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"View only" link says "Join Folder", "Copy to Dropbox", "Download". I don't want "Join Folder"

I create printables I share on Etsy, and because the files are so large, I send a dropbox folder link. It USED to be that the page the link went to would have the choices at top Copy to Dropbox and Download ONLY. Now every link has Join Folder, Copy to Dropbox, and Download. I keep getting email requests to join the folder, which is really annoying. I just want someone to be able to download the files, and that's it. I cannot figure out for the life of me how to make the Join Folder go away! I've tried everything I can think of and nothing changes. I'm going crazy.

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JasonSilverDBX

🗯 Important Update: Removal of the Join Folder Option from View-Only Shared Folder Links 🗯

We introduced the capability to join a folder directly from a view-only link to make collaboration even easier. While well meaning, we don’t always get it right. We've heard your concerns, and after careful consideration, we've decided to remove this feature. This change will be implemented within the next couple of days by mid March.

Going forward, recipients visiting a view-only folder link will no longer see the option to Join Folder. No action or setting modification is required on your part. This change affects both new and existing view-only folder links.

Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we encourage you to share any further thoughts or questions you might have.

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Fairsarae

If Dropbox’s intention was to send business to its competitors, they’re doing a stellar job.

takeiteasylab

@Hannah Is anything going to be done about this issue? Or, at least, are Dropbox going to acknowledge that it does not suit some use-cases and offer an alternative solution? The 'Join Folder' option is causing us endless frustration and it feels as though we are banging our heads against a brick wall trying to get any sort of resolution.

GilesR32

Hi @Hannah. My organization has used Dropbox for many years, as an internal file store, and also to share things out publicly to our customers. It's been great; we've had no issues.

But with this "Join Folder" change, my fellow teams admins and I are starting to get lots of notifications and emails about people "Requesting to Join." We don't care for them to Join the Folder. We want them to simply download the files we're providing to them and that's it. Often, these files aren't changing, so there's no reason for them "to see live changes and updates as they happen," as per the August Update.

One of my co-workers recently sent out a marketing email, with a link to a Dropbox folder to download some images. This went out to several hundred of our customers. And now us Dropbox Team Admins are getting a lot of these notifications of people wanting to "Join Folder" instead of downloading. Probably because they're not realizing what they're clicking. And that the "Join Folder" button is more prominent than the Download button.

We're getting enough email notifications that our spam filter is thinking these notifications are spam. I was looking through our quarantine today and saw several Dropbox notifications. That's not great for you guys. Or us; we may start missing important notifications because of this.

At the very least, is there a way for us turn off these notifications or cease the need to approve View Only joining? According to the August Update, "Join Folder" joins people to the folder as View Only members. OK, if they're View Only, then why do I have to approve it? Let them add it to their own Dropboxes without my approval. It's their Dropbox space they're eating up, not ours that we pay for.

I can understand approval if they had access to Edit the contents within the folder. We definitely don't want to give out Edit access to hundreds of people. But it's just View Only (since a View Only link was created and shared).

Further, it's not even a great approval system. I just created a test folder in my org's Dropbox, created a View Only link, opened it with my separate, personal Dropbox account, and then requested to join the folder with my personal account.

Then on my work Dropbox account, I got the notification. I thought it'd at least be one-click approval or something. Nope, it takes me to the standard share out screen, I have to edit the options to make it View Only, and then send the invitation back out, as if the request was never made in the first place. It's cumbersome.

I think there are lots of ways to improve this. Give us the option to allow downloads but disallow joins. Allow us to turn off admin notifications and/or auto-approve View Only join requests. And make the View Only join request process simpler.

Fairsarae

@takeiteasylab

Doubtful. They seem far more interested in driving customers to their competitors.

otterandmoth

As someone that is testing out Dropbox for use when sharing out digital products, I'm disappointed that this issue of "join folder" has been ongoing since October without any real follow up from support other than the "solution" which really isn't. I've followed the guides, I've adjusted and tweaked every possible share and manage setting and nothing changes.
Now I am only using the free version as I wanted to run through some test scenarios, so I thought maybe it was some of the limits the free account has in regards to setting changes, but it appears even those with paid accounts have this issue. Hopefully Dropbox will acknowledge the concern and work on a proper resolution soon.

Fairsarae

@otterandmoth I’m using Google Drive for sharing digital products now. It’s not integrated into my workflow like it was with Dropbox, but it’s a better option, now, in my opinion.

JasonSilverDBX

🗯 Important Update: Removal of the Join Folder Option from View-Only Shared Folder Links 🗯

Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we encourage you to share any further thoughts or questions you might have.

GilesR32

Hi Jason,

Thanks for letting us all know; this is great news! I appreciate you and the team willing to listen to customer feedback! 👍🏽

JasonSilverDBX

Absolutely @GilesR32! We employ a variety of methods to determine what is and isn't working for our users. These forums are a valuable source of direct and deep feedback on how you all are using Dropbox and absolutely impacts our product decisions. Please continue to stay engaged!

Mark

This is AMAZING news @JasonSilverDBX, thank you!!

Lets hope that it continues so that you guys do listen and learn from things! 🙂

janice259

Thank you for listening to our concerns!

kengw002

awesome to hear, this has been very annoying I have heaps of folders shared with random people asking to join my folders all the time. thanks for removing it soon, this will be great!

JasonSilverDBX

Update: Removal of 'Join Folder' Feature in Progress – Estimated Completion by Mid-March

I wanted to share an update regarding the removal of the 'Join Folder' option from View-Only Shared Folder Links. Initially, we anticipated this change would be quick. However, we now understand that a few weeks are needed to ensure a smooth rollout for all our users. We appreciate your patience during this process!

I'm aware of your eagerness to see this change implemented promptly. Please be assured that we are actively working on this, and we expect the update to be fully implemented by mid-March.

Note: I've updated my original post to ensure all community members have access to the most current information.

Kommandant86

I hope we get the "Copy into my dropbox" Button in the app back. I don't know how it called in the English app but in German it called "In die Dropbox kopieren". And that is my only wish.

JasonSilverDBX

@Kommandant86, wish granted 🙌. "Copy to Dropbox" option on will be back and replacing the Join button on iOS with this rollout. Android and Web already include the Copy to Dropbox along with the Join button.

jeremyspann

Hi Jason, do you have an update on when this feature will be removed? I am still constantly getting requests to join folders that I only want as view only. Thank you.

JasonSilverDBX

@jeremyspann the Join Folder option from View Folder Links was removed back on March 11th. Apologies for my lateness in updating this forum. Amending my earlier posts to reflect this update. If you are still getting join requests, is it possible you're sharing an Edit Link? That should be the only way now that you would be receiving such requests by sharing a link.

JasonSilverDBX

Update to the Update: 'Join Folder' Feature Removed as of March 11, 2024

The removal of the 'Join Folder' option from View-Only Shared Folder Links was successfully implemented on March 11th, 2024. As stated previously, this fix is effective for all newly created links as well as all existing links.

Thank you again to all of you in our community who shared your feedback and were patient as we responded to your needs. Ultimately, our teams are here to serve all of you, so please keep these lines of communication open. Your input does impact Dropbox!