Configure Dropbox for external content indexing

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated November 6, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
  • Create and authorize an OAuth 2.0 application in the Dropbox App Console to allow the Dropbox external content connector to access your Dropbox source system.

    Before you begin

    You need developer privileges for the Dropbox App Console.

    Role required: none

    About this task

    The Dropbox external content connector retrieves files from user folders and team folders in your Dropbox source system using the Dropbox APIs.

    To allow the connector to access your Dropbox source system via the Dropbox APIs, you must configure and authorize an OAuth 2.0 application in the Dropbox App Console. Your connector administrator can use settings copied from the OAuth 2.0 application to configure the Dropbox external connector for proper connection to your source system.

    Procedure

    1. In the Dropbox App Console, create a new OAuth 2.0 application for the Dropbox external content connector.
      1. Navigate to https://www.dropbox.com/developers/apps and log in with developer credentials.
      2. Select Create app.
      3. In the Choose an API step, select Scoped access.
      4. In the Choose the type of access you need step, select Full Dropbox.
      5. Enter a name for your new app.
        As an example, you might enter ServiceNow external content connector.
      6. Select Create app.
      You're taken to the Settings page for your new OAuth 2.0 application.
    2. Copy the app key and app secret for your new OAuth 2.0 application.
      1. On the Settings screen, copy the app key value and record it in a secure location.
        Important:
        Your external content connector administrator needs this app key when configuring the Dropbox external content connector.
      2. To view the app secret, select Show.
      3. Copy the app secret value and record it in a secure location.
        Important:
        Your external content connector administrator needs this app secret when configuring the Dropbox external content connector.
    3. Configure the OAuth 2 redirect URI for your new OAuth 2.0 application.
      1. In the OAuth 2 entry, enter https://<instance-name>.service-now.com/oauth_redirect.do, replacing <instance-name> with the name of your ServiceNow AI Platform® instance.
        As an example, you might enter https://example.service-now.com/oauth_redirect.do.
      2. Select Add.
      The new redirect URI appears on the page for your application.
    4. Configure permissions for your new OAuth 2.0 application.
      1. Navigate to the Permissions page for your new OAuth 2.0 application.
      2. Select the options for each of the following scopes.
        • account_info.read
        • files.metadata.read
        • files.content.read
        • sharing.write
        • sharing.read
        • team_info.read
        • team_data.member
        • team_data.content.read
        • files.team_metadata.read
        • members.read
        • groups.read
        Note:
        Some of these scope options may be automatically selected by default or when you select other scope options.
      3. Select Submit.
      A message indicates that your permissions change was successful.

    What to do next

    Provide the following items to your connector administrator:
    • The app key that you copied in step 2.a.
    • The app secret that you copied in step 2.c.

    Your connector administrator needs these items to configure a Dropbox external content connector to retrieve files in user folders, files in team folders, and security principals from your Dropbox source system.

    For details on creating and configuring a Dropbox external content connector, see Create a Dropbox external content connector.