Why can't I share a folder or join a shared folder?

Every member of a shared folder can add and modify files, so the shared folder takes up space in each member's account. If you're having trouble joining a shared folder—or sharing one with others—it's likely that insufficient space is the cause.

The amount of space in your Dropbox prevents you from accepting a shared folder invite if:

  • The shared folder is larger than your space quota (for example, the shared folder is 5 GB but your account is 2 GB total)
  • The shared folder is less than your total space quota but you do not have enough space available to accept it (for example, the shared folder is 2 GB but you only have 1 GB of available space on your Dropbox)

Not using Dropbox yet? See how Dropbox makes syncing files easy.

I have plenty of space in my account—why can’t my collaborator accept a shared folder invitation?

All members of a shared folder must have enough available space to accommodate a shared folder. For example, A Pro user with 1 TB of space can’t share a 5 GB folder with a Basic user who has only 2 GB of available space.

Can I share a folder without taking up Dropbox space?

If you'd like to share a folder without impacting the recipient's quota, you can share a link to the folder instead. A shared link allows users to view or download read-only copies of the files in the folder.

Can I remove a shared folder?

Yes, you can remove a shared folder from your account without impacting other shared folder members.

Can I add free space to my Dropbox account?

You can add more space to your account quota::

Can I share a Dropbox storage quota with others?

If you are interested in sharing a quota pool between multiple users, consider a Dropbox Business subscription.

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