Step-by-Step Guide: Building a Dropbox Clone with Adalo

This comprehensive tutorial will guide you through creating a fully functional file-sharing application using Adalo's no-code platform. While cloud storage apps typically require months of development and specialized programming knowledge, you'll learn how to build a working app with file upload, folder organization, sharing controls, and user permissions—all without writing a single line of code.

Custom-coded cloud storage apps often take months to deliver. With no-code platforms, many teams report shipping a functional prototype in weeks rather than months (if you quote specific timelines, attribute them explicitly to a named case study). This guide will help you build your own Dropbox-style app that works across web, iOS, and Android platforms.

Prerequisites and Initial Setup

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account and Choose Your Plan

1. Visit Adalo.com and sign up for a free account
2. Confirm your email address
3. Review the pricing plans:
   
   • Free tier: Perfect for building and testing (limited records—verify current limits on the pricing page; unlimited test apps)
   • Starter plan: For custom domain and publishing (verify current pricing/features on the pricing page)
   • Professional plan: For expanded storage and custom integrations (verify current pricing/features on the pricing page)
4. Start with the free tier to build and test your app

Step 2: Create Your File Storage App

1. Click "Create New App" from your dashboard
2. Name your app (e.g., "CloudVault" or "MyFileBox")
3. Choose "Mobile App" for cross-platform support
4. Browse the Adalo templates or select "Start from Scratch" if none fit your needs
5. Set your app theme:
   
   • Primary color: Blue or your brand color
   • Secondary color: Accent color for buttons
   • Font: Clean, readable typeface like Inter or Roboto

Step 3: Configure Your App Settings

1. Click the gear icon in the top right
2. Set your app icon (512x512 pixels recommended)
3. Configure app name and description
4. Choose supported platforms:
   
   • iOS (Apple Developer Program $99/year — official page)
   • Android (Google Play Developer one-time $25 — official page)
   • Web (included with Starter plan and above)

Building the Database Structure

The database is the foundation of your file storage app. Proper database design from the start prevents problems that are difficult to fix later.

Step 4: Enhance the Users Collection

1. Click the Database icon in the left sidebar
2. Select the default "Users" collection
3. Add these properties (click "+ Add Property" for each):
   
   • Full Name (Text)
   • Profile Picture (Image)
   • Storage Used (Number) - tracks total file size in MB
   • Storage Limit (Number) - default: 5000 (5GB in MB)
   • Account Type (Text) - Values: "Free", "Basic", "Premium"
   • Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • Last Login (Date & Time)

Step 5: Create the Files Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Files"
3. Add these critical properties:
   
   • File Name (Text)
   • File Type (Text) - e.g., "pdf", "jpg", "docx"
   • File Size (Number) - in kilobytes
   • File URL (File) - the actual uploaded file
   • Upload Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • Last Modified (Date & Time)
   • Is Favorite (True/False)
   • Thumbnail (Image) - for image files
   • Description (Text - Multiline)

Step 6: Create the Folders Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Folders"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Folder Name (Text)
   • Folder Color (Text) - for visual organization
   • Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • Is Starred (True/False)

Step 7: Create the Permissions Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Permissions"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Access Level (Text) - Values: "View Only", "Can Edit", "Can Manage"
   • Shared Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • Expiration Date (Date & Time) - optional
   • Share Link (Text) - for public sharing
   • Link Password (Text) - optional security

Step 8: Create the Activity Log Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Activity"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Action Type (Text) - Values: "Upload", "Download", "Share", "Delete", "Rename"
   • Action Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • IP Address (Text) - for security auditing
   • Device Type (Text) - "Web", "iOS", "Android"

Step 9: Set Up Database Relationships

This is where your database comes to life. Relational databases allow complex data connections without code.

1. In Users collection, add relationships:

• "My Files" → Many Files (relationship name: "Owner")
• "My Folders" → Many Folders (relationship name: "Folder Owner")
• "Shared With Me" → Many Permissions (relationship name: "Shared User")

2. In Files collection, add relationships:

• "Owner" → One User (reciprocal of "My Files")
• "Parent Folder" → One Folder (optional, for organization)
• "File Permissions" → Many Permissions
• "File Activity" → Many Activity records

3. In Folders collection, add relationships:

• "Folder Owner" → One User
• "Files in Folder" → Many Files (reciprocal of "Parent Folder")
• "Parent Folder" → One Folder (for nested folders)
• "Subfolder" → Many Folders (for folder hierarchy)

4. In Permissions collection, add relationships:

• "File" → One File
• "Shared User" → One User (person receiving access)
• "Shared By" → One User (person granting access)

5. In Activity collection, add relationships:

• "User" → One User (who performed the action)
• "File" → One File (file affected)

Creating User Authentication and Onboarding

Security is paramount for file storage apps. Implementing robust authentication from the start protects user data.

Step 10: Build the Welcome Screen

1. Rename the default screen to "Welcome"
2. Add your app logo (Image component)
3. Add headline text: "Your files, anywhere, anytime"
4. Add subheading: "Secure cloud storage made simple"
5. Add two buttons:
   
   • "Get Started" → Link to "Sign Up" screen
   • "I Have an Account" → Link to "Login" screen
6. Style with your brand colors

Step 11: Create the Sign Up Screen

1. Add new screen named "Sign Up"
2. Add Form component:
   
   • Connect to Users collection
   • Action: Sign Up
   • Required fields:
     
     • Email (with email validation)
     • Password (allow at least 8 characters; encourage longer passphrases—see NIST SP 800-63B guidance)
     • Confirm Password
     • Full Name
3. Add checkbox: "I agree to Terms and Privacy Policy"
4. Add Submit button: "Create Account"
5. Configure form actions on submit:
   
   • Set Account Type = "Free"
   • Set Storage Limit = 5000
   • Set Storage Used = 0
   • Navigate to "Home" screen

Step 12: Create the Login Screen

1. Add new screen "Login"
2. Add Form component:
   
   • Connect to Users collection
   • Action: Login
   • Fields: Email, Password
3. Add Button: "Login" with form submit action
4. Add text link: "Forgot Password?" → Link to password reset
5. Add text link: "Need an account? Sign Up"
6. Configure successful login action:
   
   • Update Last Login to Current Date & Time
   • Navigate to "Home" screen

Step 13: Implement Password Reset

1. Create "Forgot Password" screen
2. Add Form with Email field
3. Add Button: "Send Reset Link"
4. Use Adalo's built-in password reset action
5. Show confirmation: "Check your email for reset instructions"

Building the Main File Browser Interface

Step 14: Create the Home Screen

1. Add new screen "Home"
2. Add top navigation bar with:
   
   • App logo/name
   • Search icon → Link to "Search" screen
   • Profile icon → Link to "Profile" screen
3. Add storage usage indicator:
   
   • Progress Bar component
   • Current Value: Logged In User → Storage Used
   • Maximum Value: Logged In User → Storage Limit
   • Text below: "[Storage Used] MB of [Storage Limit] MB used"
4. Add quick action buttons:
   
   • "Upload File" → Link to "Upload" screen
   • "Create Folder" → Open "New Folder" modal

Step 15: Create the File List View

1. On Home screen, add List component
2. Connect to Files collection
3. Filter: Owner = Logged In User, Parent Folder is empty (root level)
4. Sort by: Upload Date (Newest First)
5. For each list item, display:
   
   • File icon (based on File Type)
   • File Name
   • File Size (format: convert KB to MB/GB)
   • Upload Date (formatted)
   • Three-dot menu icon → Link to "File Actions" modal
6. Make list item clickable → Navigate to "File Detail" screen

Step 16: Build the Folder List View

1. Below files list, add section header: "Folders"
2. Add List component
3. Connect to Folders collection
4. Filter: Folder Owner = Logged In User, Parent Folder is empty
5. Sort by: Created Date (Newest First)
6. For each folder item, display:
   
   • Folder icon (with Folder Color)
   • Folder Name
   • File count (count of Files in Folder)
   • Created Date
7. Make clickable → Navigate to "Folder Detail" screen

Step 17: Create Empty State for New Users

1. Add Conditional visibility to lists:
   
   • Show only if Files count > 0 or Folders count > 0
2. Add empty state container (visible when no files):
   
   • Illustration or icon
   • Text: "No files yet"
   • Text: "Upload your first file to get started"
   • Button: "Upload Now" → Link to "Upload" screen

Implementing File Upload Functionality

Step 18: Build the Upload Screen

1. Create new screen "Upload File"
2. Add Form connected to Files collection
3. Add File Picker component:
   
   • Allow multiple file types
   • Note: File size limits vary by plan—check current limits in Adalo documentation
   • Accepted types: images, documents, videos, audio
4. Add fields:
   
   • File Name (auto-populated, but editable)
   • Description (optional text area)
   • Folder selection dropdown (optional)
5. Add file preview section (for images)
6. Add upload feedback (spinner/“uploading” state)

A single Adalo project targets web, iOS, and Android, reducing duplicated effort versus maintaining separate codebases.

Step 19: Configure Upload Actions

1. On form submit, create these actions:
   
   • Create new File record
   • Set Owner = Logged In User
   • Set Upload Date = Current Date & Time
   • Calculate and set File Size from uploaded file
   • Update Logged In User → Storage Used (add file size)
2. Add conditional logic:
   
   • If Storage Used + File Size > Storage Limit
   • Show error: "Storage limit exceeded. Upgrade for more space"
   • Prevent upload
3. On successful upload:
   
   • Create Activity record (Action Type = "Upload")
   • Show success message
   • Navigate back to Home screen

Step 20: Add Bulk Upload Feature

1. Modify File Picker to allow multiple files
2. Create custom action to loop through selected files
3. For each file:
   
   • Create File record
   • Update total storage used
   • Create Activity log entry
4. Show progress: "Uploading X of Y files..."
5. Display summary on completion

Building Folder Organization

Step 21: Create New Folder Modal

1. Create modal screen "New Folder"
2. Add Form connected to Folders collection
3. Add fields:
   
   • Folder Name (required)
   • Folder Color (color picker or dropdown)
   • Parent Folder (dropdown of existing folders - optional)
4. Add Button: "Create Folder"
5. On submit:
   
   • Set Folder Owner = Logged In User
   • Set Created Date = Current Date & Time
   • Close modal
   • Refresh Home screen

Step 22: Build Folder Detail Screen

1. Create "Folder Detail" screen
2. Pass Current Folder as screen parameter
3. Add breadcrumb navigation:
   
   • Show folder hierarchy (Parent > Current)
   • Make each level clickable
4. Display folder information:
   
   • Folder Name (editable inline)
   • File count
   • Created Date
5. Add action buttons:
   
   • "Upload to This Folder" → Upload screen with folder pre-selected
   • "New Subfolder"
   • "Folder Settings" → Edit/delete options

Step 23: Display Folder Contents

1. Add List of files in current folder
2. Filter: Parent Folder = Current Folder
3. Use same file list layout from Home screen
4. Add sorting options:
   
   • Name (A-Z, Z-A)
   • Date (Newest, Oldest)
   • Size (Largest, Smallest)
   • Type (group by file type)
5. Add List of subfolders
6. Filter: Parent Folder = Current Folder

Step 24: Implement Move File Feature

1. Create "Move File" modal screen
2. Display folder hierarchy (tree view or breadcrumb list)
3. Add List of all user's folders
4. Allow folder selection
5. On confirm:
   
   • Update File → Parent Folder to selected folder
   • Create Activity log entry
   • Close modal
   • Show confirmation

Creating File Detail and Preview

Step 25: Build File Detail Screen

1. Create "File Detail" screen
2. Accept Current File as parameter
3. Add file header section:
   
   • Large file icon or thumbnail
   • File Name (editable inline)
   • File Type badge
   • File Size
   • Upload Date
   • Last Modified Date
4. Add description section:
   
   • Show File → Description
   • Button: "Edit Description"

Step 26: Add File Preview

1. For image files, add Image component:
   
   • Source: Current File → File URL
   • Full width, responsive height
   • Pinch to zoom (mobile)
2. For PDFs, add Web View component:
   
   • URL: Current File → File URL
   • Full screen option
3. For other files, show:
   
   • Large file type icon
   • Text: "Preview not available"
   • Button: "Download to View"

Step 27: Create File Actions Menu

1. Add action button strip with:
   
   • Download: Opens file URL in browser
   • Share: Opens "Share File" screen
   • Move: Opens "Move File" modal
   • Rename: Opens inline edit
   • Favorite: Toggles Is Favorite (shows star)
   • Delete: Opens confirmation dialog
2. Style as icon buttons with labels
3. Make actions conditional based on file type

Step 28: Implement Download Functionality

1. Add Button: "Download"
2. Configure click action:
   
   • Open URL: Current File → File URL
   • Force download (add download attribute)
3. Create Activity log:
   
   • Action Type = "Download"
   • Log user, file, and timestamp
4. Show download started notification

For production apps that need more capacity, consider integrating external storage via a backend like Xano. S3 pricing starts around $0.023/GB-month for Standard storage in us-east-1 and varies by region and storage class (see AWS S3 pricing).

Building the Sharing System

Follow security best practices: least-privilege access, expiring links, password-protected shares, and server-side signed URLs for downloads where appropriate.

Step 29: Create Share File Screen

1. Create "Share File" screen
2. Accept Current File as parameter
3. Add sharing options tabs:
   
   • "Share with Users"
   • "Create Link"
4. For user sharing section:
   
   • Text Input: Email address
   • Dropdown: Access Level (View Only, Can Edit, Can Manage)
   • Date Picker: Expiration Date (optional)
   • Button: "Send Invite"
5. For link sharing section:
   
   • Toggle: "Enable Public Link"
   • Generated link display (read-only text)
   • Toggle: "Password Protect"
   • Text Input: Link Password (if enabled)
   • Date Picker: Link Expiration
   • Button: "Copy Link"

Step 30: Configure Sharing Actions

1. When sharing with user:
   
   • Create Permission record
   • Set File = Current File
   • Set Shared User = searched user email
   • Set Shared By = Logged In User
   • Set Access Level from dropdown
   • Set Expiration Date if selected
   • Send notification to shared user
   • Create Activity log entry
2. When creating public link:
   
   • Generate unique Share Link (use auto-generated ID)
   • Update Permission record
   • If password enabled, set Link Password
   • Copy link to clipboard
   • Show success message

Step 31: Build Shared With Me View

1. Create "Shared" screen accessible from main navigation
2. Add List of files shared with logged in user
3. Filter: Permissions → Shared User = Logged In User
4. Display for each:
   
   • File icon and name
   • Owner name ("Shared by John Doe")
   • Access level badge
   • Shared Date
   • Expiration warning if < 7 days
5. Make clickable → File Detail screen
6. Respect access levels:
   
   • View Only: No edit/delete options
   • Can Edit: Show edit options
   • Can Manage: Full control

Step 32: Create Manage Permissions Screen

1. Add "Manage Permissions" option to File Detail
2. Create new screen showing all permissions
3. Add List of Current File → File Permissions
4. For each permission, display:
   
   • Shared User name/email
   • Access Level
   • Shared Date
   • Expiration Date
   • Button: "Revoke Access"
5. Allow editing access levels
6. Show public link status if enabled

Implementing Search and Filtering

Step 33: Build Search Screen

1. Create "Search" screen
2. Add Text Input with search icon:
   
   • Placeholder: "Search files and folders..."
   • Update on change
3. Add List of search results
4. Filter Files by:
   
   • File Name contains search term (case insensitive)
   • OR Description contains search term
   • AND Owner = Logged In User
5. Display results with same layout as Home screen
6. Add "No results" empty state
7. Show result count: "23 files found"

Step 34: Add Advanced Filters

1. Below search input, add filter chips:
   
   • File Type: All, Images, Documents, Videos, Audio
   • Date Range: Today, This Week, This Month, This Year
   • Size: < 1MB, 1-10MB, 10-100MB, > 100MB
   • Shared: My Files, Shared With Me, Shared By Me
2. Allow multiple filter combinations
3. Update list based on active filters
4. Add "Clear Filters" button

Step 35: Implement Sort Options

1. Add sort dropdown:
   
   • Name (A-Z)
   • Name (Z-A)
   • Date (Newest First)
   • Date (Oldest First)
   • Size (Largest First)
   • Size (Smallest First)
2. Update list sort based on selection
3. Save sort preference to user settings

Building the Profile and Settings

Step 36: Create Profile Screen

1. Create "Profile" screen
2. Display user information:
   
   • Profile Picture (editable)
   • Full Name (editable)
   • Email (display only)
   • Account Type badge
   • Member Since date
3. Add storage summary:
   
   • Large progress circle
   • Storage Used / Storage Limit
   • Breakdown by file type (pie chart or list)
4. Add quick stats:
   
   • Total Files
   • Total Folders
   • Files Shared

Step 37: Build Settings Screen

1. Add "Settings" option to Profile menu

2. Create sections:

Account Settings:

• Change Password
• Email Notifications toggle
• Two-Factor Authentication (if available)
• Language preference

Privacy Settings:

• Default sharing permissions
• Activity log visibility
• Download history

Storage Settings:

• Auto-upload options
• File compression settings
• Trash retention (days before permanent delete)

App Settings:

• Theme (Light/Dark mode)
• File preview settings
• Download location (mobile)

Step 38: Create Storage Management Screen

1. Add "Manage Storage" from Profile
2. Display storage breakdown:
   
   • Images: X MB
   • Documents: Y MB
   • Videos: Z MB
   • Other: W MB
3. Add List of largest files:
   
   • Sort by Size (Largest First)
   • Show file name, size, upload date
   • Quick delete option
4. Add storage upgrade CTA:
   
   • Current plan features
   • Available upgrade plans
   • Button: "Upgrade Storage"

Implementing File Deletion and Trash

Step 39: Create Delete Confirmation

1. When user clicks delete, show modal:
   
   • Text: "Delete [File Name]?"
   • Text: "Files in trash can be restored for 30 days"
   • Button: "Delete" (red/warning color)
   • Button: "Cancel"
2. On confirm:
   
   • Update File → set "Deleted" property to True
   • Set "Deleted Date" to Current Date & Time
   • Don't actually delete record yet
   • Update Storage Used (subtract file size)
   • Create Activity log
   • Show success message

Step 40: Build Trash Screen

1. Create "Trash" screen (accessible from main nav)
2. Add List of deleted files
3. Filter: Owner = Logged In User, Deleted = True
4. Display:
   
   • File Name
   • Original location (Parent Folder name)
   • Deleted Date
   • Days until permanent deletion (30 - days since deletion)
5. Add batch actions:
   
   • Select multiple files
   • Button: "Restore Selected"
   • Button: "Delete Permanently"

Step 41: Implement Auto-Delete Logic

1. Create scheduled action (if available) or manual cleanup
2. Filter files where:
   
   • Deleted = True
   • Deleted Date < 30 days ago
3. For each file:
   
   • Permanently delete File record
   • Delete associated Permissions
   • Delete associated Activity logs
4. This should run daily for production apps

Consider using Zapier integration for automated scheduled tasks like trash cleanup.

Adding Activity Tracking

Step 42: Create Activity Log Screen

1. Create "Activity" screen
2. Add List of Activity records
3. Filter: User = Logged In User OR File → Owner = Logged In User
4. Sort by: Action Date (Newest First)
5. Display for each activity:
   
   • User name and profile picture
   • Action icon (upload, download, share, etc.)
   • Action description: "[User] [Action] [File Name]"
   • Timestamp (formatted: "2 hours ago")
6. Add date grouping headers: "Today", "Yesterday", "This Week"

Step 43: Implement Activity Filtering

1. Add filter tabs:
   
   • All Activity
   • My Actions
   • Shared File Activity
   • Team Activity (if team features)
2. Add date range filter:
   
   • Last 24 Hours
   • Last 7 Days
   • Last 30 Days
   • Custom Range
3. Update list based on selected filters

Building Premium Features

Step 44: Create Upgrade Screen

1. Create "Upgrade" screen

2. Display pricing tiers (verify current pricing and features at adalo.com/pricing):

Free Plan:

• Limited storage
• Basic sharing
• 30-day trash retention
• Current plan (if applicable)

Starter Plan:

• Custom domain
• Web publishing
• (Verify current features)

Professional Plan:

• Expanded storage
• Advanced sharing options
• Custom integrations (verify availability)
• (Verify current features)

3. Add Button for each tier: "Choose Plan"

4. Highlight "Most Popular" tier

Many builders can learn the basics of no-code platforms within weeks; add premium features as you validate your business model.

Step 45: Implement Version History (Premium)

1. Add "Version History" option to File Detail (premium only)
2. Create Versions collection:
   
   • Version Number
   • File URL
   • Upload Date
   • File Size
   • Uploaded By
3. When file is updated:
   
   • Create new Version record
   • Link to parent File
   • Keep previous versions
4. Display version list with restore option

Step 46: Add Team/Collaboration Features (Premium)

1. Create Teams collection:
   
   • Team Name
   • Team Admin
   • Team Members (many users)
   • Shared Storage Quota
2. Add team creation flow
3. Enable team file sharing
4. Add team activity feed
5. Implement role-based permissions

Optimizing for Mobile Experience

Step 47: Configure Touch-Friendly Interfaces

1. Ensure all tap targets meet the Apple HIG minimum of 44×44 points (Apple HIG: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/)
2. Add swipe gestures:
   
   • Swipe right on file → Quick share
   • Swipe left on file → Quick delete
   • Pull down to refresh lists
3. Optimize image sizes for mobile
4. Enable pinch-to-zoom on previews
5. Use bottom navigation for main tabs (easier thumb reach)

Step 48: Implement Offline Indicators

1. Add network status check
2. Show offline banner when no connection
3. Queue uploads for when connection returns
4. Cache recently viewed files locally
5. Disable actions that require connection
6. Show sync status indicator

Step 49: Add Mobile-Specific Features

1. Camera upload:
   
   • Add "Take Photo" button
   • Direct upload from camera
   • Auto-create "Camera Uploads" folder
2. Document scanning:
   
   • Use phone camera as scanner
   • Auto-detect document edges
   • Save as PDF
3. Quick access shortcuts:
   
   • Recent files widget
   • Upload from share menu (iOS/Android)
   • Home Screen Quick Actions (Haptic Touch) (iOS)

Implementing Security Features

Modern file storage benefits from multiple layers: encryption in transit/at rest from your storage provider, secure authentication, least-privilege authorization, and audit logging.

Step 50: Add Two-Factor Authentication

1. Create 2FA setup screen in Settings
2. Options:
   
   • SMS verification
   • Email verification
   • Authenticator app (if available)
3. Require 2FA for sensitive actions:
   
   • Changing password
   • Updating email
   • Deleting many files
   • Sharing with new users

Step 51: Implement Session Management

1. Set session timeout (e.g., 30 minutes of inactivity)
2. Add "Remember This Device" option
3. Show active sessions list in Settings
4. Allow remote logout from other devices
5. Force logout on password change
6. Track failed login attempts (limit to 3–5)

Step 52: Add Encryption Indicators

1. Show indicators on File Detail:
   
   • “Encrypted at rest” / “Secure transfer”
2. Link to your storage provider’s security page for technical details (e.g., AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage)
3. Provide a “Learn about security” link to your help docs

Step 53: Create Privacy Policy and Terms

1. Write clear privacy policy covering:
   
   • Data collection practices
   • File access policies
   • Third-party sharing
   • User rights (access, deletion, portability)
   • Compliance considerations (e.g., GDPR/CCPA)
2. Add Terms of Service
3. Require acceptance on sign-up
4. Make accessible from Settings
5. Version and track acceptance

Testing Your File Storage App

Step 54: Create Test Data

1. Create 5–10 test user accounts with different account types
2. Upload sample files:
   
   • Various file types (images, PDFs, documents, videos)
   • Different sizes (small, medium, large)
   • Test with 50+ files per account
3. Create nested folder structures (3–4 levels deep)
4. Set up sharing scenarios:
   
   • Files shared between users
   • Public links
   • Expired permissions
5. Add files to trash

Step 55: Test Core Workflows

Test each critical user journey:

1. New User Onboarding:

• Sign up process
• First file upload
• Folder creation
• First share action

2. File Management:

• Upload various file types
• Create and navigate folders
• Move files between folders
• Rename files and folders
• Delete and restore from trash

3. Sharing Workflows:

• Share file with another user
• Create public link
• Access shared file (as recipient)
• Modify permissions
• Revoke access

4. Search and Organization:

• Search by filename
• Filter by file type
• Sort by different criteria
• Favorite files
• Recent files view

5. Storage Management:

• Monitor storage usage
• Hit storage limit
• Delete files to free space
• View activity log

Step 56: Test on Multiple Devices

1. Web Browser Testing:
   
   • Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge
   • Desktop and tablet sizes
   • Responsive breakpoints
2. iOS Testing:
   
   • Download Adalo previewer app
   • Test on different iPhone models
   • Test iPad interface
   • Check for iOS-specific issues
3. Android Testing:
   
   • Test on various Android devices
   • Check different screen sizes
   • Verify Android-specific features

Step 57: Performance Testing

1. Upload large files (test max size limits)
2. Test with 100+ files in single folder
3. Check list scrolling performance
4. Measure search speed with many files
5. Test multiple simultaneous uploads
6. Verify storage calculations are accurate
7. Check for memory issues (preview many images)

Step 58: Security Testing

1. Test authentication:
   
   • Try logging in with wrong password
   • Test password reset flow
   • Verify session timeout works
2. Test permissions:
   
   • Try accessing files without permission
   • Verify access level restrictions work
   • Test expired share links
3. Test data validation:
   
   • Try uploading restricted file types
   • Test file size limits
   • Verify required fields enforced

Publishing Your File Storage App

Adalo provides managed hosting and native builds. For availability information, consult the provider’s status page and documentation.

Step 59: Prepare for Launch

1. Review all screen flows for completeness
2. Check all buttons and links work
3. Verify conditional logic functions correctly
4. Test all forms validate properly
5. Review database relationships are correct
6. Add placeholder text for all empty states
7. Ensure error messages are helpful
8. Add loading indicators where needed

Step 60: Set Up Production Integrations

1. File Storage:
   
   • Configure production cloud storage (AWS S3, Google Cloud)
   • Set up CDN for faster file delivery
   • Establish backup procedures
2. Email Service:
   
   • Configure transactional email (SendGrid, Mailgun)
   • Set up email templates for notifications
   • Test password reset emails
3. Analytics:
   
   • Add Google Analytics or similar
   • Configure event tracking
   • Set up conversion funnels

Step 61: Configure Custom Domain (Web)

1. Purchase domain name (e.g., .app or .io)
2. In Adalo project settings:
   
   • Click "Publishing"
   • Select "Custom Domain"
   • Enter your domain
3. Update DNS records at your registrar:
   
   • Add CNAME record pointing to Adalo
   • Wait for DNS propagation (can take up to 48 hours)
4. Enable SSL certificate (automatic with Adalo)
5. Test web app at your custom domain

Learn more about publishing web apps.

Step 62: Submit to Apple App Store

1. Enroll in Apple Developer Program ($99/year — official)
2. Create App Store Connect account
3. In Adalo:
   
   • Go to Publishing → iOS
   • Fill in app information:
     
     • App name
     • Bundle identifier
     • Version number (e.g., 1.0.0)
     • App icon (1024×1024 px)
   • Click "Build App"
4. While the build is processing:
   
   • Create App Store listing
   • Add screenshots (requirements vary by device family — see App Store Connect Help: https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/)
   • Write app description
   • Select categories
   • Set pricing (e.g., Free)
   • Add privacy policy URL
5. Download the built .ipa from Adalo or connect directly to App Store Connect
6. Upload with Transporter or Xcode
7. Submit for review (review times vary; plan for a few days or more)

Step 63: Submit to Google Play Store

1. Create Google Play Developer account ($25 one-time — official)
2. In Adalo:
   
   • Go to Publishing → Android
   • Fill in app information
   • Set package name
   • Upload app icon
   • Click "Build App"
3. While the build processes:
   
   • Create Play Console listing
   • Add feature graphic and screenshots
   • Write store description
   • Choose categories
   • Complete content rating questionnaire
   • Set pricing and distribution
4. Download .aab from Adalo
5. Upload to Play Console
6. Complete store listing and submit (review times vary)

Step 64: Plan Your Launch

1. Create launch checklist:
   
   • All platforms ready
   • Help documentation published
   • Support email configured
   • Social media accounts set up
2. Prepare launch announcement:
   
   • Email to beta testers
   • Social media posts
   • Product Hunt submission (if applicable)
3. Set up user feedback channels:
   
   • In-app feedback form
   • Support email
   • Bug reporting process
4. Monitor post-launch:
   
   • Check analytics for errors
   • Respond to user feedback quickly
   • Track adoption metrics

Cost & Resources

• Adalo: see current plans/limits — https://www.adalo.com/pricing
• Apple Developer Program: $99/year — https://developer.apple.com/programs/
• Google Play Developer: $25 one-time — https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6112435
• Stripe fees (example, U.S. online cards): typically ~2.9% + $0.30 — https://stripe.com/pricing
• AWS S3 pricing (varies by region/class): commonly quoted $0.023/GB-month for Standard (us-east-1) — https://aws.amazon.com/s3/pricing/

Additional Resources

• Adalo Help Center — https://help.adalo.com/
• Adalo Marketplace — https://www.adalo.com/marketplace
• External Collections — https://help.adalo.com/integrations/external-collections-with-apis
• Custom Actions — https://help.adalo.com/integrations/custom-actions
• Optimize Performance — https://help.adalo.com/performance/optimize-app-performance
• Xano Integration — https://www.adalo.com/integrations/xano
• Airtable Integration — https://www.adalo.com/integrations/airtable
• Zapier — https://zapier.com/ · Make — https://www.make.com/
• AWS S3 — https://aws.amazon.com/s3/
• Google Cloud Storage — https://cloud.google.com/storage
• Apple Human Interface Guidelines (touch targets 44×44 pts) — https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/

‍Note: This Dropbox-style build is a prototype leveraging Adalo’s UI and database. For very large files, background/offline sync, server-side virus scanning, real-time co-editing, and enterprise-grade access controls, integrate external services (e.g., Xano, AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage) via External Collections / Custom Actions, and handle heavy processing server-side. Always performance-test on real devices and validate your data-privacy posture (e.g., GDPR/CCPA) before publishing.