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aprilafternoon's avatar
aprilafternoon
Helpful | Level 5
7 years ago
Solved

Share links don't work on Android

For a while now, I've been sharing Dropbox documents in PDF format via email. Once in a while people tell me they "can't open the links." I always just assumed they didn't know what they were doing, but today I happened to test one of these links on an Android phone.

In the Gmail app on Android, clicking on a Dropbox link in this format:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/o8fpocz6tykra0o/20190204.pdf?dl=0

gives the error,

Cannot display PDF (20190204.pdf is of invalid format)

Anyone know how to get this to work on Android?

Error Messages
Mobile
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Shared Links
  • Lusil's avatar
    Lusil
    7 years ago
    Hi virtue, in general, this error message seems to be a generic error message related to a third party app. 
     
    For this reason, I’d recommend attempting to opening the link with a mobile browser and, if you’re still having issues, you can always contact our Support team for a more in-depth look on the matter using our internal tools. 
     
    Thanks in advance!
     
     
    This thread is closed due to inactivity. Please feel free to create a new topic here. 

26 Replies

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  • Lusil's avatar
    Lusil
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    7 years ago
    Thanks for trying these out for us, aprilafternoon. 
     
    It sounds like the device that you’re trying to preview the file on doesn’t have a supporting third party app to open it, which would explain why it doesn’t load even when you download it. 
     
    For this reason, I’d recommend navigating through a web browser to find a third party app that would allow you to access the file type in question. 
     
    Let us know if you have any other questions!
  • aprilafternoon's avatar
    aprilafternoon
    Helpful | Level 5
    7 years ago

    The device I was testing on does indeed have a PDF viewer, which works fine with other PDF files (I checked). And my Dropbox links open fine on iOS and in the desktop browser... so I know the file contained in the link is a real PDF. I think there is a bug somewhere in the way Dropbox is delivering these files to Android OS.

  • Lusil's avatar
    Lusil
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    7 years ago
    Thanks for your swift reply, aprilafternoon . 
     
    In order to have a more in-depth look into this, I’d have to move this discussion to email due to account-specific info that’ll be needed. 
     
    For this reason, I’ve sent you an email to the email address associated with your Community profile. Please check your inbox for my latest message and we’ll take it from there. 
     
    Cheers!
  • andreich's avatar
    andreich
    New member | Level 2
    7 years ago

    What is the final solution? I have the same issue for any shared pdf file on android devices

  • Lusil's avatar
    Lusil
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    7 years ago
    Hey andreich, 
     
    I’ve followed up with a ticket so as to have a more in-depth look into the behavior you’re experiencing with shared link previews. Please check your inbox for my latest message and we’ll take it from there. 
     
    Cheers!
  • ThePhysicsCafe's avatar
    ThePhysicsCafe
    New member | Level 2
    7 years ago

    Hi Dropbox, I am a business user. I have EXACTLY the same problem as described. May i know the solutions?

  • Lusil's avatar
    Lusil
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    7 years ago
    Hey there ThePhysicsCafe, thanks for posting your query on the Community!
     
    Due to sensitive and account-specific information that was necessary to help investigate this behavior, we previously had to move this discussion to email for each user. 
     
    Similarly, I’ve sent you a ticket to the email address connected to your Community profile so as to have a more in-depth look. 
     
    Thanks in advance!
     
    PS. For any future queries regarding this, please submit your request to our Support team as they’ll be able to assist you with our internal tools. Thanks again, peeps!
  • LesliePiper's avatar
    LesliePiper
    Explorer | Level 4
    7 years ago

    This sucks,
    I'm having the same problem.
    If I use the link via Whatsapp Web it opens fine.
    and if I access the pdf, either download or
    with a link from "one drive" it also works fine
    conclusion it's a DROPBOX issue.

    Please solve it.

     

  • korogorov's avatar
    korogorov
    Explorer | Level 4
    7 years ago
    I am having the exact same issue. Would you please share a solution in this thread? It seems that the issue is being addressed in a case-by-case way privately and that defeats the purpose of this forum...
  • Lusil's avatar
    Lusil
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    7 years ago
    Hey there LesliePiper and korogorov, 
     
    Since each individual case reported here needs to be looked at more in-depth and account-specific info is required, troubleshooting can’t continue on this thread as it’s a public platform. 
     
    As such, I’ve sent you a ticket to the email address associated with your Community profiles. If you have any further queries regarding this, please don’t hesitate to get back to me via email. 
     
    Thanks! 

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