Scope: Prime Mover Pro
Step 1. Create a Dropbox app and get a token
Before you can export and restore backups from Dropbox with Prime Mover, you must have a functioning Dropbox account.
Once you have an account, you need to create a Dropbox app for your site. Then in your app, go to OAuth 2 – Generate Access token.
The purpose of this token is to serve as access for Prime Mover to save packages to your Dropbox account.
Screenshot #1: Recommended Dropbox app settings
Screenshot #2: Dropbox app recommended permissions
Screenshot #3: Recommended Dropbox app branding settings
Dropbox App User Tips (when doing settings and permissions) to work with Prime Mover PRO:
Log in to https://www.dropbox.com/developers/apps and, while in the Dropbox API console, verify the following parameters for your named app.
- In Dropbox app settings:
"Allow public clients" = Disallow - In Dropbox app permissions: CHECK the following checkbox:
files.metadata.write,files.metadata.read,files.content.write,files.content.read - Click the ‘Submit’ button at the bottom of the page.
- Go back to Dropbox app settings:
Generated access token=> Click the ‘Generate’ button and copy the token text. - In WordPress, navigate to the Admin dashboard menu: Prime Mover PRO > Settings > Dropbox access token. Paste the token text and click ‘Save’. (Please see details of these steps below.)
Step 2. Save the Dropbox token in Prime Mover
- Log in as an administrator.
- Ensure that you have a Prime Mover Pro license activated to access the settings page.
- Go to Prime Mover -> Settings.
- In the Dropbox access token box, enter the token obtained in step 1.
- Save. This is what it looks like after saving.
- The token is validated with Dropbox, and it will only be saved if it’s valid and usable. If you have enabled encryption with Prime Mover Pro, this token will be saved to your site database encrypted.
- Make sure to keep a safe copy of this token in a secure location (e.g., writing it down to ensure you have a backup).
- At this point, the Dropbox integration is ready, allowing you to use it during both export and restore.
Step 3. Set the optimal Dropbox upload chunk
If your server or source site has a fast Internet connection, you can take advantage of this by setting a large Dropbox upload chunk size (in bytes). For example, go to Prime Mover PRO -> Advanced -> Upload/Download Parameters -> Dropbox upload chunk. And set 32MB (33554432), for instance, as the chunk size:
You can use this tool to convert your value in megabytes (MB) to bytes. Ensure that you convert the values to bytes. Using the conversion tool is highly recommended, ensuring you always obtain the correct values.
Step 4. Generate export and save (optionally) to Dropbox
With Prime Mover Pro integrated with Dropbox support, you will be presented with an additional checkbox to optionally save a copy of your backup or migration package to Dropbox. This is when you create an export. Make sure this checkbox is checked, as shown below:
If you check this box, Prime Mover will save a copy of your backup to your Dropbox account.
NOTE: Even if you upload a copy of the backup package to Dropbox. Prime Mover will still save a copy of it inside your Prime Mover export directory.
Sample screenshot showing Prime Mover is uploading the package to Dropbox (in-progress):
Sample screenshot showing the package is finally uploaded to your Dropbox app:
Step 5. Restore your backup from Dropbox
You need to restore the Dropbox package URL using the Prime Mover’s’ Restore from remote URL’ feature.
In brief, the Dropbox package URL should resemble the following (with the parameter’ dl’ set to 1).
For example:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/abcdefgdxsfdfds/mypackage.wprime?dl=1
Prime Mover can restore this package by first downloading it from your Dropbox account and then restoring it to your site.
Troubleshooting Dropbox integration
If you are experiencing issues with the integration steps or something is not working with Dropbox, please refer to this troubleshooting guide.
Last updated: April 19, 2025