I'd like to send a link to share a file with a customer without requiring them to login to Dropbox. Is that possible?
Yes, it is. Just send them a share link to the file. A share link provides view and download access without requiring a Dropbox account.
I sent a link but it is asking them to log into Dropbox. I believe it has to do with my folder arrangement. Do you need to invite each person to the folder?
Thank you!
No problem, @Keke3. Let us know if you have any other questions and, in the mean time, have a wonderful day ahead!
I am trying to figure this out as well. How does one send a link or share a folder with someone who does not have dropbox?
@Jtavernor wrote:When I have shared a folder, does my family member need to create a personal account with Dropbox in order to view my shared folder. Can someone explain to me how my family are able to view? Thanks for your help
If they only need to be able to view, you'll want to use a shared link with view-only access. If you actually invite them to a shared folder or send a shared link with edit access, they'll need their own Dropbox account with enough storage to hold the folder.
Hi @Jtavernor
Do they just need to view it? If so why not use a shared link? https://help.dropbox.com/share/create-and-share-link
@Jtavernor wrote:To use the link they would need the Dropbox app?
No, just a browser so they can access the Dropbox website. No account necessary when viewing or downloading from a shared link.
... can they just create a Dropbox account with the same email address that I used to share that folder?
No. Each account needs a unique email address. And please DO NOT share your Dropbox credentials with them as they would have access to your entire account, including the ability to take it over or delete it.
@Jtavernor wrote:So once they access the Dropbox website, what is the next step to access the link. It looks like they would need to create an account
They just need to click the shared link that you send to them. As long as you created it as a view-only link (and not one with edit access), they'll be able to access the folder without signing in.
I've tried to share a file with a person using the link (read only) option but it just doesn't seem to work. I feel so dumb as the instructions are very clear! Any thoughts? And also, if I share with a person and they don't have dropbox, do they have to get dropbox to be able to view the file? Thanks for any help.
Hey @fcaco, thanks for reaching out to us!
You can definitely share files with people who don't have a Dropbox account; through a 'view-only' shared link.
Can you let us know more about why it's not working for you?
Thanks, Hannah. My goal is to be able to give visual access only to some dropbox files occasionally. When I follow the instructions I copy the link to a dropbox file and I understand it then sits on my computer clipboard. From experimentation I learn I then have to leave dropbox and open my gmail account, address the email to my intended recipient, click the paste command in the message part of the email and voila the view-only access link is sent. So far okay, but then when the recipient receives the email the SENDER is listed as me, personally, not my non-profit group who has the dropbox account. To remedy this I went back to see if I could "share" the link directly from dropbox to my recipient without having to go into my personal email account. When I do that it does indeed share the link BUT it's requiring the recipient to have a dropbox account of their own to view it.
I would like to know if there is a way to send the link to a file from the dropdown box in dropbox so that I don't need to leave dropbox and go to my personal email to send it.
Hi @fcaco, currently, there isn't an option to send a shared link to a file or folder directly via the Dropbox site. It would need to be pasted into another document, email or message to be sent manually to another another.
What you created instead when sharing via the site is a shared file, which can only be accessed with a Dropbox account.
Dear community,
I want to share my photo folder with friends. Some have Dropbox, some don't. If they use the link they get the question "Get member of map" or "Look for example of this map". In the first option they get a copy in their Dropbox. That I don't want and also the friends don't want that, because it takes space of their Dropbox volume.
The second case is perfect. However is it possible that my friends immediately go to the example option without receiving the choice of the two options?
Kind regards, John
Hey @JohnDeLange, it sounds like you're sending your recipients a "can edit" link, instead of a "can view" one.
Make sure to use these steps and your recipients should be able to access the folder without being asked to join.
Hi Hannah,
thank you for your reaction. I had used a "can view" link. To be sure I tried it again. The effect for the recipient remains the same. He has to make a choice instead of viewing the photo overview immediately. Do you have any other option?Kind regards, John
Could you attach a screenshot, while hiding any names or emails, showing that they're seeing on their end when they open the shared link?
Hi Jay,
Below you will find the screenshot. This friend has an active Dropbox on his phone. I hope it helps, because it is in Dutch.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Hey @JohnDeLange - sorry to jump in, but could you clarify how exactly are they accessing your shared link?
Do they get the same prompt on other devices or if they copy and paste the link into a web browser?
Hi Walter,
Great that you join. I have sent the link via the mail. They just click on the link and go to a browser.
The screenshot is on a smartphone, there we have the "problem".
I have tried the same action on a laptop. There we don't have this effect and go immediately to the overview of photos within Dropbox.
Hi from me as well, John!
Just to make sure I’ve got this right, you’d like for the “Join folder” option to not show when your friends open the shared link, correct?
From what I can see on your screenshot, the folder in question seems to be a shared one (not a personal one).
Can you please create a view-only link for a personal folder instead, open an incognito window on your computer's web browser, and test it from there? Does the option still appear?
Hi Nancy,
Great that you also want to help me. Your conclusion is right. They should view the photos immediately.I have tried a personal folder. At least I hope that the folder is personal. How can I be sure?
However, my friend gets the same screen.
What happens if they click the lower option, beneath the button? Are they able to open the folder in the browser?
Hi Jay, than they can view my folder. However I want to skip this choice. It is not a big problem, but confusing for the viewers.
