How to add a shared folder to your account

When you’re invited to a shared Dropbox file or folder, you’ll receive a notification on dropbox.com, in the Dropbox apps, and over email.

If you’re invited to a shared folder, you can add this folder to your Dropbox account. When you add a shared folder to your account, you have access to that folder and its contents. The shared folder also syncs with other members’ Dropbox accounts. The person who shared the folder with you may have given you either editor or viewer permissions.

If you are a member of a Dropbox Business team, personal folders that are shared with you by other teammates will automatically be added to your Dropbox account. 

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

How to add a shared folder to your account

When you’re invited to a shared folder, you can access it by adding the folder to your account.

To add a shared folder to your Dropbox account through the Sharing tab:

1. Sign in to dropbox.com.
2. Click Shared in the left sidebar.
3. Find the shared folder you want to access. 
4. Hover over the folder you’d like to add and select Add to Dropbox.

To add a shared folder to your Dropbox account from your notifications on dropbox.com:

1. Sign in to dropbox.com.
2. Click the notification icon (bell).
3. Click Add to Dropbox under the shared folder you want to access.

You need a Dropbox account and a verified email address to accept a shared folder invite. Shared folders are added directly to your Dropbox account and sync with all folder members. If you don't have a Dropbox account yet, you can create one and then accept the invite.

Request access to a shared folder

If you click a shared folder invite and you're directed to request access, the folder owner may not yet have given you access. For example, someone who received a shared folder invite may have forwarded that invite on to you. You can request access to the folder:

1. Click the invitation link that you received.
2. Click Request access.
3. If you have more than one Dropbox account, select which account you'd like to add the shared folder to.
4. Your request will be sent to the folder owner, and you'll be notified if the owner accepts your request.

Dropbox Business

If you're on a Dropbox Business team and you share a folder with someone else on your team, the shared folder only uses the team's aggregate storage quota. However, if you share a folder with someone not included in your team, the folder uses both your team's space and space on the account of the person you shared with.

Learn more about Dropbox Business.

How to add a shared file to your account

When you receive a shared file, you can open it through the email invite or your notifications on dropbox.com, then view a preview of it on dropbox.com. 

Like previews, shared files don’t take up space in your account unless you save a copy of the file to your Dropbox account.

If you want to see all files you were invited to, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to dropbox.com
2. Click Shared in the left sidebar.
3. Choose the Files tab. From here, you can see all files you were invited to. Click a file to preview it.

If a file was shared with you through a link, it won’t appear on the Shared page.