Why do my shared links give an option to edit?

[DCM-MvTN]

Why when I click on "Copy a link" to a folder does it always show that the link allows editing when I have deleted the link in Settings and only have a viewing allowed link showing in Settings?

[Jay]

Hi @DCM-MvTN, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Could you clarify where exactly you're seeing this option to edit?

A screenshot showing this, and you current link settings, would be great.

This will help me to assist further!

[DCM-MvTN]

[DCM-MvTN]

Here are 3 screen shots. They show that editing link is deleted, Viewing link is allowed, and finally editing is allowed when link is copied.   I saw that someone else is having same problem.

[Megan]

Hi @DCM-MvTN, thanks for the screenshots! 

Now, it's not entirely clear to me if you wish to have a shared link with editing or viewing only access. If you could clarify, that'd be amazing. 

Do you follow the steps mentioned here, in order to create a link with editing permissions? 

[DCM-MvTN]

I am sorry I was not clear.  I want to have viewing links only for this folder.  If I had wanted editing allowed I would not have gone through all this because I am already getting that! and can't change it to viewing! 

[Megan · Accepted solution]

I see where you're coming from @DCM-MvTN!

What happens if you try to simply hover over the folder you’d like to share and click the share icon (rectangle with an up arrow). 
 

Then from the dropdown, select Can view.

If a link hasn't been created, click Create. If a link has been created, then click Copy link.

The link will then be copied to your clipboard. Can you give this one a go? 

[DCM-MvTN]

That does give me a link which I have pasted into Word to see what happens when I try to use it. The first time I tried, it appeared to be trying to connect but eventually showed there was an error.

The 2nd time I tried it took me to my account page which I am working on to actually create the link so I am going to have to get out of Dropbox to see what happens if a person without Dropbox clicks on the link.  However, I really don't know what kind of link it is, and I don't want to click on the link symbol, which is what I was doing to try to create the link in the first place, that has given me an editing link. I will let you know what happens.

[Rich]

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@DCM-MvTN wrote:

... I am going to have to get out of Dropbox to see what happens if a person without Dropbox clicks on the link.

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No need to get out of Dropbox. Just test the link in an Incognito/private browsing window, or a different browser where you're not signed into Dropbox.

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... which is what I was doing to try to create the link in the first place, that has given me an editing link.

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Do you have your sharing defaults set to create Can View links? By default, Dropbox will create an Can Edit link when you click the Copy Link button. You can go into your account settings and change the default to Can View.

• https://help.dropbox.com/share/set-file-folder-permissions#manage

[DCM-MvTN]

Thanks for the extra tips. I accepted the solution that Megan gave (in case you all get brownie points) which cut off the reply I had drafted to you.