We’re Still Here to Help (Even Over the Holidays!) - find out more here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
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
79 Replies
Replies have been turned off for this discussion
I'll try that but I would think if some of the files open for them all the ones in that same order should. But hey, I'll try anything. Thanks...
First find out if the recipients who are having trouble are logged into Dropbox with the same email address to which you sent the shared file link. If they are signed in under a different address, I think they will need to request access. If that's the case, you can ask them to either log in with the email address to which you sent the shared file or, if they don't want to do that, have them log out of Dropbox completely. If they log out and paste the link to the shared file into their browser, they should be able to view the file in their browser (as opposed to on their desktop, phone, tablet, etc.).
I don't have downloading disabled and most people are having no trouble. However I have a handful that always needs approval. Is there a simple answer for this like maybe a setting they need to change?
I just posted a followup to my OP with what I found out from Dropbox Support that addressed my particular issue. Perhaps it will help with yours as well.
Regarding the issue described in my OP, and on the recommendation of JasonSilverDBX, I contacted Dropbox Support and found an answer to my question. Apparently, since the recent Dropbox update (with the new "rlkey" share links), when you share a file that has restrictions (e.g. downloading disabled) via a link, and the recipient is logged into Dropbox, that recipient does not have access until the person sharing the file approves it. Once the access is approved and the recipient adds it to their Dropbox, that recipient has full access to the file and any restrictions placed on that file are gone. This technically solved my problem, in that if I don't want recipients to have the ability to download shared files, I can inform them to log out of Dropbox before viewing the files (in which case they would view it in their browser as opposed to from their own Dropbox). However, I think this recent update that caused this issue has introduced unnecessary confusion and makes one of the helpful features of Dropbox Essentials more complicated.
Thanks Megan. Yeah, they're all having the same problem I am. Still not sure how to fix it though .... 😮
- Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey anniecdigitals, thanks for posting here!
I've merged your post under a similar thread, so feel free to take a look around, and let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks a bunch!
That's what I thought too, but in an order of 8 with links they all worked except 2 asked for permission so I'm still confused. Any idea where I could find out for sure what the issue is?
Thanks,
Annette
- Mark
Super User II
My guess is that they are not logged in to the same email that you sent the link to OR they are using a different machine with a different Dropbox logged in and its picking that log in up instead.
I have a few customers that continually get "request access" when trying to open my files via the dropbox link I provide them. Sometimes they can open one link and not another. This seems to be happening to just a handful of my customers. Does anyone know why that would happen and how I can fix it?
Thank you!!
AnnieCDigitals
