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Forum Discussion
dualice
4 years agoNew member | Level 2
Why do shared files count against my space use???
Why are files shared with me counted against my space usage? Is this data counted twice? If someone who is sharing files with me is paying for this space, why should I have to pay as well just to access it? I am out of space, I have no intention of buying more space, and yet, when someone shares some files with me, I cannot access them and I am forced to buy space in order to access them. Why is this?
Thank you.
dualice wrote:
Why are files shared with me counted against my space usage?
Because the files exist in your account.
When you have access to a shared folder, you're not accessing someone else's folder. You're accessing your own COPY of the folder within your account, and you need to have enough space available to hold that folder.
If you just need to view or download files that someone else is sharing with you, ask them to send you a shared link instead. A shared link is a view-only method of sharing and you don't even need a Dropbox account to access it.
144 Replies
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- Rich4 years ago
Super User II
Nake wrote:
Is there a way for me to send her files from my basic plan, or do both parts need a dropbox plus account?
If you've been given access to a shared folder, then you'll need to have enough space in your account to hold the entire folder, including what you add to it, because the folder will exist in your account. You're not uploading directly to your client. If you don't have enough space, you would need to upgrade.
The other option is to ask your client to send you a File Request instead. A File Request will allow you to upload files directly to her account. You don't even need an account of your own to do so.
- Nake4 years agoNew member | Level 2
Okey I understand, but can I send files exceeding the 2GB limit if I recieve a file request from a Dropbox plus member?
- sukrith4 years ago
Dropbox Staff
Yup! You can upload a file that exceeds to 2GB since the recipient of the folder has more allocation.
- becca43 years agoNew member | Level 2
I am trying to open a new file shared with me and Dropbox is telling me i am out of storage and need to upgrade. I am using the free basic plan and 0GB out of 2GB so this upgrade is unnecessary.
Maybe the file is more than 2GB but why would they prevent me from accessing it?
It is frustrating and I have had zero help from Support Chats.
Anyone have any ideas?
- Rich3 years ago
Super User II
becca4 wrote:
I am trying to open a new file shared with me and Dropbox is telling me i am out of storage and need to upgrade. ... Maybe the file is more than 2GB but why would they prevent me from accessing it?
When you're a member of a shared folder you have your own COPY of the share in your account, so you need to have enough space in your account to hold the entire folder.
If you only need view/download access to the files in the share, ask the owner to send you a shared link instead.
- brandonbrant3 years agoNew member | Level 2
Dropbox is telling me my storage has reached capacity, but I only have 1 file and a shared folder (from a friend that has 5GB max). It says I need to update to be able to upload more. Do shared folders count against your 2 GBs of space?
- mardigrascat3 years agoNew member | Level 2
I keep getting a message that I don't have enough storage space, but it's because other people are giving me access to THEIR Dropbox files.
- Rich3 years ago
Super User II
mardigrascat wrote:
I keep getting a message that I don't have enough storage space, but it's because other people are giving me access to THEIR Dropbox files.
When you're a member of a shared folder you aren't getting access to data in someone else's account. You have your own COPY of the data in your account, so you need to have enough available space to hold that data.
- Rich3 years ago
Super User II
brandonbrant wrote:
Do shared folders count against your 2 GBs of space?
Yes.
When you're a member of a shared folder you aren't getting access to data in someone else's account. You have your own COPY of the data in your account, so you need to have enough available space to hold that data.
- brandonbrant3 years agoNew member | Level 2
That sounds like dropbox is throttling my capacity based off of things I can't control. If a used folder gets 10 GBs of photos added to it, I need to be able to accommodate their data (i.e. spend more money just to be able to view them).
Thanks for the answer, I'm just going to cancel my account.
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