration and access their documents post-migration.
What is happening?
Dropbox Paper is currently a separate app from the main Dropbox app. This migration will move Dropbox Paper docs and folders into the main Dropbox app, which will allow you to view and share Paper docs directly in Dropbox.
Pre-Migration Steps
Be sure to bookmark all of your Dropbox Paper docs and folders in a web browser prior to the migration which starts on Monday, December 22nd.
Please bookmark all of your Dropbox Paper docs and folders in a web browser to ensure that you can quickly and easily access all of your docs and folders post-migration.
Post-Migration Steps
Use the bookmarks that you created pre-migration to access your Paper docs and folders. You can continue to use these bookmarks to access these Paper docs.
In your Member Folder, you will see a new folder called Migrated Paper Docs. This folder contains all of the internal Paper docs that have been moved to the main Dropbox app.
Dropbox on the Web
- In this example, we are viewing Tuffy Titan's Dropbox, so the Member Folder is called Tuffy Titan.
- You can click on a Paper doc to open it in a new browser window.
Dropbox Desktop App
- In this example, we are viewing Tuffy Titan's Dropbox, so the Member Folder is called Tuffy Titan.
- You can double click on a Paper doc to open it in your default web browser.
What's New and Different?
Any time a Dropbox Paper doc is shared with you by someone off-campus, the best practice is to open the Paper doc and then bookmark it in your web browser.
Since Dropbox Paper Docs that are owned by an off-campus/external user cannot be moved into your regular Dropbox account, the best way to access these Paper docs will be by bookmarking them in your web browser.
The only other ways to access these Paper docs will be using the Activity feed or the email notification you received when the Paper doc was shared with you.
In the example above, this is a Paper doc that was shared by an external user. Clicking on the three dots menu shows that I don't have the option to move or delete this Paper doc, which is a clue that it's not one owned by me or by anyone at CSUF.
You will now have the option to create Dropbox Paper Docs in any Dropbox folder that you have edit access to.
2.1. Navigate to a folder in your Dropbox account. Then click + New.
- Navigate to a folder in your Dropbox account. In the above example, this is Tuffy Titan's Member Folder in Dropbox, but this can be any Dropbox folder that you have edit access to.
- Then click + New.
2.2. Select Document, and then choose Dropbox Paper doc or Dropbox Paper template.
- Select Document.
- Then choose Dropbox Paper doc or Dropbox Paper template.
2.3. After giving your new Paper doc a title and content, you will see it saved in the folder.
You can create a new Paper doc in a Team Folder or move an existing Paper doc to a Team Folder to immediately grant access to the doc for everyone with access to the Team Folder.
Note that you may have to edit the permissions on the Dropbox Paper doc to allow/disallow edit access for Team Folder members.
- Navigate to a Dropbox Team Folder. In the above example, this is the 10356 - IT Training Dropbox Team Folder.
- Note that the "who can access" for the Paper doc is listed as Parent. This means everyone with access to the 10356 - IT Training Dropbox Team Folder can access this Paper doc.
- Current and future Team Folder members will be able to click on the Paper doc to access it.
Need More Help?
Contact the IT Help Desk.
Additional training materials are available at the CSUF Dropbox for Business webpage.
You are done. Great job!