Why Is My New Dropbox Account Full?

[ramijarjour]

Intriguing issue with Dropbox storage allocation. Despite having a new account solely for a shared folder—received via invitation and constituting the only content under my account—I'm facing overcapacity warnings. I'm using 5.1 GB out of a 2 GB limit.

How does a shared folder impact my storage quota, given that it technically resides under the owner's account? Could this be the culprit for the storage anomaly?

[Megan]

Hey there, @ramijarjour, welcome to our Community! 

If you have read/write access to a folder then it is also part of your Dropbox and so uses your quota. 

Therefore, you will need to upgrade to view it if you do not have enough space in your account.

If you just need read only access they can use shared links. As for your account's storage, could you check your account's plan page and let me know what it reports? 

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!

[ramijarjour]

Hi Megan!

Appreciate the prompt response and clarification. 

What bewilders me is the ripple effect of this shared folder on multiple users' storage quotas. In essence, not just myself, but anyone with editing permissions would need to upgrade their plan to accommodate this folder. Yet, this folder's size—say 100 GB—is already accounted for and paid by the owner/client. Why, then, must each additional user also allocate this large volume against their personal quotas? Is Dropbox essentially double, or even multi-dipping, on already-paid-for storage? 

This seems like a misleading way to handle storage allocation.

Eager to hear your thoughts on this.

Best, Rami 

[Megan]

Hi @ramijarjour, it seems it's indeed shared content that's taking up space for your account. 

Here is why that happens with shared folders: let's say I have a basket, full of apples. With shared links, I can show you the basket, but you wouldn't be able to re-arrange the apples in there. 

When someone adds you to the shared folder, you have a unique copy of it inside your Dropbox account too. 

Therefore, other than me having the basket, I am making an identical one and passing it to you, to do as you please with the content in it. 

I hope this clarifies.