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My client is asked to log-in to access my shared file

Hi There,

I'm trying to get files to a client urgently for a press deadline.

I shared a link to files—the usual way—and my client clicked the link from his email but he was asked to log-in. He said,

"other drop box things I get open – this requires I log in with a new password. No time."

Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks,

John

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Rich

@johniwhite wrote:
I suspect (hope) that this is just a temporary glitch on Dropbox though.

It's not a glitch. It's the way you're sharing the file.

If you use option 1, you're inviting someone to a file and a Dropbox account is required. It's an invitation to a specific individual, and to verify that they are who they're supposed to be, they have to sign in to an account using the same email that you used to send the invitation.

Option 2 creates a Share Link that anyone can use to access the file and a Dropbox account IS NOT required. Anyone that has the link can access the file. The ymay be prompted to create an account, but it's not necessary to access the file.

All comments

terskelton

I have the same issue. Dropbox says you can send links to folks without dropbox accounts (which I need to do). I was able to figure out (badly written instructions) how to get a link and email it but none of the folks can actually open the link, some are told they must sign in with a name and password (what name and password would dropbox be asking for?) or open a dropbox account and some were told the folder did not exist. I tried sending the links to another of my emails accounts and had the same issue.

Mark

As long as its a link and not a shared folder with any edit functionality (as you need an account to edit files) you can do so without an account. However, you MAY get popups asking you to join Dropbox.

Tell them to just tap X at the top right or click ESC to get rid of the dialogue box - they may need to resize screen / go to 100% if zoomed in

terskelton

Mark. You write "As long as its a link and not a shared folder with any edit functionality..." but I don't really understand that. I'd guess that dropbox wouldn't give me a link except to a file that coud be accessed by others? I don't know the differnece between a shared folder with edit functionality and any other kind??

Rich

Shared Folders require that each user accessing the folder have a Dropbox account. Likewise, if you invite a user to a file, that will require an account as well.

If you create a Share Link to a file, a Dropbox account will not be needed by the recipient, but they may be prompted to optionally join Dropbox and create an account. In such cases, they can simply close the modal that prompted them to join, and continue to the file.

johniwhite

Thanks for the replies.

I just had a go at sharing the file (not folder) with myself at another email address, and tried to access it with the emailed link in a browser that's signed out of Dropbox—in a web browser on a desktop PC.

Yes, I'm presented with a screen saying "Join Dropbox to view this file" (ridiculous) and asking me to either:

- Sign up with Google (why Google?)
OR
- Fill in a form to sign-up
OR
- Sign-in

(my client mustn't have noticed the 'Sign-in' links)

Anyway, those are my ONLY options. No option to skip this stuff. So, without an account, you cannot view a shared file.

This is ridulculous! I may have to sell my soul to Google and try their 'Drive' instead. Nearly everyone (more fool us) has a Google account.
John

johniwhite

Yep, Google make it easy. No need to sign-up or sign-in to view a shared file on Google Drive.

(Google B------s)

I suspect (hope) that this is just a temporary glitch on Dropbox though.
John

Rich

@johniwhite wrote:
I suspect (hope) that this is just a temporary glitch on Dropbox though.

It's not a glitch. It's the way you're sharing the file.

johniwhite

Thanks very much for your help Rich.

John

ArloCF

Saying it over and over doesn't make it true. No matter what you say, DropBox does suffer from a glitch in sharing. Without changing a single property of the file being shared, my students were suddenly told the link was to a file that had been deleted. I navigated to the folder, right clicked the file, got a new dropbox link, and pasted into the page. Now any time I click that file it says sign in required. There is no by passing it to get to the file either, it is simply prohibited from viewing until sign in. The really stupid part (and why this is clearly a glitch) is that every other file in the same dropbox account that is linked in the same way works fine. That is, NONE of them require any login. It is just this one file and it has nothing to do with me sharing a folder as you keep suggesting. I realize that may be many people's problem but you are not actually reading these replies if you keep posting the same bull**bleep** solution.

Derek W.5

This is not what I am seeing. Not sure how to attach a screenshot. Thanks.

Walter

Hey @Derek W.5, you should be able to add a screenshot through the camera icon (insert photos option) within your reply box.

While we're at it, could you confirm you're following these steps to share your files?

m-nakanishi

I informed a friend of a shared link to give him a large file, but when he clicked on the link, he was now asked to log in, which was not necessary before. Have the specifications changed?

Hannah

Hey @m-nakanishi, thanks for joining our Community!

Can you double-check the link settings, to make sure you've sent them a "can view" and not a "can edit" link instead?

Excalibur100

I created a picture folder. I have tried the following 2 ways to share the folder: (1) I clicked on the share icon that's on the same line as the folder I created, changed edit to view, added a list of recipients, added a message and sent it out; (2) I copied the view link, pasted it into an email message that I sent to the same list of recipients as in (1) above. When I check manage permissions, everyone except me is listed as view. Problem is that I've been told via multiple chat sessions that the recipients don't need to have a Dropbox account in order to view my folder's contents. Unfortunately, that not what my recipients are telling me. They are being asked to create a Dropbox account. People who try to view the folder that was shared via the share icon, are having an email sent to me asking me to approve their access. For those clicking on the link I copied and pasted into an email, they are being taken to a Dropbox login screen. Since I had already identified everyone as having "view only" permission on the folder, why aren't they being taken directly to the folder I've granted them permission to view?

Hannah

Hey @Excalibur100, thanks for reaching out to us today!

Sharing the folder in the first way, even though the permissions are set to "can view", would indeed require your recipients to login to Dropbox.

Sharing a link to the folder, though, with "can view" permissions, shouldn't require them to login.

It may prompt them to, but they should be able to skip/close the prompt.

Can you double-check to confirm that you followed these steps?

JasonSilverDBX

This is a great answer that @Rich has provided. I only want to add one important thing to the link sharing option mentioned. For the link to provide access all recipients without them having to log in, make sure the "Who Can Access" link setting is set to "Anyone with Link".

Exact format and options may vary slightly depending on the link type and if you're on a team or individual plan, but here is a picture for reference from a Pro account for a view only access file link.

If your link settings are correct and your recipients are still having to login to view, then please contact Dropbox support so they can walk through your exact issue with you in detail.