How to share in Dropbox

Updated Mar 19, 2026

When you share a file or folder in Dropbox, the person you share it with will receive an email with a link to access it. To view or edit the shared content, the person must have a Dropbox account and be logged in. If they don’t have an account or prefer not to log in, you can share a view-only link instead.

Learn how to manage your default sharing settings.

Not using Dropbox yet? See how Dropbox helps you easily share folders.

How to share Dropbox files or folders with specific people

Follow the steps below to learn how to send and share files through Dropbox:

Log in to dropbox.com.
Hover over the file or folder you’d like to share and click Share.
- Note: You can view pages in a document, scrub through a video, or flip through the contents of a folder without opening it. To do so, make sure you’re using grid layout, then move your cursor horizontally across the file or folder.
Click Add people.
Type the Email, name, or group of the person (or people) you’d like to share it with, then select them from the results.
- Note: You can invite as many people as you’d like.
Select can edit or can view.
Add a message if you’d like.
Click Share.

The person or group will receive an email with a link to the file or folder.

Open the Dropbox folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
Right-click the file or folder you’d like to share.
Click Share… next to the Dropbox icon.
Click Add people.
Type the Email, name, or group of the person (or people) you’d like to share it with, then select them from the results.
- Note: You can invite as many people as you’d like.
Select can edit or can view.
Add a note if you’d like.
Click Share.

The person or group will receive an email with a link to the file or folder.

Open the Dropbox mobile app.
Tap a (more options) on Android or a (more options) on iOS next to the file or folder you’d like to share.
Tap Share.
Tap Search.
Tap under Send to and type the Email, name, or group of the person (or people) you’d like to share the file or folder with.
Tap to select them from the results.
- Note: You can invite as many people as you’d like.
Tap to select Can edit (view, comment, and edit) or Can view (view and comment but not edit).
- Tap Close on iOS.
Tap Optional message on Android or Message (optional) on iOS to add a message, if required.
Tap Share.

Notes:

If you’re on a Dropbox team account and share a folder with your teammates, they'll automatically join the shared folder.
If you share a folder with an individual Dropbox user, the user needs to join the folder.
Link settings, including passwords and other restrictions, apply only to people who access a file or folder through the shared link. Anyone added directly, or who already has access, keeps their existing permissions and isn’t affected by link settings.
Anyone invited to collaborate in a file or folder can share it with others.
- If you’re an admin on a Dropbox team, you can control the access settings for folders. Learn how to manage shared link settings for your team.
- If you’re a member of a Dropbox team account, you can still choose who you want to share the link with, even if the team admin changes default link sharing settings.

How to share a link to a Dropbox file or folder

When you share a link, you can grant recipients either edit or view-only access. You can also customize and manage their permissions in your default sharing settings for greater control.

Not using Dropbox yet? See how Dropbox helps you easily share folders.

How to share a Dropbox link

Log in to dropbox.com.
Hover over the file or folder you’d like to share and click Share.
- Note: You can preview files without opening them. Switch to grid layout, then move your cursor across the item to flip through pages, scrub through a video, or browse folder contents.
Click Copy link.
Click Manage.
- Select Link for editing for a link with edit access.
- Select Link for viewing for a link with view-only access.
Click Copy link.

The link is now copied to your clipboard. You can paste it into an email, message, or wherever people can access it.

Notes:

If the link recipient is part of a Dropbox team, their ability to edit content depends on their team’s permissions.
If someone receives a shared link or shared file with view-only permissions, they won't be able to edit the original file.
Link settings, including passwords and other restrictions, apply only to people who access a file or folder through the shared link. Anyone added directly, or who already has access, keeps their existing permissions and isn’t affected by link settings.

How to create a view-only QR code to a Dropbox file or folder

You can generate a view-only QR code to any file or folder in your Dropbox account and share it with others. To do so, follow these steps:

Log in to dropbox.com.
Hover over the file or folder you’d like to share and click Share.
Click the Create a view-only QR code button in the bottom right corner.
A QR code will be generated automatically for you.
Click Download to save the QR code as a .png file.

Share the image with others so they can scan it to access a view-only version of your Dropbox file or folder.

Note: You can scan the QR code using a QR scanner application on your mobile device or a camera application on your computer.

How to share a Dropbox link with view-only access

You can share files and folders in Dropbox by creating a view-only link. Anyone with the link can preview the content without editing it. If a link doesn’t already exist, it will be created.

Log in to dropbox.com.
Hover over the file or folder you’d like to share and click Share.
- Note: You can preview files without opening them. Switch to grid layout, then move your cursor across the item to flip through pages, scrub through a video, or browse folder contents.
Click Copy link.
Click Manage.
Select Link for viewing.
Click Copy link.

The link is now copied to your clipboard. You can paste it into an email, message, or wherever people can access it.

Open the Dropbox folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
Right-click or command-click the file or folder you’d like to share.
Click Share… next to the Dropbox icon.
Click🗀 (settings).
Select Link for viewing.
Click Copy link.

The link is automatically copied to your clipboard. You can paste it in an email or message to share it with recipients. Once your recipients click the link, they’ll be prompted to request access to the content you’re sharing. You’ll get these requests by email, and can approve them there.

Open the Dropbox mobile app.
Tap a (more options) on Android or a (more options) on iOS next to the file or folder you’d like to share.
Tap Share.
Select Link for viewing.
- Note: On Android, files are set to Link for viewing by default. For folders, you need to select Link for viewing from the dropdown.
Tap Copy link.

The link is now copied to your clipboard. You can paste it into an email, message, or wherever people can access it.

How to manage links with edit or view-only access

You can make changes to a file or folder link after sharing it.

Learn how to manage Dropbox sharing permissions.

There are some exceptions to this, including if:

You remove someone’s access, and they still have a file or folder link, they could regain access. To prevent this, remove the link to the file or folder.
Someone you’ve shared a folder link with has joined that folder, the link permissions you set will no longer apply.
If you share a link with someone who has direct access, they could edit the shared link settings.

Can I protect my link with a passcode?

You can add passwords to shared links if you’re a Professional, Standard, Advanced, or Enterprise customer.

Customize links and settings

Dropbox Professional, Standard, Advanced, Business, Business Plus, and Enterprise customers can change link settings and customize shared links with professional branding.

Choose how shared links open

When you receive a shared link, you can choose to open that file or folder on dropbox.com or on the Dropbox desktop app.

Note: To open a shared link on the Dropbox desktop app, that file or folder must already be synced to your device.

To open shared links on the Dropbox desktop app by default:

Click a shared link.
If that file or folder is already synced to your device, you’ll be prompted to choose to open it on dropbox.com or on the Dropbox desktop app.
Check Always open synced files in the desktop app.

To manage how shared links open:

Log in to dropbox.com.
Click your avatar (profile picture or initials) in the bottom-left corner.
Click Settings.
Click the Sharing tab.
Toggle Open share links on desktop on or off.

Things to be aware of when sharing links to Dropbox files and folders

Customers on Dropbox Professional, Essentials, Standard, Advanced, Business, Business Plus, and Enterprise can set additional shared link permissions like passwords and expiration dates.
Team admins may change default link sharing settings, but team members can still choose who they want to share the link with.
Link settings, including passwords and other restrictions, apply only to people who access a file or folder through the shared link. Anyone added directly, or who already has access, keeps their existing permissions and isn’t affected by link settings.

Will my Dropbox link automatically grant edit access to my folder?

If you’re on a Dropbox Basic, Professional, or Plus account, you can give other Dropbox users edit access to your Dropbox files or folders via a link.

If you share with someone without a Dropbox account, they’ll only be able to preview the file or folder.

If you give another Dropbox user access to a file or folder, they can share that content with others. If you’re an admin on a Dropbox team, you can control the link settings for the rest of your team.

If you’re a member of a Dropbox team account, you can still adjust settings for certain items even if the team admin changes default link sharing settings.

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