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Shared link asks viewers to request access. Why does this happen?
Greetings. I have a shared file set to be viewable by anyone with the link, and I've sent the link to those I want to view the file (see screenshot). However, when they access the link, Dropbox states they "do not have access to this file" and offers the option to request access, which I must individually approve. I have other files configured with these same settings, and those with whom I've shared those links can access them without any separate approval. I don't know why this particular file is different. Am I missing something?
Hi skepticalthinker ,
Jumping in here as a Product Manager for Dropbox Sharing to help out Hannah. Reading through your thread, this is very strange indeed. You've done everything right and I appreciate your patience in working through what is no doubt a frustrating experience. The best I can suggest here is to contact support for help. They'll be able to go through your specific situation and troubleshoot your specific link. Sharing a View Link with access set to "Anyone" should allow anyone - signed in or not - to access a web based preview of your content, and then from there to take further collaborative action like downloading, asking to join the content, etc.
Jason
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- Yeah, this issue is tedious and just not workable. It makes us (the sender) look unprofessional and is just not workable to keep happening.
Time and time again.
Links are supposed to be viewable, as it says on the tin, without requiring the recipient to hassle and fuss over being forced to download an app. I personally cannot stand the web app. I don't want anyone else to have to suffer it either.
The webSITE should be glitch free. It's not. I'm fed up.
Moving to Frame.io! Someone w/ Dropbox had been reaching out but haven't heard anything lately. It had slowed down but is still doing it on the regular. Very frusturating when our settings are already set up to "can view".
I've started using Google Drive as this is too frustrating! When I get the chance I'll change all
750 of my listing to Google Drive!
During the last month I have been experiencing recipients having difficulty accessing file links.
Dropbox is requiring them to ask for permission when sent by email. some but not all.
We are generating the link from MS Explorer.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
- Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey vrdesign, thanks for reaching out to the Dropbox Community.
Can you please check to see if the link you're creating is a "view-only" or a "can edit" one?
If it's a link that gives edit permissions, it would make sense, if you used a certain email address to invite the user, but they're signed in to a Dropbox account under a different address.
The "view-only" link should give access to anyone, without the need to request permission.
Hannah,
Thanks for responding.
How do I determine if it is a "view-only" link?
How best to set that so others inside our company can still edit?
We don't invite the Users from Dropbox. These links are typically sent in the body of an email to multiple people. Some can and others cannot open them.
Thoughts?
- Hannah
Hey vrdesign!
You can see your default sharing settings here, and if you follow these steps, you can change the settings or create new links for your files individually.
However, keep in mind that with view-only links, the recipients won't be able to edit the files; only view and download them.
Perhaps you can send "can edit" links to people that need to edit and "view-only" ones, to the ones that just need to view the files.
I've been having this same trouble off and on for months now with no improvement. We have trouble no matter if we go thru Windows Explorer or on the website.
We have ours set to default to 'view-only' plus we double check it before each link is created and it still gives us the same trouble. It's been going on for months for my company.
