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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.
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- I got access to the folder from my supervisor with editing rights. As I add files to this folder, I have written that I have run out of space and that the limit is over 2GB. I asked the manager, they told me that 1TB was bought from them. Why can't I upload files to their working folder, if the one whose folder has a 1TB plan is purchased.
- I have a Basic plan. I’ve uploaded nothing, am retired, and only use it 4-5 times a year to download from a shared folder violin music scores for concert rehearsals. The orchestra manages the shared folders. There was one with lots of photos. My account is telling me I’m over capacity, but I’ve always deleted what I downloaded to print. I’m not paying &12/month for this minimal use. I’m clearly not in the know. Can any one tell me what to do?
- Rich
Super User II
Katherinemillle wrote:
I have a Basic plan. I’ve uploaded nothing ... and only use it ... to download from a shared folder ... My account is telling me I’m over capacityIf you're a member of a shared folder, the content of that folder takes space in your account.
If you only need download access, ask the owner of the folder to send you a view-only shared link instead.
- Thank you so much for this suggestion. I’ll ask the orchestra manager and see if that was the cause!
I want to share a large folder temporarily with a contractor, in order for her to do a trial project for us. She states she cannot access the shared folder due to storage. I am not familiar enough with Dropbox's storage use to know if this is an issue when she goes to open online or if she can free up her storage on her synced desktop and thus allow this shared folder to be opened. Perhaps it doesn't matter - if the folder causes her storage to exceed online and has nothing to do with her storage on her computer?
Just view/download I believe. But also capability to save new items to the folder.
- Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
Thanks for the update, Rebecca!
To be able to save files to the folder, they'd need to have edit permissions, however, you can use the workaround of a file request.
And in order to give them access to the folder, you can use a "can view" link instead.
That way, their Dropbox space won't be affected at all.
I hope this helps!
