Can't Display Link/The Link does not exist

Hi @MotivatedMover, let's jump right into this!

Based on what you described, it seems you're sharing a shared link, not a shared folder, right?

Are they using the same link that you're using, and it's working for you but not them? If so, I'd try clearing the browser's cache/browsing history and trying again, or try another browser.

Also, are you the owner of the content? And have you either removed the link or deleted the file?

Keep me posted!

Thanks for your reply Megan!

I am sharing a shared folder not a link, I am the admin for the shared folder, the persons I am sharing the folder with have access to the folder, however when they open the folder the error message "Can't Display Link/The Link does not exist" comes up. Please advise what to do.

Nancy

Hey @MotivatedMover, hope it’s OK to jump in.

Do you mind sharing a screenshot of the error they see exactly on their end?

Have you shared any other folders with them, and if yes, do they see the same error when trying to access them?

Screenshot_20230928_143405_Message+.jpg

I ve shared other folders with no issue like the one I am having

Nancy

Can you please try to remove one of the users from the folder, as a test, and then share it again with them? Do they still see the same error now?

Do they see the same thing if they try to access the folder via a computer as well, and not their mobile device?

Good Evening, I tried this, one of the persons who got the error message tried it from their computer and they got the same error message. What next?

Please note this only started with the last 3 people I shared the folder with, also i noticed that even it shows shared on my end and theirs, the folder on their end has a partial different name then on my end, i dont know if this has anything to do with the issue.

Hi @MotivatedMover, I hope you're doing well!

Just to clarify, did you follow these steps to add the members to the folder, or these in order to create and share a link with them?

You mentioned a shared folder but the screenshot shows "can't display link" that's why I wanted to clarify.

Hi, I did all the steps that you said and I am sharing a folder not a link, I also said in one of my last messages that on my end and the persons end i shared it with, they have the folder but when they click on the folder it says the Can't Display Link/The Link does not exist

Maybe their is some weird technical issue within dropbox or something, can I get live support? can someone please call me and I can share my computer screen and they can try to figure it out because this has been 3 days already and you are asking me the same questions now, please have someone call me! Thanks

Jay

Hi @MotivatedMover, currently, we only provide incoming phone support for team admins of Dropbox Business subscriptions.

Your available support options based on your plan and account type, which you can see on this page.

Are they able to view the shared folder on this page on their account?

Hello,

I understand about the phone support option and I know what subscription I have, however like i said in my last email, we havent had much progress with this issue so there should be some exceptions and this is taking longer than it should and we are starting to go in circles, additionally only doing support through email can lead to miscommunications/misunderstandings which can make this process take longer/not get resolved, I would again respectfully ask for someone to call me so we can resolve this issue...To answer your question, no I can not view the link you sent...but if your asking if they can view the shared folder on this page on their account?... I am not sure what you mean, wouldn't they have to have this link sent to them to see if they can view it on their account? Please clarify what you mean...again this is why I am asking for phone support to avoid miscommunications/misunderstandings.

RyanDJ

After many years of happily using dropbox I am now unable to share any files. Receivers get the message: Can't display link. This link does not exist.

I've checked all of my files and they are ok. I still have at least 1/4 of my storage space available and I don't use it too often so certainly don't exceed the amount I can share. Any help appreciated - thanks.

Hi @MotivatedMover, I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about phone Support, since the plan of the account doesn't support it.

As for the folder, let's try one more thing: can you try to unshare the folder, and then share it again with them, just to check if they get the same error?

Nancy

Sorry to hear this, @RyanDJ.

If this is happening for your shared links, can you please delete one of them, and then re-create it? Are the recipients able to access your files now?

Also, if you try to share a folder with them instead, do they have any trouble accessing it?

Let me know, and we’ll take it from there.

JBND7

Hi, I’m having the exact same issue

Hi, I already tried this, one of the other Dropbox staff already asked me this, this is another reason why I should be contacted by phone, there has to be an exception to the rule for support in situations like this, please advise what to try next, thanks.

Hannah

Hey @MotivatedMover, regarding what Jay asked you before about accessing the folder from the "Shared" tab in the account; this is a page that is available to all Dropbox accounts.

So Jay was asking if the members of the folder can access the folder from that page. They can find it among the options on the left side of the Dropbox website here.

Can you have them try and let us know what they see?

As for you, @JBND7, are you having this issue yourself, or another member of the folder? Have you tried any of the steps in this thread, to see if they help?

I have the same problem too, with some folders only. I noticed this a few weeks ago.

I have the problem on folders that have been shared with many people in the past 10 years without any problem (frequently adding/removing people successfully).

After years of working fine, it became impossible to invite new people (on these specific folders, other folders still work fine with the same people).

It always happens like this: The invited person receive the invitation email with the link, but after clicking the link it shows "The link does not exist" error message. Removing the person from folder sharing and re-inviting always does the same thing. Once a folder has this bug, it never seems to work anymore.

I don't want to delete the folder and recreate it, I have like 50 people still sharing it. It would be a real pain to re-invite everyone (and hoping it works!).

Honestly, it's the first time I have any trouble with DropBox. But this bug is pretty annoying

(yes, it's clearly a bug on DropBox side, I'm 99.9% sure here)

Hey @Alain_Brassard, sorry to hear about that!

Interesting. Would you be able to send me a screenshot of the error, in order for me to also have a visual of that?

Does this happen with specific folders and files, or randomly?

Let me know more!

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2i09c5qit6xk2lvtfz8iw/395514832_1522029668334804_3937550537309832108_n.jpg?rlkey=7rm6ppaljfynl97dz98edk8m4&dl=0

Hi Megan,

It seems to happen systematically on some folders, while other folders work normally. Once a folder has the problem, it seems impossible to successfully share it with others.

You asked for screenshots, here we go. My devices are in French, sorry, but you'll understand I'm sure 🙂

1. The email invite was received: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/73ankd8t2bwfp9pxgv3rn/IMG_0006.PNG?rlkey=4hfhvr1nkgvucu7dgoz52w5fx&dl=0

2. I clicked the link on my iPad. It opened the DropBox application. In the middle of the screen, this error message appears: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dr4o65ehmkbpyh9b1kk0h/IMG_0007.PNG?rlkey=1gltqjkygl2z5xh903n6owfed&dl=0

Another example inviting another folder to a friend, which opened the link on her phone (Android I think):

Just like that... could it be related to French accents in the folder names?
(note that this used to work, I have more than 50 people sharing the folder I just tested above, but it the past months sharing started to show this sharing bug)

Thanks Megan!

Hey @Alain_Brassard, sorry to jump in here, but could you use the camera icon (insert photo option) within your reply's box instead of sending us shared links to your screenshots?

Also, have you tried renaming the folder to something else (without French accents) to see if that helps?

Hi Walter,

I just try to create 2 new folders, on without french accents, one with accents. I successfully shared both.

So the problem does not seem to be related to that after all.

It seems to be specific to some folders, but I still have no clue what's the cause.

Here are the attached screenshots "inline" in the chat. Sorry for the links (I thought that DropBox links would be fine for you 🤣).

And do your collaborators get this error when accessing the shared link to the folder from a mobile device or does this happen on a desktop too or when using a web browser?

Same error from a Web Browser (Chrome) on a PC (Windows 10).

But interestingly, this time, using Chrome instead of the mobile app, the folder was synchronized, despite the error message.

When using the app on a phone or an iPad nothing happens after the error message is displayed, nothing get synchronized.

That said... it looks like a trend, but I'm not 100% sure.
What's sure is that the error message is wrong, the link should be valid, the folder exists 🙂

Hannah

Hey @Alain_Brassard, another thing your new member can try, after you've invited them, they can login to their account on dropbox.com, go to the "shared" tab and add the folders from there.

I hope this helps as well.

Hi,
My friend was able to see the folder in the « shared » tab on DropBox web site!
Thanks!

So the bug seems mostly being an invalid « Add to DropBox » link in the invite email sent to invited users!

Thanks for keeping us in the loop @Alain_Brassard

We're glad to it's sorted now and also noted your feedback about this in our system.

Let us know if you have anything else to add or ask.

Hi again Walter,
Unfortunately the workaround you suggested does not seem to work.

As you suggested, I went in the iOS DropBox app and clicked on « shared » in the home tab.
The newly shared folder exists, but it still shows the same error message « This link does not exist ».

So back si square one 😞
Some folders just refuse to be shared with new members (while existing members can still access).

It really points to a bug in DropBox sharing invite links, on some specific folders.

One hint maybe: this seems to happens on very old folders that have been shared for more than 10 years. Not sure if it’s really related, just an unconfirmed observation.
Maybe some maintenance update/migration on DropBox servers went wrong on these folders.

Let me know if you have any workaround in mind or if your engineering team can find a fix.

Thanks!

Thanks for the additional information on this and sorry for the late response @Alain_Brassard

Could you clarify if the folders you're trying to share are part of your backups in Dropbox or if they're normally stored on your account by any chance?

Hi Walter,

I don't use Dropbox backups.

These are just plain standard folders that exit since at least 20 years and successfully shared with other people.

Inviting new members just stopped working recently (pas few months) with that "link does not exist" error, while it was previously working fine. Same folder. Same account. No change on my side.