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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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- Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
HI Rebecca16, if it is a shared folder, which is then added to their account, then it would affect their quota.
This quota we're referring to is the online quota on your (and their) Dropbox account. If the Dropbox desktop application is installed, it will also take up space on the computer.
I have a client that wants me to upload files to their box, not my box, their box.
Drop says I need to pay for more storage to upload to their box.
Why?I solved the issue with google drive, but can someone explain why I need to pay to upload to someone's box, not mine.
- Rich
Super User II
A_Temp_202 wrote:
I have a client that wants me to upload files to their box, not my box, their box. Drop says I need to pay for more storage to upload to their box. Why?
You're not uploading to their Dropbox. You're uploading to a shared folder in your account, which syncs with a folder in their account. You need to have enough space in your account for anything that you have stored in it.
If you don't need to access the files after you upload them, the recipient can send you a File Request instead, which allows you to upload directly to their account without affecting your own (you don't even need an account).
Exactly how it sounds... Is this the dropbox scam?
Someone is already paying for the storage, and dropbox is double dipping and getting me to buy it too?
I highly doubt dropbox is duplicating the files.
- Rich
KeeganMillar wrote:
Someone is already paying for the storage, and dropbox is double dipping and getting me to buy it too?
The files exist in your account so they take up space in your account. It's also meant to prevent people from stacking accounts for unlimited space.
- Jay
Hi KeeganMillar, I've merged you to this thread with users that have similar questions.
This post should help clarify regarding shared quota.
The other main file storage platforms manage to do the exact same without conning their clients - One Drive, Google, iCloud.
A paid dropbox account has shared their data with me by sending me a link. This is my first dropbox account at this email address. I cannot see the data without upgrading from my free account to a paid account?
I just need read-only access to their data.
What am I doing wrong?
- Rich
KeeganMillar wrote:
The other main file storage platforms manage to do the exact same without conning their clients - One Drive, Google, iCloud.
The other main file storage platforms can all operate at a loss because they have other divisions where their profits come from. Google has their ad revenue, Apple has their hardware revenue, and Microsoft has their software revenue, all of which back their storage platforms. They operate them this way to draw more people in so they can expose them to their other products. Dropbox only has their file storage revenue.
If you don't need edit access to the files being shared with you, ask the file owner to send you a view-only shared link instead. You'll be able to view and download the files without it affecting your account. You don't even need an account to access a shared link.
