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Office Integration wants access to ‘the files and folders in my Dropbox.’ All of them?
Hello, On my IPad, when I go to open a file from my Dropbox in Word, I get the following message: ‘Microsoft Integration would like access to the files and folders of your dropbox. Allow?’ T...
Hi Gatesallupinmyfolders, this access option basically means that, if you want to open and edit any Word, Excel or PowerPoint file, they can be located anywhere on your Dropbox account, and the integration will be able to access it.
With other apps, they can only view a private folder shared for that app alone. These are usually for settings, backups and so on. However, it isn't useful if it's an app to edit files, since they would need to be located in that private folder each time.
However, the access is only when you're directly using the Office app to edit files. It doesn't mean that other users or Microsoft themselves can access your files without your knowing.
Rich
Super User II
Super User II
Gatesallupinmyfolders wrote:
Thanks for the response, appreciate it. So essentially what you’re saying is that, yes, I’m giving Microsoft full access to all of my dropbox files and folders?
You're giving the Office app full access to your Dropbox.
Actually, follow up question: I already use Dropbox and Word on my MacBook. As wary as I may be of giving word, full access via my iPad, presumably (as I’ve been using Dropbox and work together for many years on my MacBook) I must have already done so on my laptop at some point? So my iPad concerns are moot as Word already has full dropbox access via another device?
- Mark
Gatesallupinmyfolders wrote:
Actually, follow up question: I already use Dropbox and Word on my MacBook. As wary as I may be of giving word, full access via my iPad, presumably (as I’ve been using Dropbox and work together for many years on my MacBook) I must have already done so on my laptop at some point? So my iPad concerns are moot as Word already has full dropbox access via another device?Yes..... kind of...
As computer versions work differently due to the fact there is no 'sandboxing' so in theory you granted access to everything you didn't actually have to because it was never asked. It is just assumed and allowed that all files on a computer can access all other ones. That is, simply put, how you navigate your folder structure to open files without finding them locked/blocked or hidden.
Essentially this is what the iPad version is asking "can we see everything in Dropbox so when you want to open it we have access to it".
- Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi Gatesallupinmyfolders, this access option basically means that, if you want to open and edit any Word, Excel or PowerPoint file, they can be located anywhere on your Dropbox account, and the integration will be able to access it.
With other apps, they can only view a private folder shared for that app alone. These are usually for settings, backups and so on. However, it isn't useful if it's an app to edit files, since they would need to be located in that private folder each time.
However, the access is only when you're directly using the Office app to edit files. It doesn't mean that other users or Microsoft themselves can access your files without your knowing.
- Thanks Jay.
- Ps it would be good to have the option to only restrict it to one folder if the user is happy with that, however.
