Users left scrambling for a plan B as Dropbox drops Dropbox Passwords
- Reference: 1753894955
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/07/30/dropbox_drops_dropbox_passwords/
- Source link:
The [1]discontinuation of Dropbox Passwords will happen in phases. In less than a month, on August 28, Dropbox Passwords will become view-only in both the mobile app and browser extension, and the autofill functionality will be deactivated.
On September 11, the mobile app will stop working completely, although data will remain accessible through the browser extension.
[2]
Finally, on October 28, Dropbox Passwords will be entirely discontinued. Users will lose access to all their data, and all saved usernames, passwords, and payment information will be "permanently and securely deleted."
[3]
[4]
Dropbox has recommended 1Password as a replacement. While the service is an adequate password manager, it is prone to the [5]occasional glitch . Users will need to [6]pay a subscription once 1Password's free trial ends.
As for why Dropbox decided to drop the service, the company said it was "part of our efforts to focus on enhancing other features in our core product."
[7]
The service was [8]launched in 2020 for paid Dropbox plans and [9]extended to all users in 2021. As with many other similar services, it provided users with a secure place to store their usernames and passwords, autofilled fields on websites and apps, and notified users if their private information had been compromised in a breach.
Which was part of the problem. There is plenty of competition in the password manager world. LastPass and 1Password are prime examples, and Apple, Microsoft, and Google have all thrown their hats into the ring.
[10]Dropbox to shed another 500 staff, CEO takes 'full responsibility'
[11]Dropbox dropped the ball on security, haemorrhaging customer and third-party info
[12]The truth about Dropbox opening up your files to AI – and the loss of trust in tech
[13]Dropbox drops bucks to ditch digs in long-term WFH model
Dropbox, a veteran of the storage synchronization world, followed, but is now bowing out to focus on its core products.
While the service never achieved the popularity of its rivals, it had a number of loyal users, many of whom have complained on social media. One [14]questioned the move , saying: "It should have been something you ran past paid Dropbox users – to see how much they benefited from it, instead of just getting rid."
A support worker thanked the user for their feedback and [15]said : "We'll make sure to log your comments accordingly." A great comfort, we're sure.
[16]
Dropbox has been having a rough time of it lately. The company has subjected staff to [17]several rounds of layoffs, and in October 2024, CEO Drew Houston [18]stated : "We're making more significant cuts in areas where we're over-invested or underperforming."
In calendar 2024, DropBox [19]reported revenue of $2.54 billion, up from $2.5 billion in the prior year. Net income dropped to $452.3 million from $453.6 million. ®
Get our [20]Tech Resources
[1] https://help.dropbox.com/en-us/installs/dropbox-passwords-discontinuation
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aIqV6RQsUo37S8glt1tZbQAAAMU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aIqV6RQsUo37S8glt1tZbQAAAMU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aIqV6RQsUo37S8glt1tZbQAAAMU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/08/using_1password_on_mac_patch/
[6] https://1password.com/pricing/password-manager
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aIqV6RQsUo37S8glt1tZbQAAAMU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2020/06/16/dropbox_password_manager/
[9] https://blog.dropbox.com/topics/product/dropbox-passwords-coming-soon-for-all-users
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/31/dropbox_layoffs/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/02/dropbox_sign_attack/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/15/dropbox_ai_training/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/23/dropbox_shrinks_hq/
[14] https://x.com/KatieMcElhoney/status/1950377812692812086
[15] https://x.com/DropboxSupport/status/1950555561554002209
[16] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aIqV6RQsUo37S8glt1tZbQAAAMU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2020/06/16/dropbox_password_manager/
[18] https://blog.dropbox.com/topics/company/an-update-from-drew
[19] https://dropbox.gcs-web.com/static-files/56b0e215-b402-409e-8acf-25eb02c2e336
[20] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: KeePass
I'll add to your recommendation for KeePassXC: [1]https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/keepassxc-browser/
For mobile, there's [2]KeePassDX , which is compatible with KeePassXC.
The vault in which you store your credentials is just an encrypted file, so syncing it between devices is as simple as syncing any file.
[1] https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/keepassxc-browser/
[2] https://www.keepassdx.com/
$2 billion Revenue, a rough time indeed"
"Dropbox has been having a rough time of it lately. The company has subjected staff to several rounds of layoffs, and in October 2024, CEO Drew Houston stated: "We're making more significant cuts in areas where we're over-invested or underperforming."
In calendar 2024, DropBox reported revenue of $2.54 billion, up from $2.5 billion in the prior year. Net income dropped to $452.3 million from $453.6 million. ®"
The sarcasm which is entirely justified here does not quite cover the callousness and lack of attention paid to staff wellbeing or customer satisfaction. The company is making roghly the same as it always was but lets cut staff and drop services so we can grow a few percentage point and make more money for the c suite and share holders.
The advice of others to use Free Open Source Software FOSS solutions like KeePass seems apt as they are paying as much for devs as Dropbox is now and will likely have caused far less trauma.
Re: $2 billion Revenue, a rough time indeed"
I was thinking similar. It's this obsessive mindset that profits have to *improve* every quarter, as if that is ever going to be sustainable.
Re: $2 billion Revenue, a rough time indeed"
I imagine Drew is thinking he wants the whole 450M of profit. Fire everyone, then I can get my jet, yacht, ... and live like Bezos.
Or control your password data yourself
Use FOSS Password Safe (https://pwsafe.org/) and for portability, park the encrypted database file on the cloud of your choice. Versions of the app exist for phones as well. Add a YubiKey too to 2FA the database file (even to your phone).
Why are users surprised?
I'm sure deep down they knew that corporates don't give a toss about their users, and are only in it for the money.
Don't rely on tech for anything.
Re: Why are users surprised?
All companies are in it for the money. It's capitalism after all.
However, that doesn't mean you don't have to give a toss about your users, as happy users buy more stuff.
But you're right, it always surprises me that people think individually they're important to a company when they're not.
Bitwarden is free and perfectly usable.
And with Vaultwarden you get a very lightweight, fast, server backend you can run in the smallest containers.
Here's a great alternative
A password protected Excel spreadsheet (or a LibreOffice Calc .ODS file, if you prefer free software).
Re: Here's a great alternative
Try using that to fill a login form on your mobile phone... no thanks.
It's Bitwarden for me.
Re: Here's a great alternative
Isn't password-protected {Microsoft container} an oxymoron?
KeePass
See title. There are a range of compatible clients on PCs and phones so no one can stiff you. The data is on your machine, network shared file or your private cloud. You choose. I use the KeePassXC client on desktops which with CTRL-T on a password lookup gives you the 2FA verification you can just paste into the webpage login box. No separate Authy app require. All free as in beer and otherwise.
Password generator, auto-fill on mobile. Others may add their own favourite features.