I get a 404 error message when using the downloader application.

Do they work if not in a download helper?

Yes. I can download a file directly with a browser or the app. Likewise I can download an identical external file as one on my Dropbox. It appears to be an anomaly with my account IMO. 

I suspect Dropbox is blocking download helpers/tools if I'm honest (especially if the URL has been edited to force a download etc). This is something they have done before to deter abuse on it. 

You may want to log a ticket at http://www.dropbox.com/support and ask. 

I seriously doubt its an an account issue as if it was the links just would fail.

TBH, I can't say anything has changed in the past 12 hours or so, and I doubt it on a Sunday. Furthermore, with a free account, a ticket won't get me any help. Many thanks.

This has been an issue numerous times in the past. I suggest I've been wasting my time all Sunday afternoon expecting any help. Operative word(s) "some users," I fell to a different type of outage a few weeks ago that would appear to also have been limited to "some users," and voila, next time it's fine. The worst thing you can do in the world of computers, connectivity, and services is to assume it's "me", not "them". I'm prone to doing that. I need more confidence. Perhaps if I start paying for an account, things will improve.

Old response:
"Dropbox Engineer
File request submission page is not working for some users. We’re working to fix the problem as quickly as we can. We’ll share another update shortly."

Hey MikePDX, hope you don’t mind if I chime in. 

Can you outline the exact steps you’re taking on your end, right before the 404 error appears? 

I’d also appreciate a full screenshot of the message, so that I can investigate this further.

Not at all. I'm not sure what you are referring to by the steps right before, but simply, I use a Blogger post I edit with Dropbox links and access them via Android devices to download and install. It's been working for a decade, perhaps. The files are all saved with the format as changed perhaps two years ago: https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi....etc... and end with "&dl=0", no longer needing to change to a "1". Every file on that Blogger page produces the 404 when attempting to use the Downloader application, while every file that is linked externally, not on my Dropbox, works fine. Not sure if this is what you wanted or if there's anything else you need. Thanks for asking. [P.S. I failed to mention that as Downloader is just a browser, I have tried two other browsers with the same result. Alternatively, I can properly download my Dropbox files with the Dropbox application.]

Second edit: I just uploaded the latest version of Kodi 21.2 to my Dropbox. A legitimate front-end file that has been tested and retested and is clearly free of any malware, and yet I just got the message that I've been shut down owing to malware, the instant I uploaded the file. I imagine this is behind my whole issue, and it's absurd. Every file has been tested with two different virus testing applications. 

Hi MikePDX​!

Happy to see that your issue is now resolved! 

Based on the error message that you provided us with, it sounds like access to your sharing was paused on your account.

Have you checked this article to see if any of the files you were trying to share, or have already shared, breached the Terms of Service? In any case, I'd also suggest that you keep an eye out for any Dropbox-related emails, that might suggest of this.

If you notice the same behavior, don't hesitate to let me know.

Thanks very much, Megan. Yes, it was definitely "paused", and as mentioned, this is the second time in a few weeks, albeit differently. In both cases, the account simply "recovered". I have read that article and see nothing in there as to why this would have occurred. Likewise, I received no emails from Dropbox. Thanks again.