Sharing
Sharing with Dropbox
You can share anything you store in Dropbox—and decide whether you want people to be able to edit your stuff, or just view it.
Get more done every day with easy, secure sharing. Rather than send files back and forth as email attachments, share work instantly from your Dropbox account. Any file changes you make automatically update in real time with everyone who shares the file. Use Dropbox to simplify your workflow, from collaborating with colleagues to sharing with clients.
In this chapter, we’ll show you how to share content, invite a group to a shared folder or Dropbox Space, and request specific files from anyone, even if they don’t have a Dropbox account.
Share view-only
If you need someone to be able to see your files but not edit them, you can use Dropbox to share in two ways. You can invite people directly from a file, folder, or Dropbox Space, or create a unique link to send via email or your favorite messaging app.
When you invite someone directly with view-only permissions, the recipient will receive an email with a link to your content. They will have access to the file, folder, or Space in their own Dropbox account, but they can’t edit the content. For added security, you can change permissions or make the item private again.
When you share with a view-only link, recipients can see a preview of the file, folder, or Space on dropbox.com, and can view or download the content. They don’t need to have a Dropbox account to view and download, but they’ll need an account to see the overview and use the features of a Dropbox Space.
How to: Share a file, folder, or Dropbox Space with view-only permissions
Share with edit access
If you want others to be able to edit the content you share with them, you can invite them directly from a file, folder, or Dropbox Space.
- Recipients must be signed into a Dropbox account to access and edit your shared content.
- When folders and Spaces are shared, the recipients become its members.
- Changes to content inside a shared folder or Space are synced with its members.
- You can share with a group of people at once and decide if the whole group can edit your content.
Learn more about shared folders and Dropbox Spaces.
File requests
Use file requests to collect and receive files (up to 20 GB) from anyone, right in your Dropbox account. When someone clicks your file request link, all they have to do is choose files from their computer, enter their name and email, and click Upload. That’s it—there’s no need to sign in, so anyone can add files, even if they don’t have a Dropbox account. It’s an easy way to get files—like proposals from vendors—without having to walk people through the process.
All the files you collect are automatically organized into a single Dropbox folder or Space. Only you can view files uploaded by others, unless you decide to share them.
How to: create a file request
Sign in to dropbox.com.
Click Files.
Click File requests.
Click Create a new file request.
Under What are you requesting?, enter a name for the folder that will store all collected files.
Under Where should these files go in your Dropbox?, you’ll see the path to the new folder. If you’d like to change the folder’s location, click Change folder. You can also click Add a deadline to set a deadline for the file request. Or select Allow late uploads and choose a timeframe.
Click Next.
Copy the file-request link or send invitations directly from your Dropbox account:
- Click Copy link to copy the file-request link and send it to anyone you’d like to collect files from.
- Or, enter the email addresses of the people you’d like to request files from, and send directly from your Dropbox account. Click Done to send the email invitations and return to the File requests screen.
You’ll receive an email whenever people upload files to your file request.
Comment & collaborate
Collaborate with ease knowing important feedback isn’t buried in your inbox. Instead of sending comments back and forth over email, make suggestions right in the file you’re working on. Share feedback on text, images, and videos, or tag someone to let them know you’ve left comments. Depending on your permissions, you may even be able to edit text right inside the document.
