view only link for everyone says Join Folder, Copy to Dropbox, Download. I DON'T want Join Folder.

The folder is a free book. When someone signs up for my newsletter, I just want them to be able to download the files and not alter or add anything. That's it. Although, I somehow managed to make so that they have to ask my permission to join, so I guess that's something. But I would rather have it removed altogether, since it looks kind of unprofessional.

No, not a shared folder. I've checked that multiple times, it's only me that has read and write privileges. Staff and everyone is read only. I tried locking the folder, that didn't work. This is a new issue; I haven't had it in the past. This is a link, for instance, where you can see the Join Folder. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/3xdgp4v5gdjp8ttplmpqd/h?rlkey=ix37w01xjl127xvv9pgxn4t75&dl=0

I've tried everything I can think of, to no avail. I've tried it in the browser, no luck. I'm currently using Google Drive for files as a substitute for now. I sell downloads on Etsy, and it's only been the most recent ones where I started getting emails saying a buyer wanted to join the folder. 

Thanks authorsjuliusincestus  for sharing more about your use case.  Sharing a view only folder link would only permit a recipient to view content - not edit anything. 

However, I can understand for your situation, you want to keep the experience to a one way flow of content delivery to recipients.  I'm assuming these are customers or prospects of some sort, so you also want the experience to look polished and professional.  You need them to be able to download, but don't want to be bothered with "requests for access".  Nor to confuse your intended recipients with multiple options for viewing your content.  

If that all sounds right, then I can see why the addition of the "Join Folder" option that came with our introduction of content-based folder links doesn't hit the mark for you.  But there are some alternative methods that I think might work better for you.

1. Are you familiar with Dropbox Transfer?  It may actually suit your purposes better since its intended as a way to deliver work to clients.  It even allows for custom logos for a professional look.  You can use it to send folders or files with a link.
2. If you are only sharing a single file (your ebook), a shared link to the file would only allow view access and recipients would be able to download from a web preview without an account.  There is no "join" option.
3. A forced download would also be an option.  This requires modifying the URL manually - see details here - and recipients wouldn't be taken to a web preview at all.  Instead visiting the link would initiate a download. 

Hi Fairsarae, 

I am a Product Manager for Sharing here at Dropbox, and I'm sorry the recent change we've made to Folder Links with View Only access have been driving you crazy!  This is certainly not what we intended.  There is another recent forum post where I address this in a bit more detail, along with a suggestion involving Dropbox Transfer.  

Jay could we consolidate this thread with this other one in progress here?

Fairsarae take a look at my latest response there and let me know your thoughts?

So what you're saying is that there is no way to remove the Join Folder option now? You suggest Dropbox Transfer, but that's an additional charge? I already pay $31.98/month. 

Fairsarae, no I wouldn't suggest that a change we made to shared links should push you into an upsell.  Definitely not the intention at all.  I believe since you're on a paid plan, you should have unlimited to file transfers up to 2GB included in your plan.  If that's not the case, then I need to do better at my internal pricing research.  Additionally, I added a few other alternative methods after my original reply to you in my post above.

So #2 of the options-- does that refer to Transfer, or the regular dropbox folder? There is no way to get view only without Join Folder. 

I just want to chime in on this as I use Dropbox for the same reason, and the new change is very annoying. Products that I have sold in the past are linked to specific URLs with hundreds of digital products connected to them, and if I have to change these URLs, customers will not be able to access their downloads because they have no way of knowing the new URL. Simply giving us an option to not include the "Join Folder" button is ideal. This new change makes Dropbox an inferior solution for Etsy unless there is a way to remove "Join Folder." Thanks!