Google Drive shows up in the Files app automatically on every Chromebook, but Dropbox and OneDrive don’t connect on their own. If you keep work files in either service, you can still get them into the same Files app window as your local downloads and Drive folders — you just need to set the connection up once.
Quick answer: Open the Files app, click the three-dot menu, and choose Add new service. Microsoft OneDrive connects directly through this menu. Dropbox works differently — install the Dropbox Android app from the Play Store, sign in, and turn on “Add your Dropbox folder to the Files app” in the app’s settings. Google Drive is already there under “Google Drive” in the left sidebar.
What Actually Works on a Chromebook
ChromeOS handles each cloud service a little differently:
- Google Drive — built in, no setup needed, appears in the sidebar by default.
- Microsoft OneDrive — has native Files app integration on ChromeOS 116 and later. You add it the same way you’d add an SMB share.
- Dropbox — doesn’t have a native Files app connector. Instead, it hooks in through the Dropbox Android app, which needs Google Play Store enabled on your Chromebook.
- Box, pCloud, and others — generally follow the same pattern as Dropbox: install the Android app (if one exists and Play Store is enabled), sign in, and look for a Files app or “local storage” integration option in that app’s settings.
If your Chromebook is managed by a school or employer, an IT admin may have already added a shared cloud drive for you — check the Files app sidebar before setting anything up yourself.
How to Add Microsoft OneDrive to the Files App
- Open the Files app from your shelf or app launcher.
- Click the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Select Add new service.
- Choose Microsoft OneDrive from the list of services.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account (personal or work/school) when the login window opens.
- Once signed in, OneDrive appears as a new entry in the Files app sidebar, right below Google Drive.
Files opened from OneDrive stream from the cloud rather than downloading fully, so opening large files can take a moment on a slow connection. There’s currently no built-in option to pin OneDrive files for offline use the way you can with Google Drive.
How to Add Dropbox to the Files App
- Make sure Google Play Store is enabled. Check by opening the launcher and looking for the Play Store icon — if it’s missing, go to Settings > Apps > Google Play Store and turn it on.
- Install the Dropbox app from the Play Store.
- Open Dropbox and sign in with your account.
- Inside the Dropbox app, open its settings (tap your profile icon, then the gear icon).
- Look for Add your Dropbox folder to the Files app (sometimes listed under “Local storage” or “Import & Export”) and turn it on.
- Open the Files app — Dropbox now appears as a folder you can browse, copy from, and save to.
Because this route goes through the Android app rather than a native ChromeOS connector, you need to stay signed in to the Dropbox app for the Files app connection to keep working. If Dropbox disappears from the Files sidebar after an update, reopening the Dropbox app usually restores it.
Still Not Showing Up?
- OneDrive missing after sign-in: sign out of the Files app service (three-dot menu on the OneDrive entry > Remove) and add it again — a stuck login token is the usual cause.
- Dropbox folder not appearing: confirm Play Store apps are enabled and that you’re signed into the same Dropbox account in the Android app as the one you expect to see.
- Files won’t open or sync: check your Wi-Fi connection speed — both services stream content rather than storing it locally by default.
- Running low on space either way: see our guide on freeing up Chromebook storage if local downloads from these services are filling your drive.
FAQ
Can I use Dropbox and OneDrive at the same time as Google Drive?
Yes. All three can appear in the Files app sidebar simultaneously — they don’t conflict with each other.
Does this work on a school or work Chromebook?
It depends on your organization’s policy. Some admins block Play Store installs or restrict which services can connect. If OneDrive or the Play Store option is missing, that’s usually an admin-managed restriction, not a bug.
Can I access these files when offline?
Google Drive supports offline access for files you pin. OneDrive and Dropbox generally require a connection, since they route through streaming or an Android app rather than a native offline sync client.
What about Box or iCloud?
Box has an Android app with a similar local-folder option if you have a Box account. iCloud doesn’t currently offer a ChromeOS-compatible client, so it isn’t a practical option on a Chromebook.
