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Members of shared links are being asked to sign up to Dropbox. Can't access the file.

Chirumby48

Has something changed in Dropbox in the past 5 or 6 months when it comes to sharing links to files? I regularly share files with a number of technically unsophisticated users. For them, I always use the "Anyone with the link can view" option. It was just what I needed. They would get an email with the link, click the link and listen to/watch the file.

Recently, using the same view link approach, when they click the link in their email they are presented with a screen to Sign Up or Log In. I've seen it and I noticed I can click the "X" in the upper right corner and it takes me right to the file. But several of my users have said they don't get that option.

Am I doing something wrong with the way I am sharing my files using the view link approach?

Jim

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Jay

Hi @Chirumby48, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

When previewing the shared links, are they viewing it from a desktop browser, or from a mobile device?

Can you try previewing the link while not logged into your Dropbox account, or from an incognito/private browsing window to test out your shared link?

Any further details you can provide would help me greatly!

Chirumby48

Hi Jay.

I suspect some are trying to view from a desktop browser and others from their mobile devices.

Testing at my house, if I click the link directly from an email message on my desktop computer that has Dropbox loaded on it, it goes directly into the file. Ditto if I do the same thing on an iPad with Dropbox loaded.

However, testing on another computer without Dropbox loaded, copying the link and viewing in an incognito/private window, I get the message about logging in or signing up in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. Of course, the file is also open, and easy to see since the log in/sign up message is relatively small on a desktop monitor. You can just play the file and the log in/sign up message goes away.

I suspect the real challenge is on phones. On two Android phones without Dropbox loaded, I get two different results. One phone, when clicking on the link in an Outlook email message gives me the same connection and message as on the incognito/private windows on the desktop noted above. The log in/sign up message is fairly large since the phone screen is so much smaller than the desktop, but the file is loaded and plays when you click start. The other phone, clicking on a link in Samsung's default Mail app takes me to a window asking if I want log in/sign up OR play in the app (not loaded) a in a browser. Clicking browser takes me to the file where I can click play.

Lots of variations it seems. I can see why it has gotten frustrating for my technologically unsophisticated viewers. I have been sending them these links for a little over a year. Initially, they clicked the link in the email, and it played. Now they've started complaining about Dropbox telling them to log in or sign up.

Jim

Jay

Could you try changing the shared links by adding raw=1 at the end of the link, by following these steps?

This will force the file to preview on the device, if that's what you're looking for. If you want the file to download automatically, use dl=1.

Chirumby48

Partial success, Jay. That works fine in the incognito/private browser windows. Goes right to the little widget to play the file, nothing else on the screen.

However, on the phones, clicking through from a link in an email, which pops a browser window, I still get the log in/sign up, etc. options noted previously.

Chirumby48

Jay… I went back and found a link from last December that worked without the login/sign up message displaying. [Removed as per Community Guidelines]

It seems the structure is pretty much the same format. I suspect Dropbox is now forcing that log in/sign up pop up on the links to get people to sign up.

Jay

Thanks for the update. We appreciate this feedback about the shared links, and we do take all comments into consideration to improve the site and services.

Chirumby48

I appreciate the effort, although it doesn't solve the confusion for some users.