Why has my sharing activity been interrupted?
The information in this article applies to all Dropbox accounts unless otherwise stated.
If you see an error message that says your sharing activity has been interrupted, it could be due to one of the following:
- One of your files may contain malware
- You may have exceeded your bandwidth limit
- You may have reached the number of invites you can send per day
- One of your files may be subject to a copyright complaint
- One of your files may contain malicious content
- Your link has been shared or downloaded too many times in one day
This article explains what these error messages mean and how to fix them.
Note: Many of these error messages are due to potential violations of our Acceptable Use Policy. To ensure a positive experience for all users, we recommend reviewing our Acceptable Use Policy to be aware of situations that may lead to the misuse of the Dropbox service.
If you believe there has been a mistake, contact customer support for assistance. Our team will investigate the matter and take appropriate action to resolve the issue.
Why am I seeing the message “We’ve interrupted your sharing activity because you tried to share a file that may contain malware”?
This notification appears when one of your files is suspected of containing malware.
Note: Malware is a serious issue, and we've strict policies in place to protect our users. We appreciate your understanding as we work diligently to maintain a safe and secure environment for everyone.
Why am I seeing the message “We’ve interrupted your sharing activity because you’ve exceeded bandwidth limits”?
Bandwidth refers to the amount of data transferred from your account when others view or download the files you've shared. This message indicates that your sharing activity has exceeded the allowed limits.
This can happen if you:
- Share a link with someone who then shares it with a large number of people, resulting in numerous file downloads.
- Share a link with someone who downloads it multiple times.
- Request files and receive a large number of uploads.
- Request files and someone uploads the same file multiple times.
- Request files and the recipient forwards that request to other users, who all upload files.
Bandwidth limits for Dropbox accounts
To prevent abuse, Dropbox has established the following bandwidth limits for accounts:
- Dropbox Basic: 20 GB of bandwidth and up to 100,000 file downloads per day.
- Dropbox Plus, Family, Professional, Essentials, Standard, and Business: 1 TB of bandwidth and unlimited file downloads per day.
- Dropbox Advanced, Business Plus, and Enterprise: 4 TB of bandwidth and unlimited file downloads per day.
- Trials for Dropbox Standard, Advanced, Business, Business Plus, and Enterprise: 20 GB of bandwidth and up to 100,000 file downloads per day.
How do I resolve this issue?
If you encounter this situation for the first time, your sharing activity and link or file requests will be suspended for 24 hours. Subsequent occurrences will result in suspensions longer than 24 hours. You should receive an email with instructions on how to address the issue.
Why am I seeing the message “You’ve exceeded the number of invites you can send per day”?
This message is displayed when you exceed the maximum number of sharing invites you can send within a short period. It serves as a security measure to prevent abuse and protect our users.
When this happens, your sharing activity will be suspended for up to 24 hours. During this time, you won't be able to create shared links or send any sharing invites.
How do I resolve this issue?
To resolve this issue, we recommend waiting for 24 hours before trying to invite collaborators to a file or folder again.
Additionally, consider reducing the number of recipients in each invitation to avoid triggering the limit.
Why am I seeing the message “We’ve interrupted your sharing activity because your files have a copyright complaint”?
A copyright complaint message is displayed when we receive a notice under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) regarding one of your files. You should have received an email from us containing more details about the DMCA complaint.
How do I resolve this issue?
If you believe that the DMCA complaint was issued in error or you’ve resolved the issue with the complainant and want to restore sharing, follow the instructions in the email you received. Our team will review your appeal and take appropriate action as quickly as possible.
Why am I seeing the message “We’ve interrupted your sharing activity because your files might contain phishing/spam content”?
This message indicates that one of your files is suspected of containing malicious content that could harm our users.
Note: Phishing and spam are serious issues, and we've strict policies in place to protect our users. We appreciate your understanding as we work diligently to maintain a safe and secure environment for everyone.
How do I resolve this issue?
If you’re seeing this message, contact Dropbox support.
Why am I seeing the message “Link temporarily disabled”
This message indicates that the link you’re trying to access has been shared or downloaded too many times over a 24 hour period.
How do I resolve this issue?
To resolve this issue, we recommend waiting 24 hours before attempting to use the link again.
Having a different shared link issue?
See our guide on troubleshooting shared links for common shared link issues and fixes. If you’re still experiencing issues with your sharing activity, contact Dropbox support.
