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Why do shared files count against my space usage?

Why are files shared with me counted against my space usage? Is this data counted twice? If someone who is sharing files with me is paying for this space, why should I have to pay as well just to access it? I am out of space, I have no intention of buying more space, and yet, when someone shares some files with me, I cannot access them and I am forced to buy space in order to access them. Why is this?

Thank you.

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Rich

@dualice wrote:
Why are files shared with me counted against my space usage?

Because the files exist in your account.

When you have access to a shared folder, you're not accessing someone else's folder. You're accessing your own COPY of the folder within your account, and you need to have enough space available to hold that folder.

https://help.dropbox.com/accounts-billing/space-storage/storage-space

If you just need to view or download files that someone else is sharing with you, ask them to send you a shared link instead. A shared link is a view-only method of sharing and you don't even need a Dropbox account to access it.

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Tom_Dia

Dropbox says I can't have access to a folder that was shared with me because I don't have enough space in my dropbox? What does the space in my drop box have to do with accessing someone else's folder?

Hi Tom

A shared folder takes up space from all accounts that are in that shared folder. To access files without consuming space on your account, please ask the sender to send a link to the shared folder instead (so you can download its contents). More info: https://www.dropbox.com/en/help/167

Rich

You're not accessing the data in someone else's folder. You've been invited to the folder, so the folder will be added to your account. That can only happen if you have enough space in your account.

https://www.dropbox.com/help/59

perko7

So that means that if i belong to a large organisation that uses Dropbox to store documents relevant to it's members, and then wants those members to have access to edit those documents (such as meeting minutes, agendas, calendar of events, rosters for volunteers etc), then each user would need to have a Dropbox account equivalent in size to that of the organisation, even though they are not using it for themselves, only for the running of the organisation. Sounds a bit unfair to me.

Mark

Yes it does Perko.

Remember that it is not just storage of files that costs - but also accessing them and bandwidth as a minimum. This is forgetting the staff to develop the software and systems to support people.

Rich

@dualice wrote:
Why are files shared with me counted against my space usage?

Because the files exist in your account.

https://help.dropbox.com/accounts-billing/space-storage/storage-space

dualice

That's completely ridiculous. That is just a way for DropBox to make money off of the same data/space. Sharing is sharing, copying is copying. If I share a file with someone on google drive, google doesn't make a copy of that file, it gives access to the file.

Mark

@dualice correct - to cover the increased costs associated with sharing. But, if Dropbox doesnt make money they go bankrupt and then there is no service to use. It doesnt have the backup of other income streams like Google does to make money to run things at a loss.

dualice

Hi Mark,

I appreciate your answer. However, I still think that is a bad implementation. Having to copy files that are really shared is, to me, not a great model. Linux filesystems have mastered the art in allowing other users viewing and editing access to files without copying those files. I can see the extra costs of the "shared" model DropBox has implemented but that can't scale - hence your statement of needing more money.

Thank you.

Nake

My client has a dropbox plus account and wants me to upload files to her folder. She has sent me a link to a shared folder

However, I only have a basic plan which caps me at 2GB for uploads.

I don't need to store the files, only she does

Is there a way for me to send her files from my basic plan, or do both parts need a dropbox plus account?

Rich

@Nake wrote:
Is there a way for me to send her files from my basic plan, or do both parts need a dropbox plus account?

If you've been given access to a shared folder, then you'll need to have enough space in your account to hold the entire folder, including what you add to it, because the folder will exist in your account. You're not uploading directly to your client. If you don't have enough space, you would need to upgrade.

The other option is to ask your client to send you a File Request instead. A File Request will allow you to upload files directly to her account. You don't even need an account of your own to do so.

Nake

Okey I understand, but can I send files exceeding the 2GB limit if I recieve a file request from a Dropbox plus member?

sukrith

Yup! You can upload a file that exceeds to 2GB since the recipient of the folder has more allocation.

becca4

I am trying to open a new file shared with me and Dropbox is telling me i am out of storage and need to upgrade. I am using the free basic plan and 0GB out of 2GB so this upgrade is unnecessary.

Maybe the file is more than 2GB but why would they prevent me from accessing it?

It is frustrating and I have had zero help from Support Chats.

Anyone have any ideas?

Rich

@becca4 wrote:
I am trying to open a new file shared with me and Dropbox is telling me i am out of storage and need to upgrade. ... Maybe the file is more than 2GB but why would they prevent me from accessing it?

When you're a member of a shared folder you have your own COPY of the share in your account, so you need to have enough space in your account to hold the entire folder.

https://help.dropbox.com/storage-space/storage-space

If you only need view/download access to the files in the share, ask the owner to send you a shared link instead.

brandonbrant

Dropbox is telling me my storage has reached capacity, but I only have 1 file and a shared folder (from a friend that has 5GB max). It says I need to update to be able to upload more. Do shared folders count against your 2 GBs of space?

mardigrascat

I keep getting a message that I don't have enough storage space, but it's because other people are giving me access to THEIR Dropbox files.

Rich

@mardigrascat wrote:
I keep getting a message that I don't have enough storage space, but it's because other people are giving me access to THEIR Dropbox files.

When you're a member of a shared folder you aren't getting access to data in someone else's account. You have your own COPY of the data in your account, so you need to have enough available space to hold that data.

https://help.dropbox.com/storage-space/storage-space

Rich

@brandonbrant wrote:
Do shared folders count against your 2 GBs of space?

Yes.

https://help.dropbox.com/storage-space/storage-space

brandonbrant

That sounds like dropbox is throttling my capacity based off of things I can't control. If a used folder gets 10 GBs of photos added to it, I need to be able to accommodate their data (i.e. spend more money just to be able to view them).

Thanks for the answer, I'm just going to cancel my account.

Rich

@brandonbrant wrote:
That sounds like dropbox is throttling my capacity based off of things I can't control.

You can certainly control it. You can easily remove the shared folder from your account. Also, if you only need view and/or download access to the files, ask the owner to send you a view-only shared link instead.

brandonbrant

But then when I needed the files I would have to request access to that shared folder again.

What I'm hearing is if I want to collaborate and edit files from someone's shared folder, I will have to pay extra. There's no way around that. It doesn't matter if it's a word doc that 100kb, if that shared folder has more than 2GB worth of files I will have to have premium. And no one at Dropbox thinks that's an issue?

Thanks again for your help. I just deleted the account. Take Care.

Anandarup

Hi. I have received edit request of a folder, which has 2000 GB space. But when I am trying to upload files, I can't upload files more than 2gb of space. I have a basic account. but the owner of the folder is a subscriber of a paid plan. What am I doing wrong?

Zein awada

Hello, so my manager at work subscribed to a certain plan on dropbox, after that he made shared folder with me(I don’t have subscription). He uploaded large files that exceeds my storage, but still didn’t understand why I’m not able to access the files(please note I download via the application on windows not the browser) so the question is should we both have subscription? Cause this doesn’t seem to be logic for me! Or is there a way where he the one who already have subscription can upload files on shared folders and I download those files normally on my PC
Thanks.

Rich

@Anandarup wrote:
I can't upload files more than 2gb of space. I have a basic account. but the owner of the folder is a subscriber of a paid plan. What am I doing wrong?

You're not doing anything wrong. Since you have your own COPY of the shared folder in your account, you need to have enough space in your account for anything stored in the folder. You're not uploading directly to someone else's folder.

https://help.dropbox.com/storage-space/storage-space

If you just need to be able to upload files to someone else and will have no need to access those files again, ask the other person to send you a file request instead.

Megan

Hey there, @Zein awada, happy Thursday!

I merged your post under this thread, since many others also had the same question.

Feel free to take a look at the existing info our superusers have shared, along with what has been suggested already, and let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!

sandragouveia

I was given edit permission by an employer to a Dropbox Folder but Dropbox requires me to add the shared folder to my Dropbox account. It's a large folder so I don't have enough space on my account.

Is this normal? I can't find any information connected to this on the website nor does my employer.

Thank you,

Sandra

Rich

@sandragouveia wrote:
I was given edit permission by an employer to a Dropbox Folder but Dropbox requires me to add the shared folder to my Dropbox account.

Yes, that's normal. When you're a member of a shared folder you get your own COPY of the folder in your own account, and that copy syncs back to all other members of the share. In order to add a shared folder to your account, you need to have enough space to hold the entire folder.

https://help.dropbox.com/storage-space/storage-space

sandragouveia

Thank you for your help! 🙏

Dragor699

As the title states. At work I share a folder with colleagues with a large collection of useful files.

However I have noticed if their drobox personal storage amount is full they are automatically deleting my files. Its happened a few times and I have only just realised. Even though I'm paying for the storage.

What gives?? Thanks