> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.couchdrop.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.couchdrop.io/storage/file-browser.md).

# File Browser

Learn about how to use Couchdrop's file browser

## Overview

Couchdrop's File Browser gives you a single place to browse files and folders across your connected storage platforms.

Folders in the File Browser map to your storage connections, allowing you to view, upload, and download files without accessing each storage platform separately.

{% hint style="info" %}
Folders in the File Browser map directly to your storage integrations. For more information about how storage is presented in Couchdrop, see [Virtual Folders](/how-couchdrop-works.md). 
{% endhint %}

## Using the File Browser

When you [set up a storage connection](/storage/overview.md), you select the folder or storage location that Couchdrop will use as the root of that connection.

This location becomes the highest-level folder available through Couchdrop. Any parent folders above the configured root are not surfaced in the File Browser.

Because each storage connection appears as a folder, you can connect storage from multiple platforms and browse them through the same interface.

Users with access to the Couchdrop web portal can also interact with files stored in these connected locations, subject to their configured permissions.

{% hint style="info" %}
Folders used by configured file transfer features, such as Mailboxes or Shared Links, display an **In Use** icon beside the folder.
{% endhint %}

Couchdrop's File Browser is focused on file transfer and access rather than document collaboration. It does not provide live document editing or the collaboration features available in platforms such as Google Drive or Dropbox.

Instead, the File Browser gives you centralized visibility across connected storage while allowing access, security, and transfer controls to be applied at the folder level.

## Managing settings and permissions

You can configure permissions and security controls for individual folders in Couchdrop's virtual file system.

<table><thead><tr><th width="191.2734375">Setting</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Permissions</strong></td><td>Control user and group access to the folder using read and write permissions.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Notifications</strong></td><td>Send an email or webhook notification when an upload, download, or transfer failure involves the folder.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Encryption</strong></td><td>Automatically PGP encrypt files when they are uploaded and/or PGP decrypt files when they are downloaded from the folder.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Approval</strong></td><td>Require approval for file uploads or for creating Shared Links that point to the folder.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Transfer Shield</strong></td><td>Apply content classification and rules using <a href="/security-and-governance/transfer-shield-dlp.md">Transfer Shield</a>. </td></tr></tbody></table>

Folders with modified settings display an icon beside the folder name indicating that custom permissions, security, or other folder-level settings have been applied.