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lpvmc's avatar
lpvmc
Collaborator | Level 9
1 month ago
Solved

Can people without Dropbox accounts work on shared files?

Hi all,

I have a Dropbox Plus license. For a project I work together with two other people, none of which have a Dropbox account. I know I can share files/folders by using a link or give them permission to open a specific file/folder in my Dropbox account. 

But is it possible for them to change a file/folder and upload it again to my account? When they do will Dropbox still sync the changes they made with my i-Phone and i-Pad?

What are the limitations when we use the folder in my account in order to work together, even if two colleagues do not have a Dropbox account?

Thanks in advance and with kindest regards, Leo.

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  • Dell_Dropbox's avatar
    Dell_Dropbox
    1 month ago

    Hi lpvmc​ 

    Great question. In short, people without Dropbox accounts can upload or replace files only in limited ways, and any changes they successfully upload will sync to your iPhone and iPad. For full collaboration, they would need their own Dropbox accounts.

    That said, there are some important limitations to be aware of:

    - People without Dropbox accounts cannot be added as full members of a shared folder
    - They do not get automatic syncing on their own devices
    - They cannot see version history or restore previous versions
    - Collaboration features like real time updates and ongoing access are limited

    If your colleagues need to regularly edit files and work together in the same folder, the recommended setup is for them to create free Dropbox accounts and then be invited to the shared folder. This allows seamless syncing, editing, and version control for everyone involved.

    This page will help you understand the different kind of links you can create for people who do and don't have dropbox accounts

     

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  • lpvmc's avatar
    lpvmc
    Collaborator | Level 9
    1 month ago

    Yes I did follow those steps. I did describe in an earlier post all the steps I made: settings > checked invited people > checked the could edit files etc. Then I clicked a button: add members. To my surprise I got a box saying we should buy Dropbox standard. 

    Dropbox plus, which expires 27-05-2026.

     

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    1 month ago

    Thanks for the update, I think it would be best to contact the support team since they have more tools and steps available to troubleshoot this matter for you.
    You can submit a ticket to the team via this link while logged into your Dropbox account.

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