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Direct download: Run DropFile Setup.exe and follow the on-screen prompts. The installer places DropFile in your AppData folder by default and optionally adds a desktop shortcut and Start menu entry. No administrator rights are required.

Microsoft Store: If you purchased through the Microsoft Store, DropFile installs automatically after purchase — no setup file needed. Find it in your Start menu or search for "DropFile" in the Store to open it.

After installation either way, DropFile launches and a small icon appears in your Windows system tray (the notification area at the far right of your taskbar).

The drop zone widget floats on your desktop and defaults to the bottom-right corner of your screen. A few things to check:

1. Look for the small coloured square icon in the Windows system tray (the notification area at the far right of the taskbar). Click or double-click it to bring the widget to the front.
2. If the tray icon isn't visible, click the ↑ (Show hidden icons) arrow in the taskbar — DropFile may be in the overflow area.
3. If you have multiple monitors, the widget may have appeared on a secondary display.
4. Try relaunching DropFile from the Start menu if the tray icon is missing entirely.

1. Drop — Drag any file from Windows Explorer and drop it onto the DropFile widget. Or press Ctrl + O to open a file picker.
2. Choose — The widget expands and shows every action available for your file type. Click the one you want.
3. Done — Your converted file is saved to the output folder. Use the Open File or Show in Folder buttons to access it, then press Escape to reset.

By default, converted files are saved in the same folder as the original source file, with a filename like original_dropfile.ext.

You can change this in Settings → Output. The three options are:

• Same folder as source file (default)
• Desktop
• Custom folder — choose any folder on your machine

You can also change the filename template (e.g. replace _dropfile with a date or action name) and control what happens when a file with the same name already exists.

No. All file conversion is performed 100% locally on your machine. Your files never leave your computer. An internet connection is only required in two cases:

• License activation — a one-time connection to validate your key. After that, DropFile works fully offline.
• Update checks — when you manually trigger "Check for Updates" from the tray menu. Automatic update downloads also require a connection.

Read the error message shown in the widget — it usually describes the problem directly. Common causes:

• The source file is open in another application (e.g. a PDF open in Adobe Reader). Close it and try again.
• The output folder no longer exists or you don't have write permission. Check Settings → Output.
• The file is corrupted or uses an unusual sub-format. Try a different conversion action.

For more detail, check the error log: right-click the DropFile tray icon → View Error Log…

Document conversion (DOCX, DOC, ODT, RTF → PDF, HTML, Markdown, plain text) is built into DropFile — no additional software installation is required.

If conversion actions aren't appearing for a document file, check the following:

• Confirm the file extension is supported: .docx, .doc, .odt, .rtf, or .txt.
• Make sure you're dropping a single document file, not a mix of different file types.
• If an error occurs during conversion, check the error log via the tray menu (View Error Log…) for details.

DropFile saves the widget's last idle position across restarts. If the position looks wrong, it may have been placed on a monitor that is no longer connected. To reset it:

1. Open the tray menu by clicking the tray icon.
2. Select Show DropFile — this forces the widget to appear in the center of your primary screen.
3. Drag it to where you'd like it. That position is remembered for next time.

Right-click the DropFile system tray icon and select View Error Log…. This opens the log file directly.

You can also navigate to it manually: press Win + R, type %AppData%\DropFile, and press Enter. The file is named dropfile-error.log.

The log contains internal error messages only — no file content, filenames, or personal data is ever written to it.

Direct download version: DropFile checks for updates automatically in the background. When a new version is available it downloads silently and prompts you to restart to apply it. To check manually: right-click the tray icon → Check for Updates…

Microsoft Store version: Updates are delivered automatically by the Microsoft Store. You can also open the Store app, go to Library → Get updates to trigger one immediately. The "Check for Updates" option does not appear in the tray menu for Store installs.

The direct download version includes a 14-day free trial with access to all features and up to 20 lifetime conversions. No credit card is required to try it.

A notice appears in the widget when fewer than 3 days or 5 conversions remain. Once both limits are reached, conversions are paused until you activate a license.

1. Open Settings from the tray menu (right-click the tray icon → Settings…).
2. Click the License tab on the left.
3. Enter your license key (format: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX).
4. Click Activate.

A single license covers up to 3 machines. To move your license:

1. On your old machine, open Settings → License tab.
2. Click Deactivate on this machine. This frees up one of your 3 seats.
3. Install DropFile on the new machine and activate with the same key.

If you can no longer access the old machine, email dropfile_support@vandien.io with your license key and we can reset a seat for you.

Common reasons activation may fail:

• No internet connection — a one-time connection is required. Check your network and try again.
• Key already used on 3 machines — you've reached the seat limit. Deactivate on another machine first, or contact us to reset a seat.
• Typo in the key — check the format (XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX). Keys are case-insensitive.
• Invalid key — ensure the key was purchased from an official channel.

If none of the above apply, email dropfile_support@vandien.io with your key and a description of the error.

No. The direct download version is a one-time purchase — no subscriptions, no renewals, no recurring charges. You pay once and own it.

If you purchased through the Microsoft Store, billing terms are determined by how the app is listed in the Store at the time of purchase.

No. When you purchase DropFile through the Microsoft Store, your entitlement is tied to your Microsoft account. There is no license key to enter and no activation step required — DropFile is fully unlocked as soon as it installs.

You won't see a License tab in Settings. That section only appears in the direct download version.

Sign in to the Microsoft Store on the other machine with the same Microsoft account you used to purchase DropFile. Search for DropFile in the Store and click Install — it will install at no extra charge since you already own it.

Microsoft manages how many devices your account can install apps on according to their standard Store policies.

The Microsoft Store delivers updates automatically. You can also trigger one manually by opening the Store app → Library → Get updates.

The "Check for Updates" option in the DropFile tray menu is not present in the Store version — all updates go through the Store.

Refunds for Microsoft Store purchases are handled by Microsoft directly. Visit Microsoft's refund request page to submit a request.

If you're having a problem with DropFile itself that we can resolve, please email us first at dropfile_support@vandien.io — we'd rather fix the issue than lose you as a customer.

Never. All file processing happens locally on your machine. No file content, filename, or conversion result is ever transmitted to any server under any circumstance. This is a core design principle, not a setting you need to configure.

DropFile was built by a cybersecurity consulting firm. We understand exactly what "your files leave your machine" means — and we built the product specifically so that it never happens.

Very little, and all of it is optional or minimal:

• License activation — your license key is sent to the licensing server once to validate it. No file data is involved.
• Anonymous usage analytics (opt-in only) — if enabled in Settings → General, DropFile sends anonymous counts of which conversion types you use. No file names, file content, or personal information is included. This is disabled by default.
• Error logs — stored locally on your machine only, never transmitted.
• Recent conversion history — stored locally in your AppData folder, never shared.

See the full Privacy Policy for complete details.