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How does a non-Dropbox user open a file I shared with them?
Can’t find answer— I shared a file with non- Dropbox person — how do they open it?
Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
Dropbox Community ModeratorHi there, Gazzy, welcome to our Community!
How exactly did you share content with that person?
Did you directly add them to the file using these steps? If so, then they'd need a Dropbox account in order to view the file.
Did you perhaps share a link with them? In that case, they should be able to preview the content even without a Dropbox account, especially if the shared link has "can view" permissions.
If you tried shared the content a different way, feel free to clarify.
Let me know more, and we'll take it from there!
I have been trying to get an answer to a simple question that needs answering to the recipient of a transfer of a shared folder or file: When a non-dropbox person receives a shared file or document, how do they open it? What do they tap or click to “view” (view only)—they do not know Dropbox jargon or practice and I need to know so I can tell them… please help me help them; this used to be simple, but since I’m a returning user, I don’t know the answer.
- Walter
This would depend on the file itself and how they'd be opening or accessing it too Gazzy
Also, there's no need to know how Dropbox works, just follow the prompts on the email they received when you shared the file or folder with them.
Let us know if you have any follow up questions.
Thank you so-o much! Most answers I’ve found don’t answer from the stand point of the “new to dropbox” recipient…and the new or less informed user. Answers have tended to focus on how to send a transfer or share a file. The “transfer” process is new to me too… I kind of figured out or stumbled into how to send using a little “early” Dropbox know-how to share the file so I had no idea about what the recipient saw or what they had to do to open the file. The Dropbox Help Center and related info givers on the platform need to make the scenario the focus of it’s answers and education…give the back and forth that explains the whole process for both sender AND receiver— with illustrations too. I’ve been looking for an answer all day. Thanks again!
