Limit the amount of space a Dropbox team member can use

Updated Jan 30, 2024
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Member space limits may not be available for teams with more than 5,000 shared folders. Teams with a high number of shared folders can expect some performance degradation.

Member space limits allow admins to control how much Dropbox storage space team members can use. This feature is available to all Dropbox teams.

What happens if a member goes over their limit?

Members are notified via email, desktop, and mobile app when they reach:

  • 90% of their space limit
  • 100% or more of their space limit

Admins are also notified via email. In addition, a record is added to the activity logs.
 

Dropbox will continue to function as normal for members who exceed their space limit.
 

What happens to over-quota members on a team with stop sync enabled?

Admins can use stop sync limits to prevent members who exceed their space limit from using Dropbox as normal. Specifically, two things happen:

  • Their account will stop syncing
  • They won't be able to upload files


These team members will then have two options:

  • Remove files to bring their accounts below the space limit
  • Contact their admin to request more space
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Note: Admins won't receive email notifications when a team member reaches their stop sync limit.

How to set a default space limit for all team members

  1. Log in to dropbox.com with your admin credentials.
  2. Click Admin console.
  3. Click Settings.
  4. Under the Content section, click Member space limit.
  5. Set a limit using the dropdown next to Space limit for all members.
  6. Toggle Member space limit on or off.
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Note: Only admins can set a space limit for team members.

Setting a default space limit for teams with stop sync enabled

You can set a default space limit for all team members. You can also decide if the limit will be soft (Only alert) or firm (Stop sync).

  1. Log in to dropbox.com with your admin credentials.
  2. Click Admin console.
  3. Click Settings.
  4. Click Space.
  5. Click the dropdown beside Member space limit.
  6. Select Stop sync or Only Alert.
  7. Select a specific space limit, and enter exceptions (if any).
  8. Click Apply changes.

Set custom limits for individual team members

For most teams, you can't set custom space limits for individual team members. However, you do have the option to leave the member space setting at No limit, which allows all team members to continue using Dropbox without restrictions.
 

Alternatively, you can set a team-wide space limit, and then allow some team members to avoid that limit, using an exceptions list:

  1. Log in to dropbox.com with your admin credentials.
  2. Click Admin console.
  3. Click Settings.
  4. Click Space.
  5. Click No exceptions.
  6. Enter the names or email addresses of team members who should be exempt from storage limits, and then click Done.

Setting a custom limit for teams with stop sync enabled

You can set custom space limits for individual team members:

  1. Log in to dropbox.com with your admin credentials.
  2. Click Admin console.
  3. Open the Members page (for most admins, this page will open by default).
  4. Click the name of the member you’d like to set a custom limit for.
  5. Click Edit space limit, and enter a new space limit.
  6. Click Set custom limit.

You can also add exceptions for those team members that should not be limited.

What counts towards a space limit?

Any files or folders stored in a team member's Dropbox team account count toward storage limits.

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Important notes:

  • Team folders don't count toward storage limits—team folders are shared spaces owned by the team, rather than the individual.
  • Team folders do count towards the team's overall space usage.
  • Shared folders owned by a team member only count toward that person's storage limit.
  • Shared folders owned by a non-team member but shared with a team member count toward that member's space limit.
  • Due to how space limits are calculated, the sum of an individual team member's usage may be different than the overall team usage.

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