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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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- caterpillargull2 years agoNew member | Level 2I have Dropbox Plus and my friends have Basic. I am trying to share folders with people so they can upload files I want, but every time, they get a message saying their Dropbox is full. If I have 2 TB and that is somehow disabling them from uploading files to my folders, how can I reduce my folder size so they can share with me?
- Rich2 years ago
Super User II
lummisharon wrote:
he has added me as a user but I can't get them to sync as it says I am out of space.
He can't add you as a user to his account. What he's likely done is invite you to a shared folder. While you're able to upload and edit files in the shared folder, you're still limited to the amount of space available in your account.
If you don't need to access the files after you upload them, ask your son to send you a File Request instead.
- lummisharon2 years agoNew member | Level 2
My son has 3T of space on his drop box. I have just the free dropbox. I often have files that he needs..... he has added me as a user but I can't get them to sync as it says I am out of space. Any thoughts? We don't need a business dropbox as there is just the 2 of us and I rarely use it.
- HonestGhost3 years agoNew member | Level 2
So we will all need to pay for the upgrade - 😞
Thank you for responding
Mary
- Rich3 years ago
Super User II
HonestGhost wrote:
But I'm a visitor to this folder - I didn't set it up - I am not the Admin on it - so why do I need to pay almost £100 for the access?
You've been invited to join a shared folder. When you join the folder it will exist in your account and anything in your account takes up space.
If you only need view access to the folder and won't need to edit anything within it, ask the owner to send you a view-only shared link instead.
- HonestGhost3 years agoNew member | Level 2
Hello
I'll try to keep this simple
I have a personal account - Account A
In the past I have access to another account Account B
and I'm working on a freelance job now which allows me access to their Dropbox Account C
Account A is very under my 2GB free limit - but tells me it is over capacity due to Account C (see below)
Account B I no longer need access to - and have asked for the refund of the ££ that was charged for the upgrade of capacity
My problem is Account C. It is a massive project folder with layers of files - and I am being told that I need to upgrade in order to sync with it and continue to upload documentation. But I'm a visitor to this folder - I didn't set it up - I am not the Admin on it - so why do I need to pay almost £100 for the access? There are several people in my team that this will affect - and some can't afford to pay this.
I've been in touch with Dropbox admin and, whilst they dealt with the refund, ignored the above.
How is this solved?
Thank you for your help
- Rich3 years ago
Super User II
JamesK1981 wrote:
Considering that this shared folder is their only use of dropbox and only contains 2mb of data it is hard to see how the 2gb limit has been exceeded
Either the folder is more than 2GB or they have other data in their account taking up space. They can check their actual usage on their Plan page, where is shows a breakdown of their data (regular, shared, backups, etc.).
- JamesK19813 years agoNew member | Level 2
Considering that this shared folder is their only use of dropbox and only contains 2mb of data it is hard to see how the 2gb limit has been exceeded
- Rich3 years ago
Super User II
JamesK1981 wrote:
My understanding is that even if the other user was using dropbox as the shared folder sits on my dropbox account it counts towards my limit and not the other persons.
That's not correct. As they receive a copy of the folder in their account, it takes up space in their account. They need to have enough available space in their account to hold the folder and anything added to it.
https://help.dropbox.com/storage-space/storage-space
I have shared folders with many other people without this issue ...Then those people have accounts with enough space available for the shared folder.
I believe that this user is trying to populate the shared folder on their phone from the app rather than logging in on a laptop via the web browser?How they are populating the folder wouldn't matter. The limit is based on their account, not the method used.
If you only need them to send files to you, and they won't have a need to access those files after they send them, consider using a File Request instead. The sender doesn't even need a Dropbox account.
- JamesK19813 years agoNew member | Level 2
I am trying to share a folder with someone so that they can securely share documents with me but they keep getting the notice 'you are over your 2GB allowance' and then giving the option to pay to upgrade.
The other user does not use dropbox personally so has nothing in their account and I have tried to create a shared folder on 2 different dropbox accounts with the same result. The first account is using around 15% of the 2Tb limit, and the other has 20mb used of a 2Gb limit.
My understanding is that even if the other user was using dropbox as the shared folder sits on my dropbox account it counts towards my limit and not the other persons.
I have shared folders with many other people without this issue so that they can securely provide files to me (mainly pdf files of business related paperwork) without this issue.
I believe that this user is trying to populate the shared folder on their phone from the app rather than logging in on a laptop via the web browser?
Any help greatly appreciated!!
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