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What plan do I need to make sure my client can't download/share my shared link files?

Im new to this! How, and on what subscription levels, can you disable everything except viewing for all shared links? Is this possible? I want to share my files, but i don't want the client to be able to download them or share them on. Only view them.

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Jay

HI @JoRo2, to answer your question, you can disable downloads on shared links for Dropbox Professional, Essentials, Standard, Advanced, Business, Business Plus, and Enterprise plans.

The only way to 'disable sharing' in the way you're describing would be to share the file to that user directly. However, this would mean that they are able to download the file, since it isn't shared as a link.

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Mark

You can see all here: https://help.dropbox.com/share/set-link-permissions

What I would say, however, is careful as no system is infallible.

JoRo2

I already read this but it wasn't clear. It doesn't mention anything about disabling the ability to reshare for example? only downloads.
what do you mean its not infallible? does it tend to not work well in dropbox?

Mark

JoRo2 wrote:
It doesn't mention anything about disabling the ability to reshare for example

Ah, apologies, I thought you meant to disable download and then reshare that file.

It simply isnt possible - on any service if we are going to be honest. Its dead easy for a person to just share the link to others, or, even if it was password protected the link and password.

JoRo2 wrote:
what do you mean its not infallible? does it tend to not work well in dropbox?

It doesnt work on ANY service. Its dead easy to use screengrab tools etc. to take a copy of a file, or, there are some sites you can use to get around restrictions on website download blocks (genuinely not sure if they are available for here or not).

However, what I would say is if the work is confidential regardless of what/where you use becareful - if somebody wants to share it, they will.

JoRo2

actually that is what i meant. i want to know if in dropbox you can disable download ability and resharing ability. what i mean by that is are there features that allow you to disable both these obvious abilities. i am well aware that there are always ways around it, thats the case with any option, i get that, but i just want to know if you can disable the more obvious abilities, so that when a shared link comes up it only shows the view, and doesnt give actual options to either download or share it. and if so, which subscrition packages do i need to join to take advantage of these actual 2 features, so that when i share a file, it shows up as view only, without any other obvious abilities.

JoRo2

or is something like vimeo better value for these kinds of options

Mark

JoRo2 wrote:
i want to know if in dropbox you can disable download ability and resharing ability

Simply put, no.

You can disable download but cannot disable sharing of link or resharing if it was downloaded in some way.

The plans are the ones the help article talk about at the top: https://help.dropbox.com/share/set-link-permissions . So you need to be on at least Dropbox Professional or higher.

JoRo2

so you cant disable download and sharing. im not talking about the roundabout ways people can get around it, i am just talking about the facilities on dropbox, to be clear. you can't disable download and sharing. simpel as that. so download and sharing icons will always be available to anyone you share a link with? is that right?

Rich

JoRo2 wrote:
so you cant disable download and sharing. im not talking about the roundabout ways people can get around it, i am just talking about the facilities on dropbox, to be clear.

With a Professional, Essentials or Business plan you can set link permissions to disable the ability to download a file from a view-only shared link, but there's nothing at all that can prevent someone from giving that same link to someone else.

Mark

No.

You can disable download. But you cannot disable or limit what people do with that link. So if you sent a link to me there is nothing, at all, you could do to stop me sending it to Rich, as an example.

JoRo2

can you also disable visible share links as well as visible download links. that was my question.

Mark

JoRo2 wrote:
can you also disable visible share links as well as visible download links. that was my question.

No. The share button will still be visible, BUT, all it literally does is copy the link they've already used to the clipboard.

JoRo2

lol i get that. that is not what i am asking. i am simply asking about the features on dropbox!! Can you disable download and disable sharing - i.e. not offer these features right in front of people's faces to encourage them to do so!! if so, on which plan! It's really simple question, but people are obsessed with answering outside of what dropbox can do. I am only interested in what dropbox encourages people to do and if you can turn them off!

Mark

JoRo2 wrote:
I am only interested in what dropbox encourages people to do and if you can turn them off!

Ive answered it.

You cannot disable that option.

The button is still visible.

You cannot make it go away.

Jay

HI @JoRo2, to answer your question, you can disable downloads on shared links for Dropbox Professional, Essentials, Standard, Advanced, Business, Business Plus, and Enterprise plans.

JoRo2

Thank you! You kept talking about what others can do on the sly with links, which wasn't what I was asking. Thank you for now answering. That's all I wanted to know!

Roga41

Hi JoRo2,

Under the Professional Plan 3TB, there is a Password-protection feature and an option for you to be able to get notified if the client/recipient has already started viewing and downloading the files until it is completed. You can then change your password in that case to render the link unusable in case the recipient attempts to re-share the link.

Another way, which is I can recommend better is to subscribe to the Business Plans ( Standard or Advanced Plan ) that allows you to invite that client temporarily or as long as you are doing business with them to your account and instead of sharing the files through links, you can just create a folder and add them to join that folder. There is a folder restriction feature that allows you to choose " Only Team Members " or "Only invited to have access to this folder" can view/download the folder. If they attempt to share the folders to other users, it will tell the recipient of the re-shared folder that they don't have access to the shared folder.

Hope this helps.