Folders showing up empty when I send a link to someone

[ejnoro]

This has only been happening to me within the past week, but it is really hurting my business. I am always sending a folder with either video files or photos. Generally people are opening the link on their phone with the intention of saving them to their phone.

Basically what is happening is when I send someone the link to the folder, for them it either says that the folder is empty, or it shows the files but when they click on them it says the file type is not supported and so they can't view them or save them. This seems to happen whether they are using the Dropbox app or they open the link using Safari. The same thing also happens if they try to open the link to the folder on desktop.

Also it should be noted that I upload the files via the Dropbox website, and I know they are all synced before I send the link because I check on the app on my phone before I copy the link.

I have double checked and I know I am sending them the correct link and near the link when I copy it it literally says "anyone with this link will have access to these files" but I guess that is not the case for some reason. It also doesn't seem to matter if the person is signed in to their account or not.

Any idea on why this is happening? Need to fix it ASAP

[KR15]

If they copy and paste the link into the phone browser and avoid using the app so “continue to website” it works but going through the app doesn’t.

Is there a problem with the app?

[Janemwl]

As a recipient, I just started having this same problem last week. We have been using this format for a few years to share information. This past week, when I opened the resources link, sent by the administrator, I saw “folder empty”. I am the only one with this new problem. Did I accidentally change a setting? Could it be related to a very slow backup issue that I am experiencing?

[PavelKricka]

I've uploaded a folder to my dropbox and shared a link over WhatsApp but one of my customers gets the message folder empty when opening the link 

I'm very confused as my computer says that the files are synced

Pavel

[maara · Accepted solution]

Same thing happened to me. It's extremely annoying.
So far the thing that worked for me was to turn off tracking of viewers for that particular folder. Seems like when the person to whom you're sending the link refuses to be tracked, the folder appears empty. (Dropbox!!! Why should the priority be on tracking instead of actually doing your primary job - sharing the files?!)

So the way to do this: log in Dropbox.com via a browser -- find your folder -- click Share -- click the Settings gear icon -- under the tab "Folder settings" uncheck the option "Viewer info. Show who’s viewing files in this folder to people who can edit." -- click Save
(you might need to generate the sharing link again after this, not sure)

The tracking can also be turned off by default in your account settings -- under General tab find the option "See info about people who view my files" and switch it off.

[PavelKricka]

Hi

I've tried this and when they open the link they can briefly see the folder with the photos but then it gets thrown away and you get the folder is empty screen!!!!

This is SOOOOOOOOO frustrating as others can access the folder and see the images

[LALight]

Hello Dropbox Community -

As of yesterday, created links containing JPG images, are received by clients as empty folders. I am uploading the image to Dropbox on the website, image upload status shows as complete. I can see the uploaded images in my files in the Dropbox folders. Any help is much appreciated.

Thank you-

[PavelKricka]

The solution was to do with tracking!

I turned off tracking on the folder I was sharing … well I think I did the browser seemed to have a spinning icon for ages but we then allowed tracking on the clients phone and Shazam the files became visible 

regards

pavel 

[Megan]

Hello everyone, happy Monday! 

Do you still notice this behavior? Does it happen with a specific link, on a specific browser? 

Feel free to send me any screenshots of the message you get on your end, when opening the link. 

Thanks a bunch! 

[lopezoscar4]

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH! THIS WAS THE SOLUTIONNNN! Ive literally been looking into it since Last Wednesday and you are the only one that has found the solution! Dropbox really has to do better. Even their chat support people have no idea that its even an issue. 

[lopezoscar4]

Look at MAARA's solution above! It helped me out.