Child Item

Can I see if a connected device has viewed or downloaded a file?

Dropbox Plan
Plus
Are you a Team Member or Admin?
No
Do you have access to the email linked to the account?
Yes
Are there any devices connected to your Dropbox account?
Yes

Question or Issue
1) Can you see whether a linked device has viewed a file?

2) Does file activity show whether a file has been downloaded?

Context: After I separated from my ex-husband, I changed my Dropbox password and checked that folders were not shared with him. I did not realize that two of his devices were still linked, and that Dropbox (unlike every other app I have ever used) would not require devices to sign in with the new password.

He recently sent me texts showing that he had access to my files and had viewed some highly personal information and photos. I found the security tab that confirmed two devices were linked and he had accessed my Dropbox. I immediately deleted those devices from my account. However, now I am trying to confirm if he viewed or downloaded anything. Because the devices were linked, Dropbox sees them as "me" so doesn't show another person viewing them.

Your help would be greatly appreciated. Feeling pretty vulnerable right now.

Find more posts tagged with

Security

Account Access

Disagree

Comments

Dell_Dropbox

Welcome to the community @SMurl! I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this tough situation.

To set expectations: Dropbox can’t show a per-device log of which files were opened when someone was signed into the same account on a linked device. File Activity also doesn’t record “downloaded” events, unfortunately.

For extra security you may also want to consider two factor authentication.

SMurl

Thank you - I set up two-factor authentication last night but too late. Is there a way to contact a Dropbox admin to request download information that is hidden from an ordinary user?

Rich

SMurl wrote:
Is there a way to contact a Dropbox admin to request download information that is hidden from an ordinary user?

Such information isn't available. Unfortunately, there's no way to know if he accessed any files in your account.

For future reference, a password is only used to link a device to your account once. After that link is established, Dropbox uses a secure token to maintain the connection, and that token persists even if you change your password. To revoke access for a device, it needs to be deleted from the account through your Security page, as you found out.