Cannot Access Shared Files

[Scott T.15]

I have nothing in my Dropbox account other than some PDFs and someone shared files with me from their account and Dropbox is forcing me to upgrade, which I refuse to do just to access some files. I do not want these shared files in my Dropbox and just need to download them.

What do I do?

[Mark · Accepted solution]

If you dont need edit access on the files ask the person who is sending you them to send you a shared link instead 🙂

https://help.dropbox.com/share/create-and-share-link

[Scott T.15]

thanks. will try that

[honeydochecklist]

I have a client who has shared his files with me and wants me to organize, create sub-folders, etc. I DO need edit access but don't need storage on my side. I'm not downloading anything into my Dropbox. Why would it make me upgrade my plan since they are his files? He's already on an an upgraded plan to cover his storage. 

[Mark]

Hi @honeydochecklist 

If its in your space it uses your quota as you have edit access. His space does not benefit you in anyway. 

[Rich]

---

@honeydochecklist wrote:

I'm not downloading anything into my Dropbox.

---

Just for clarity, you ARE downloading the files to your Dropbox. If you're a member of a shared folder, you have your own COPY of the folder in your account.

[peteinohio]

It that is the case, then is there a simple instruction for how to treat shared files?  For example, when someone shares a file with me and I don't need it, can I just delete it from my end?  Will that cause issues at the "sharers" end? 

[peteinohio]

I have a similar issue as well.  I'm "sharing" a bunch of files I don't really need.  I would like to be able to select the ones I want to share, and "un-select" the files I don't want to share, BUT not delete them from the original owner.  Where do I learn how to do that?

[Hannah]

Hey @peteinohio, thanks for the nudge here!

If someone has given you edit access to a folder, any individual files you delete from it, will get deleted for the other members as well.

You can, however, delete the folder itself, and it will get deleted just from your account.