When you share a file or folder using Dropbox, the recipient receives an email with a link to the file or folder. The recipient must have a Dropbox account and be signed into that account to view or edit the file or folder. If the recipient doesn’t have a Dropbox account, or doesn’t want to sign in to view it, you can share it with a view-only link instead.
Not using Dropbox yet? See how Dropbox makes it easy to send large files.
You can control whether people can edit or can only view your files and folders when you share them and even after you share them. Edits and comments made to a shared file or folder are updated live for everyone they’ve been shared with.
Learn how to manage your default sharing settings.
Notes:
- If you're on a Dropbox team account, and you share a folder with your teammates, the folder is automatically added to their Dropbox accounts.
- If you share a folder with an individual Dropbox user, the user needs to manually add the folder to their Dropbox account.
- Anyone who is invited to edit a file or folder can create their own link to share with others, and see and change link settings.
- 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.
Share a Dropbox file or folder
On dropbox.com
- Sign in to dropbox.com.
- Hover over the file or folder you’d like to share and click the share icon (rectangle with an up arrow).
- Type the Email, name, or group of the person (or people) you’d like to share with, and click to select them from the results.
- Note: You can add as many people as you’d like.
- Select Can edit or Can view.
- Add a note if you’d like, and check the checkbox if you’d like to Post this note as a comment.
- Click Share file or Share folder.
The person or group will receive an email with a link to the file or folder.
On the Dropbox desktop app
- Open the Dropbox folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
- Right-click the file or folder you’d like to share.
- Click Share….
- Click Mail.
- Click inside the To: line and type the email, name, or group of the person (or people) you’d like to share with, and click to select them from the results.
- Note: You can add as many people as you’d like.
- Click inside the Subject: line and type the subject of your email.
- 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.
On the Dropbox mobile app
The person or group will receive an email with a link to the file or folder.
You can share a file or folder on the Dropbox mobile app via link or email. You can also save files directly to your device. Learn how to share files on the Dropbox mobile app.
Related Resources:
Share your file or folder with a link instead
