Sharing files and folders with Dropbox Family

About shared storage

Every file or folder in a Family member’s account only counts once toward the total storage space quota. Sharing files and folders with other members of the same Family plan does not count toward the storage quota again. If you share with someone outside your Family plan, or if someone outside the plan shares with you, those files will count toward both your account quota and theirs.

All members of a Family plan can see how much storage space has been used, and how usage is divided between members.

To check storage space:

1. Sign in to dropbox.com.
2. Click your avatar (profile picture or initials).
3. Click Settings.
4. Click Plan. Space available and space used are shown. 
   • To see each Family member’s usage, click the arrow next to Everyone else’s files.

Tip: Maximize storage space by sharing with Family members, instead of saving copies of the same file. If plan members have copies of a file in their individual accounts, each file counts towards storage quota used–but a file that is shared among members only counts once.

About shared files and folders

When you share a file, Family members will have access to the file in their own Dropbox account. Documents, photos, and other files stored in Dropbox are updated automatically, so everyone with access to a file sees the same version. 

You can share folders in the same way as files. Anyone you share the folder with will have access to the files inside. 

About the Family Room folder

All Family members have access to a common folder called “Family Room” that can’t be deleted, moved, or renamed. Each member can find it in their own Dropbox account—it looks like a folder with 2 or 3 people on it. The Family Room folder is a place where your family can organize and access all types of files, from receipts and tax documents to photos and school work.

When you upload or create files and folders inside the Family Room folder, all Family plan members will automatically have edit access to those files and folders. Any Family member can remove files from the Family Room folder at any time. When content is removed, other members won’t see it in their Dropbox accounts any longer. 

The Family plan manager is the owner of the Family Room folder. Any time the manager invites new members to the plan, the new members will automatically have access to the Family Room folder when they join. If the Family manager cancels or changes the plan, each member will keep a copy of the folder in their own account. If the Family manager removes a member from the plan, the manager can choose whether or not the member keeps a copy of the Family Room folder. If a member leaves the plan, they’ll no longer have access to the Family Room folder, or have a copy in their own account.

Note: If you’d like to send specific files and folders from the Family Room folder to people outside your Family plan, use Dropbox Transfer to deliver a copy they can download or save in their own Dropbox account. You can’t transfer or share the entire the Family Room folder with people outside the plan.

Sharing permissions

Family members can choose to share files and folders with edit access or view-only access. Members can share with a single family member, or all of the members on their plan.

With edit access, family members can make changes to files and folders that are shared with them. These changes will be saved on the shared version, so everyone who has access to it will see the changes.

With view-only access, family members can view and add comments to shared files and folders, but they can’t make any changes. 

Note: Files and folders in the Family Room folder automatically allow edit access to all Family plan members.

Sharing with an email invitation

Family members can share files and folders with other family members via email.

To share with an email invitation in the Dropbox desktop app:

1. Open the Dropbox folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac). 
2. Right-click the file or folder you’d like to share.
3. Click Share…. 
4. After To, type the email or name of the person (or people) you’d like to share with.
5. Select Can view or Can edit from the dropdown menu on the right.
6. Click Share.

To share with an email invitation on the Dropbox mobile app:

1. Open the Dropbox mobile app.
2. Tap the “⁝” (vertical ellipsis on Android) “…” (ellipsis on iPhone/iPad) next to the file or folder you’d like to share.
3. Tap Share.
4. Tap Invite to file.
5. Tap under Send to and type the email or name of the person (or people) you’d like to share with.
6. Select Can view or Can edit under the list of recipients.
7. Tap Share.

To share with an email invitation on dropbox.com:

1. Sign in to dropbox.com.
2. Hover over the item you’d like to share.
3. Click the share icon (rectangle with up arrow).
4. Type the email or name of the person (or people) you’d like to share with.
5. Select Can view or Can edit from the dropdown menu.
6. Click Share file or Share folder. 

Sharing with a link

Family members can share files and folders using a link. Instead of sending an email, Dropbox creates a unique link that you can copy and paste into an email, chat, text, or other message.

To share with a link in the Dropbox desktop app:

1. Open the Dropbox folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac). 
2. Right-click the file or folder you’d like to share.
3. Click Share….
4. Click Create link or Copy link. The link will be copied to your clipboard.
5. Paste the link into a message and send.

To share with a link on the Dropbox mobile app:

1. Open the Dropbox mobile app.
2. Tap the “⁝” (vertical ellipsis on Android) “…” (ellipsis on iPhone/iPad) next to the file or folder you’d like to share.
3. Tap Share.
4. Tap Copy link. The link will be copied to your clipboard. 
5. Paste the link where you’d like to share it.

To share with a link on dropbox.com:

1. Sign in to dropbox.com.
2. Hover over the item you’d like to share.
3. Click the share icon (rectangle with up arrow).
4. Select Can view or Can edit from the dropdown menu.
5. If a link hasn't been created, click Create.
6. Click Copy link. The link will be copied to your clipboard. 
7. Paste the link into a message and send.