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How to share a Dropbox File or Folder with a Short URL

I would like to make some files stored in my Dropbox, downloadable from a web page. For this reason, I would like to be able to create Short URL's for each file. I have read the following tutorial but it seems to be old: http://www.ampercent.com/link-to-dropbox-files-folders-short-url/6215/

Could you advise me please?

Thanks.

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Accepted answers

Hi Susan

What you could do is hit 'share' on your desired folder/files and then copy the long link into a URL shortener (any 3rd party shortener you currently use like http://bit.ly or http://tinyurl.com).

Hope it helps!

All comments

Hi Susan

What you could do is hit 'share' on your desired folder/files and then copy the long link into a URL shortener (any 3rd party shortener you currently use like http://bit.ly or http://tinyurl.com).

Hope it helps!

Jason W.23

With the file selected in the Web UI, select the 'Copy public link' option..you'll then see the 'Short URL' link in the popup window.

This seems to only be available for files.

Victor V.14

I wouldn't think it twice to upgrade my account to "Pro" if they offered with it official Dropbox shortened URL's. (Just saying )

Hasnain S.

It's quite frustrating that they removed the short links. It was so helpful. Links are shared over text, IM, etc. We cant always hyperlink something or just paste long links everywhere. You can use the bitly browser extension (bitly.com/a/tools) to get around this. The lack of this feature is just not ok for a company as mature as Dropbox.

NK S.

Agree, there should be a way to get a short URL right here on Dropbox.

Biz B.

The short URL feature is working for me (a free user) today. Thanks, Dropbox!

James C.48

Many people like myself use DropBox for secure storage within their business and have sensitivities around a third-party hosting their URL, as they have traditionally been a vector for leaks. For DropBox to have their own URL shortener just makes sense.

Gordon K.2

There is a short link when i use dropbox on my cellphone and select share with textmail... It goes like https://db.tt/... Then copy and paste... But that's an annoying workaround!

Jen1

A workaround I use is to share the folder with a password and expiration date on the link, then use bit.ly to shorten the enormously long link. I have Dropbox for Business. Not sure if passwords work anywhere else.

Dear Dropbox: You clearly already have a shortened link process somewhere in your vast resources (we can do it on the phone). Can you please roll it out to dropbox at the computer?

Adam S.40

Neel M.

why did dropbox remove the url shortening? Very frustrating. However the previously shortened urls that I created earlier for my public files still work. Thank god for that.

Mark (.

It is still there. At least I got it just 2 minutes ago. If you click on the "Share" button, you don't get it. But right click on the file itself, select "Copy Public Link" and the ensuing dialog has a "Shorten Link" option above the right side of the text box. Works for individual files, not for folders.

George Leonardo

It's so annoying

The enormous url makes no sense! I have no option when using the Finder shortcut, just the big/ugly url. The short URL should be a default.

Rich

The shortened URLs were removed because many thought they looked suspicious/spammy. Apparently Dropbox received complaints (that's the information that was provided on the old forums). One of the only locations where they still existed was when sharing a link to Twitter. You could go through the process of sharing to Twitter to get the shortened URL without actually submitting the Tweet. You could then copy/paste the shortened URL to wherever you needed it.

Since this was an option that existed and was removed, it's highly unlikely that it will return. You're just better off running the URLs through a link shortening service like bit.ly or goo.gl. You'll get the added benefit of some stat tracking at most third-party services as well, which Dropbox has never provided.

Jeff L.30

My resolution for short urls and how it came to be...I'm a Dropbox Pro user on Windows 10 with Snagit.

I constantly have to send support tix w/screenshots and explanations via regular email to website/CRM support teams in the car dealership industry because their support systems can't display inline images OR attachments coming from a regular Outlook email address. Their ticketing systems are beyond antiquated.

One day I saw the Snagit > Dropbox integration, set it up in under 30 seconds and the next time I took a screenshot (1), I highlighted the screenshot > clicked send to Dropbox (2) > within 3 seconds (3) Windows automatically puts the shortened into my clipboard (4) and I paste into email (5).

Much easier than a url shortener, Snagit does it for you.

Integration link: https://www.techsmith.com/snagit-outputs-windows.html

Example walkthrough

Short Url: https://db.tt/832VFYyg

>

Danny M.8

Any way to default to a short link, or maybe custom link?

M.I.N.E. P.

You can shorten your link within Dropbox. You can do this by following these steps:

(1) Select the file within your Dropbox folder by highlighting it (not clicking the link). Click an empty space anywhere after the name of your file.

(2) A new menu shown below will appear on top of the "list" of your Dropbox files

> (3) Click

(4) "Shorten Link" will be available on the popup box

Hope this helps! :-)

Rich

(3) Click "Copy public link..."
(4) "Shorten Link" will be available on the popup box

That's only available for files located in the Public folder, which is a deprecated feature. Accounts created after October 2012 no longer have a Public folder.

Rich

Any way to default to a short link, or maybe custom link?

No.

Joshua S.24

This really is insane they haven't fixed this yet.

It was a mistake to remove short URLs. Mistakes happen. Just put them back already.

Every time I share a link I think how I need to just ditch Dropbox already and move to one of (several) better solutions for this kind of thing... all because they won't just enable a feature they already built.

*facepalm*

Jonas L.4

Hey people, at least on the Mac there are some app which automatically shorten URL when they are copied! I'm using Short Menu, it's really helpful.

Raegan H.

I get the feeling that almost everyone here is referencing/talking bout Dropbox the web version. I use the downloaded version of Dropbox on my computer. It looks like a folder on your computer:

I share a ton of Dropbox files because I'm a recruiter and I always send a link to a candidate's resume to the client before the interview.

Current Steps I have to take are:

Find the file in one of the folders
Right click the file
From the short cut menu that comes up, select "Copy Dropbox Link" (see image below)
That copies the loooooong dropbox url name for the file into my computer memory
Open up bit.ly
Paste in the long url - bit.ly shortens it to something like raegan.cc/AcX5lp
I then select the "customize url" in bit.ly so it looks like raegan.cc/janesresumepdf (example)

___________________

Way too many steps.

___________________

FEATURE REQUEST TO DROPBOX ****************

To be able to shorten the long Dropbox URL right from the file while in my Dropbox folder on my computer.

IDEA: Dropbox, in addition to having the option, "Copy Dropbox Link" have and option called "Shorten Dropbox Link" -

_________________

Partner with bit.ly.

_________________

Here's why: For starters, it's the #1 URL shortener and it has a feature customers use where we can create our own bit.ly branded url domain.

I have a bit.ly branded shorten domain name in bitly.ly called raegan.cc so when I shorten a a URL to send out FROM bit.ly it goes out like this "raegan.cc/janesresumepdf" or "raegan.cc/Auxo3b", etc.

But when I want to shorten the url for a Dropbox file (which is about 7 to 10 times a day), It takes 4 or 5 steps do to this.

Dropbox, would you consider partnering with bit.ly or creating some way to shorten your urls directly from Dropbox on the downloaded version? It wouldn't look spammy when people like me use a branded shortened url.

Thoughts everyone?

Dropbox, partner with bit.ly! I bet they would love to talk about it!

Raegan

www.linkedin.com/in/raeganhill

www.raegnahill.net

Alex R.

Another vote for short urls. And if you do that, please also allow us to have a short url for the direct download version.

Question: How does SnagIt do it though? As Shown above by Jeff L, SnagIt gives you a http://db.tt/... link ... I just tried it too and it's true. If SnagIt can do it, so should we? Any clues?

Vape L.

@alex r thats a good question

Rich

They have been removing shortened links from Dropbox over the last couple of years. They very likely will not add a feature that they have spent the last two years removing.

The last (it seems) location that can create shortened links is within the v1 API (which is likely how SnagIt does it). The v1 API is deprecated and will be discontinued this year.

Shortened links are dead within Dropbox. Use a third-party service such as goo.gl or bit.ly to create them.

mariyaadems

You can use tinyurl or bit.ly to make your URL shorten

segushi

So ? Is there still someone in Dropobox trying to work on what we call CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE here ? Like assessing topics when hundreds if not thousands of users ask for a specific feature for example ?.... .. Ah, but focusing on the IPO is probably more important, is it guys ? :-)

thepilot63

GET THE SHORTEN URL LINK BACK! COME ON!