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Gazzy's avatar
Gazzy
Explorer | Level 4
8 months ago
Solved

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?
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  • Walter's avatar
    Walter
    8 months ago

    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. 

Megan's avatar
Megan
Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
8 months ago

Hi 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!

arstep2's avatar
arstep2
New member | Level 2
8 months ago

Me, too.  I've had this problem for years.  I have a shared Dropbox folder, with a link where "anyone with this link can view".  I attached that link to a button on my (public) website, but Dropbox still wants people (non-Dropbox users) to sign in.  I talked to DropBox staff several years ago, and I thought it was fixed, but not any more.  As a test, on my Mac, when I go to my website and try to access the Dropbox folder in a private window, this is the message I get ("To keep Alan's Movies secure, we need to confirm your identity").  This should not be necessary.  Try it yourself:  alanandjan.com, then click on Travels.  Thx.

  • Rich's avatar
    Rich
    Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
    8 months ago
    arstep2 wrote:

    Try it yourself: ... then click on Travels.

    I wasn't forced to sign in. I was asked if I wanted to with a banner at the top, but the photos loaded as soon as I clicked the links.

     

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