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Forum Discussion
UX feedback about "Join Folder" button when clicking on a shared link
As I share links (created via OS folder view) to customers, i have had several of them clicking "Join Folder" as they think that is the priority way of dealing with the link they received. My purpose...
Hi Nancy,
The folders are initially teams folders, with the building icons. We create a folder, upload our files and then we share the folder. In the outward facing link that gets generated and sent to client, those folders are solid blue. And when I hover over a folder or file, there are two options to either "Copy to Dropbox" or "Download", which has always been the case. And that's great. I can replicate this whether I'm logged in or logged out, using different Dropbox accounts, and using incognito tabs, just as a client would see them. And there's no problem downloading folders or files.
The issue that I'm describing is that clients seem to get confused and instead of clicking "Download" they click "Join Folder" because it's the brightest thing on their screen.
Part of it is us letting the client know to click the "Download" button and ignore "Join Folder" but it would be more intuitive if Dropbox either moved the "Join Folder" over so it's not the first thing they see and/or highlight the "Download" button instead.
I attached a screenshot of the row of buttons. For whatever reason, clients instinctively click on Join folder. I get a dozen automatically generated emails every week asking to join folders, when they clearly have access to all of the files.
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
Dropbox Community ModeratorHey eternam - sorry to jump in and thanks for your feedback on this.
I've logged it in our system - you can let us know if you have anything else to add.
As I use DropBox integrated to my file/folder structure, I copy the link for customers via "right-click-menu" (Win).
And like Eternam, i have received multiple "join requests".
I do not know which parameters DropBox automatically uses for this kind of link-share (Can View/Can Edit). Not related to this issue, but I would suggest that the automated parameter would be "Can View" - or even something that user could select/define within settings.- Nancy
Hey Karo Holmberg! You can easily change this via your Sharing tab (in your web settings).
Nice, Thanks!
I use the macOS Finder "Copy Dropbox link" action, and I also see the "Join folder" as the primary CTA. I have set View only on the sharing settings tab.
The "Join folder" CTA wasn't always there. When sharing images with friends and family, I get these join requests from them, even though I just want to share the images with them like earlier (without a CTA to join the folder).
I'm using Dropbox V189.2.7123, if that's of any help.
Edit: I did not receive join requests this time, but I can still see people have joined my folder. This might be nitpicking, but I'd rather just share a link to a folder without the possibility of the viewers joining the folder. Is this possible? Here's how the folder looks on dropbox.com and in Finder:
- This issue has cause significant communication time with external clients for us. The âJoin Folderâ button is even more prominent on mobile. Iâll be looking at other file sharing alternatives if this issue doesnât get resolved soon since itâs costing us too much time.
