Shared link asks viewers to request access. Why does this happen?

Hi vrdesign and Bm22782 ,

I'm a Product Manager in the sharing area here at Dropbox and sometimes chime in to help out.  Sometimes these specific cases are easier for support to debug, but I can provide some insight into how things should work.  

Depending on the content you're sharing there are two types of shared links - edit and view - granting those respective permissions to your recipients.  At a high level, folders offer both, most files only offer view links.  To answer your question about how to tell what type of link it is - you can't tell by the URL alone.  (something for us to think about adding in the future 🤔)

We also offer the ability to secure your links further with settings for each link.  For your link to be accessible to anyone including recipients who don't have a Dropbox account, the link audience must be set to "Anyone with Link".  Anything else - only those invited, team members - would require the recipient to login.  That's how Dropbox knows the visitor meets your security requirements.

And btw, vrdesign , the links will work the same no matter how they are shared (i.e. email, text, slack, website, etc.).  Just in case you thought that might be causing an issue.

Bm22782 it's curious that you've noticed the problem off and on?  Is it only certain types of recipients - i.e. people outside your team?

Hannah fyi, these are both members of our Standard Team plan.

Tip:  One way to check that a link can be accessed by anyone is to try visiting it from a private or incognito browser window.

We are a Dropbox team and we all have had this issue.  I have been told it's a problem on Dropbox's end.

Same problem.  I have the info set to ANYONE WITH LINK ADDRESS...

I don't understand why this thread is marked "solved" because I don't see a solution (if there is a solution, please advise and ignore below).

This happened to me today when I needed to get someone documents for an urgent matter.  If it says anyone with link can edit, etc., then it should be that way.  I had to exit a meeting to investigate and approve.  I didn't ask to require approval and didn't want it.  My default sharing permissions are "Anyone with Link."

Dropbox documentation states: 

1. Log in to dropbox.com.
2. Hover over the file or folder you’d like to share and click Share.
3. Click Copy link.This will copy a link that follows your default link permissions. To change to a different kind of link:
4. Follow the steps above.
5. Click Manage.
6. Select Link for editing or Link for viewing.
7. Click Copy link.

It doesn't say anything about "Approval."  Approval would be a nice option, but is unacceptable when not disclosed.  Does Dropbox not understand that customers rely on the application working as published?  Had I not been available to approve, this could have been very bad.  This thread is over a year old, and is still a problem with no published solution when Googling for "why does copy Dropbox link require approval" (this thread is the only relevant item returned).  Because of this my impression is that contacting support will be a waste of time since you'd obviously publish the solution or fix it if the was a solution.  Since there does not appear to be a solution, we now have to look into moving to a different platform that works as published because I don't feel like I can trust Dropbox anymore.

BTW, maybe while you're fixing this, you should also fix your API to restrict to folders/subfolders and not require giving full root access to third parties, rendering it useless.  i.e. Can't give my fax service root folder API access to send me faxes.

My customers with whom I share a viewable link are also requesting to join, I only want them to see the link I sent not be a member of my team.  Is it because I have a license available and Dropbox is trying to get the license used. 

I also was given a dropbox link today for viewing and Dropbox asked me to join and said I was already login to my account and had to logout before access. I clicked the back button and I had access.  

What's going on, this has been happening for months, I ready to move over to google or iCloud?

I guess this board is not monitored ?  Also in the past 2 days I have received a 4th Community Anniversary Badge, Newcomer badge, a one year anniversary badge, a 3rd year badge and a 2nd community badge, although I've been a subscriber for 9 years?

HannahI have the same exact issue, and it is beyond frustrating. I am a graphic designer and sell png files, I have hundreds of links that I send to customers and they simply need to be able to download the files without logging in or asking permission. 

My links are all set to anyone with the link can view with view only permission.  I've tested them in the incognito browser and they work fine on my end. But just recently several customers are having problems and the links are not working and they are required to ask permission to view the files. Here's what my customer sent me:

"It's weird, bc I clicked the link in the updated doc you had sent to me, and it took me right to the correct file. But I got out of it and when I tried to go back into it, I got the pop up notification that I needed to request access. Then it wouldn't let me view the file."

Can you please help me figure this out? the thought of changing hundreds of links or moving to a new platform is overwhelming but I need Dropbox to work like it should and receive the functionality I pay for!

Hey christy21, thanks for posting here today!

The fact that it works when you view the link using an incognito mode, or that it initially works for them but then it stops makes me thing this might be a browser issue.

Have they tried accessing the link using an entirely different browser, or an incognito tab on their end? 

If you could gather some screenshots of what your customers see would be most helpful.

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there. 

Hi Megan 

She has tried in both Chrome and Safari and in Incognito mode and she is still having issues. I was on chat with support on Friday and they noticed that my default settings of "view only" links are NOT working and for some reason Dropbox is creating them as "Edit" links (even though they are set as "view only". They have escalated my ticket to their supervisors but I have not heard back. Could the "Edit" setting be causing all the issues?

I tried to invite my customer to my folder so she can at least gain access in the meantime while I try to troubleshoot everything, but the folder is 31gb and she does not have enough space in her Dropbox and it won't let her join unless she adds more space. Needless to say, this is quite frustrating for both of us!

Thank you for any help you can provide while I wait to hear back from support.

Hey christy21, hope you don’t mind if I jump in. 

Have you tried deleting one of your shared links, as a test, and creating a view-only link again for your customer? If she tries to access it after that, does she get the same prompt to request access from you? If yes, and you grant her with access, can she view it and download it then? 

I was also able to locate your ticket in the meantime and I’ve left an internal note to our team for you.