How to resolve shared Dropbox folder access issues

Updated Sep 16, 2026

I can’t find the Dropbox invitation or folder

If someone says they invited you to a shared folder, but you can’t find a way to join it, first check the invited email address to help you avoid troubleshooting the wrong Dropbox account.

User issue	What to do
I haven’t received or can’t find the invitation	If you haven’t received or can’t find the shared folder invitation, check the Shared page on dropbox.com, your Dropbox notifications, and the inbox associated with your Dropbox account. If you find the invitation, accept the shared folder invitation. See How to join a shared folder.
The folder appears on my Shared page with a “Join folder” option	If the folder appears on your Shared page with a “Join folder” option, select Join folder to add it to your Dropbox account. See How to join a shared folder.
The folder doesn’t appear on my Shared page	If the folder doesn’t appear on your Shared page, the invitation may have been sent to another email address or Dropbox account. Ask the sender to confirm the exact email address used for the invitation and send a new invitation to the correct Dropbox account if needed. See Problems accessing shared folders.

I see a “Request access” page on Dropbox

Use this section if opening the invitation takes you to a page that asks you to request access instead of letting you join.

This may mean the folder was shared with another Dropbox account, the invitation was sent to the wrong person, or someone forwarded an invitation originally intended for someone else.

User issue	What to do
I have another Dropbox account that may have received the invitation	If you see a “Request access” page and another Dropbox account may have received the invitation, sign out and log in to the Dropbox account that received the original invitation. See Problems accessing shared folders.
I don’t have another Dropbox account, or I’m not sure	If you see a “Request access” page and you don’t have another Dropbox account, or you’re not sure, select Request access, or ask the folder owner to invite the Dropbox account you want to use. See How to join a shared folder.
Someone forwarded the invitation to me	If someone forwarded the shared folder invitation to you, ask the folder owner to invite your Dropbox account directly. A forwarded invitation may not give you access if it was originally sent to someone else.

Dropbox asks me to log in, create an account, or verify my email

Use this section if Dropbox requires an account action before you can join the folder.

You need a Dropbox account and a verified email address to accept a shared folder invitation.

User issue	What to do
I already have a Dropbox account, but I’m not logged in	If Dropbox asks you to log in before joining the shared folder, log in using the email address that received the invitation. See Problems accessing shared folders.
I don’t have a Dropbox account	If Dropbox asks you to create an account before joining the shared folder, create a Dropbox account using the invited email address, then accept the invitation. See Do I need a Dropbox account to join a shared folder?.
Dropbox says I need to verify my email address	If Dropbox says you need to verify your email address before joining the shared folder, verify the email address associated with your Dropbox account, then try joining the folder again. See How to verify your Dropbox email address.
I don’t want to create a Dropbox account	If you don’t want to create a Dropbox account to join the shared folder, ask the sender to share a view-only link instead if you don’t need to edit or sync the folder. See Do I need a Dropbox account to join a shared folder? and How to share in Dropbox.

Dropbox says it can’t add the folder or that I need more space

Use this section if Dropbox shows a message such as “Could not add to Dropbox,” says you need to upgrade your account, or says you don’t have enough Dropbox space.

Shared folders generally use storage in each member’s Dropbox account. You can’t join a folder if it is larger than your account’s total storage or the space you currently have available.

User issue	What to do
My Dropbox account doesn’t have enough available space	If Dropbox says it can’t add the shared folder because you need more space, free enough Dropbox storage, then try joining the folder again. See Why can’t I share a folder or join a shared folder?.
The shared folder is larger than my Dropbox account’s total storage	If the shared folder is larger than your Dropbox account’s total storage, upgrade the account, or if you use a team account, check the available storage with your admin. See Do shared folders count against my storage space?.
I can’t add the folder, and changing my Dropbox storage isn’t an option	If you can’t add the shared folder and changing your Dropbox storage isn’t an option, ask the sender to reduce the size of the shared folder or send a view-only shared link if you don’t need to edit and sync the folder. See Why can’t I share a folder or join a shared folder?.

I used to have shared folder access, but I don’t anymore

Use this section if you previously joined or accessed the folder, but it has disappeared or Dropbox no longer lets you open it.

User issue	What to do
The folder appears on my Shared page with a “Join folder” option	If you used to have access and the folder appears on your Shared page with a “Join folder” option, select Join folder to restore the folder to your account. See I’m having trouble with a shared folder.
The folder doesn’t appear on my Shared page	If you used to have access but the folder doesn’t appear on your Shared page, you may have permanently left the folder, or the folder owner may have removed your access. Ask the folder owner to check your access and send a new invitation if needed. See How to leave and remove a shared Dropbox folder and Problems accessing shared folders.
The folder opens, but it isn’t appearing or updating correctly	If the folder opens but isn’t appearing or updating correctly, troubleshoot the shared folder or its sync state. This also applies if “(1)” appears after the folder name. See I’m having trouble with a shared folder.

None of these issues match

If none of the situations above match what happens when you try to join or access a shared Dropbox folder, contact Dropbox Support.

Include the exact error message you see, whether you can see the folder on your Shared page, and the email address that received the invitation. This can help identify the right next step.

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