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Unable to attach as a file when sending emails

BusyNurse

I have been using Dropbox for several years now and up until last week I had 2 options when trying to send my files via email: attach as a file or upload a link. I no longer have the “attach a file” option. The people I work with do not use Dropbox and have no interest in the added steps to access the files I send. Please help me restore my ability to attach the file to my emails

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Accepted answers

Rich

I've just tested the issue you've described and this seems to be an issue with Outlook, not Dropbox, as Dropbox doesn't control that process. Microsoft created the process of attaching files from within Outlook. They simply use the Dropbox API to do it. In fact, Dropbox doesn't even need to be installed on the device.

You'll need to reach out to Microsoft for assistance with this.

All comments

Rich

What platform are you doing this on; computer, mobile, etc.? Please list the exact steps you're taking.

BusyNurse

I am using a mobile platform using all the same steps I have used forever.
I open my outlook, click to add an attachment, select the folder and then the file I am looking for...
The options have always been “attach as a file” or “attach a link”.
Now the only option is to attach a link

PDH

When I go to attach a PDF file to an outlook email through dropbox, I now only get the link option. I’m using an iPad Pro with 11.2.5 & I think this started after the update. Thanks

Rich

Lambi

I’ve the same problem - outlook update has got rid of the feature it’s now a pain in the backside.

Is there another away of attaching multiple files in outlook as files rather ban links?

Rich

You'll need to ask Microsoft as Outlook is their product. Dropbox has no control over that process.

Martyn

You can use alternative email apps to access your outlook email to attach file. For iPhone iOS11 using native Mail app:

1. Go to Mail

2. Hold your finger on the blank space of the mail until the pop-up appears

3. Choose "Add Attachment"

4. You will come to native Document app, click the "Locations" of the top left corner

5. It will show any cloud storage apps you have on your phone, choose "Dropbox"

6. Choose any files you would like to attach in there

Hurrah, you have succesfully attached a file in your email! Different email apps may have slightly different steps but the key steps are choosing "Locations" and then "Dropbox" for iPhone users after you try to add attachment.

I think Android phone should work the same. By using other email apps will bypass the inability of Outlook app to attach file from Dropbox or any other cloud storage sources. Hope this helps.

Moma

We need to know how to attach a dropbox file via Outlook mail.

Rich

@Moma wrote:
We need to know how to attach a dropbox file via Outlook mail.

If you're doing this from within the Outlook app, then you need to contact Microsoft as it's their app and they seem to have removed that ability.

If you're doing this from within Dropbox, tap the elipsis ( ... ) for the file and select Export. Then tap Open in and select Outlook. Outlook will open and start a new email with the file attached.

Lambi

Hi the problem with your method is it can only attach one file to an email. Is there a solution or workaround to attach multiple

Rich

No. You have never been able to export more than one file at a time using the Dropbox app. If Outlook previously allowed you to attach multiple files, then you need to talk to Microsoft.

Orchidtreelady

I would like to know if you find a solution to this. I’m having the same issue

mwaugh124

I had the strangest thing happen last week with attaching a file from Outlook on my iPhone. After attaching and sending the person had access to my entire folder instead of the one file I selected. I chatted with support who insisted I must have created a link to my folder in error. Was disappointed at their response so didn’t share for about a week hoping issue was one time. Tried again today and same thing happened. Noticed also the option of attaching the file instead of a link now gone.

Rich

A person can only have access to the specific item that was linked to. If they're seeing an entire folder, then the link was to the folder and not a file within it. Also, if you're testing the link yourself, YOU will see your entire folder because you're already logged in to Dropbox. A recipient of a link will not see that.

Microsoft seems to have changed the functionality within Outlook. The ability to attach a file directly no longer exists within Outlook. You can still attach a file to an email, but you need to initiate it from Dropbox by first opening the file, selecting the Export option and choosing Outlook. This will start a new email with the file as an attachment, not a link.

Ross_S

I've been looking into this over the last week, just came across this thread.

In short, @Rich is right. This is Microsoft functionality that we have no control over.

Paddy

Hi Rich,

if the problem is with outlook, how come i can still attach files from dropbox from my laptop. The issue only seems to be when i try and do it from my ipad. Which as luck would have it, is the main thing I use for work related emails..

Rich

@****** wrote:
if the problem is with outlook, how come i can still attach files from dropbox from my laptop. The issue only seems to be when i try and do it from my ipad.

The two are unrelated. The app on your iPad is not the same as the application on your laptop. They use different technologies and a different process for attaching files. Basically, they don't work the same way so you can't compare one to the other.

This is a Microsoft issue within their app that only they can resolve.

Vltripp7500

I have have the same issue. I have found that I can attach the file from another storage location, such as OneDrive, just not dropbox. I have been saving my files in OneDrive instead of Dropbox and everything has been working fine. It just seems to be a problem between outlook and dropbox. This is a pain because Dropbox is much easier to use than OneDrive for me.

Rich

@Vltripp7500 wrote:
It just seems to be a problem between outlook and dropbox.

It is not a problem between Outlook and Dropbox. The ability to attach a file from Dropbox no longer exists in Outlook.

Vltripp7500

I agree. My point is, other storage apps, such as OneDrive, still have both options (“attach file” or “insert link”). It is only Dropbox than no longer gives the “attach file” option. So my way around the issue has been to use OneDrive instead of Dropbox to store my documents on my IPad Pro. I have had no issues attaching a file to an outlook email from OneDrive.

Vltripp7500

Here are screenshots of when I try to attach a file from Dropbox and OneDrive. You’ll notice that OneDrive still allows you to attach the file. Dropbox just the link.

GTharp

I always send emails from my phone. I typed an email, clicked add attachment, chose Dropbox, found the file and chose attach file. A few weeks ago the attach file option was gone in Dropbox and it only had the option to attach link. Where to the attach file option go?

Rich

@Vltripp7500 wrote:
My point is, other storage apps, such as OneDrive, still have both options (“attach file” or “insert link”). It is only Dropbox than no longer gives the “attach file” option.

That doesn't matter. It is still a Microsoft issue. Dropbox has no control over the methods used to select files in other applications (those methods are different, by the way, for OneDrive).

There is nothing for Dropbox to fix because a) nothing is broken, and b) Microsoft developed the application. Only they can update their application to include this functionality. Dropbox has no control over it. You need to talk to Microsoft.

Rich

@GTharp wrote:
I always send emails from my phone. I typed an email, clicked add attachment, chose Dropbox, found the file and chose attach file. A few weeks ago the attach file option was gone in Dropbox and it only had the option to attach link. Where to the attach file option go?

I'm going to assume that you're using Outlook, and not Apple's Mail app. The ability to attach as a file and not a link no longer exists in Outlook.

I'm merging your post into another thread that discusses this. Please read the previous posts.

Vltripp7500

I’m not disagreeing that it is a Microsoft issue. I’m not saying that it is a Dropbox issue. I’m not even tech Savy enough to know the difference. I’m simply letting the group know that for those of you who, like me, are dependent upon being able to attach a document to an outlook email, I have found a work-around until somebody has a chance to fix it.

Orchidtreelady

Please report this issue through your Outlook app and suggest a feature to bring it back. within the outlook app go to settings> help & Feedback> suggest a feature and put a request to add back 'attach as a file' for dropbox integration. I don't think dropbox can do anything about it.

Natweb

I’m experiencing the same problem for a couple of weeks now when I send emails from my iPhone or my iPad using Outlook.
Previously when I wanted to attach a Dropbox file to an email I clicked on the “clip” icon, selected the file I wanted to share and once it opened on screen I had 2 choices at the bottom: one was to add the file as an attachment and the second choice was to include a link to the file. Now I don’t have a choice. In other words, I can only include the link, which for some people is not so practical. Especially elderly clients who don’t trust links even if they see they are coming from a well known source. I’d love to have the choice between attachment and link again, please!
Ps: The problem only occurs when I use Outlook. If I send emails from Mail the files can be attached without any problems.

Rich

@Natweb

I've moved your message into another thread that discusses this issue. Please read the posts above. The short version is that this is a change that Microsoft has made and only they can resolve it. You'll need to contact them.

Natweb

Thank you!

LHnTX

I use dropbox for all of my client files and I attach these file to client emails a LOT almost every day, and this issue has never occured until today - April 22, 2018. I also had issue with dropbox yesterday where I noticed that PDF files that I was saving on my PC to my dropbox files were not showing up on dropbox.com, so this makes me wonder if the issue is something else.