Need to see if your shared folder is taking up space on your dropbox 👨‍💻? Find out how to check here.

Forum Discussion

dleigh73's avatar
dleigh73
Explorer | Level 3
3 years ago
Solved

This file cannot be previewed because you are offline

Why can't I see the documents I received?
Error Messages
Preview
Share
View
  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    3 years ago

    Hi dleigh73, I see.

     

    However those security walls could in some cases be interfering with the way you preview the shared link. And it would help us narrow down the cause, if you could try to disable them, and then check if the link previews the way it should. 

Megan's avatar
Megan
Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
3 years ago

Hi dleigh73, welcome to our Community, and happy March 1st! 

 

If I understand this correctly, you get the "file can't be previewed because you're offline" error when you're trying to view one of your files. 

 

I'd love some extra details, such as how you're trying to view the file? Is it on the website, desktop or mobile app? 

 

You mentioned that you received this document: did you receive a shared folder, shared link, Transfer or a different way? 

 

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!

  • dleigh73's avatar
    dleigh73
    Explorer | Level 3
    3 years ago

    I received a link: 

    link removed

     

    Trying to view on website.

    • Megan's avatar
      Megan
      Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
      3 years ago

      Hi dleigh73, I see, thanks for letting me know! 

       

      If you try to preview the link on a different browser, do you get the same results there? What about an incognito tab on your current browser? 

       

      Provided that you get the same error, could you kindly send me a screenshot, so I can have visual too? 

      • dleigh73's avatar
        dleigh73
        Explorer | Level 3
        3 years ago

        Tried on Chrome and MS 360.

         

  • Jeff Kleinman's avatar
    Jeff Kleinman
    Explorer | Level 3
    3 years ago

    I get the same error.  I have a PDF document that has hyperlinks to other files that are also in my drop box.  Any PDF that is hyperlinked to my dropbox files give the error.  Other hyper links on my PDF do work.

    • Megan's avatar
      Megan
      Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
      3 years ago

      Hey Jeff Kleinman, welcome to our Community! 

       

      Do you get the error you mentioned, only when you try to open these links through your PDF? 

       

      What happens if you try to preview the content normally in your account? Do you get any errors then? Any screenshots you might have are welcome. 

       

      Let me know more!

      • Jeff Kleinman's avatar
        Jeff Kleinman
        Explorer | Level 3
        3 years ago

        I can down load them but if I try to open the document through my google chrome browser, I get the same error: This file cannot be previewed because you are off line.  I can open in both download or open in: adobe.  

About View, download, and export

Node avatar for View, download, and export
Need support with viewing, downloading, and exporting files and folders from your Dropbox account? Find help from the Dropbox Community.

The Dropbox Community team is active from Monday to Friday. We try to respond to you as soon as we can, usually within 2 hours.

If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X, Facebook or Instagram.

For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.

If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!