Can't access shared folder metadata

You can use the Dropbox API to list and download files from a shared folder without syncing it to your local storage. Try the following:

Use the correct API endpoint – Ensure you're using files_list_folder with the shared_link parameter to access the shared folder directly.
Check folder access – Confirm you have the correct permissions (shared_folder_member_list may help verify this).
Download files individually – Use files_download to fetch specific files without syncing the entire folder.

Here's a Python script using the Dropbox API to list and download files from a shared folder without syncing the entire folder to your local storage.

Prerequisites:
Install the Dropbox SDK:
pip install dropbox

     2. Get your Dropbox API token from the Dropbox App Console.

     3. Use the shared link of the folder you need access to.

Python Script to List & Download Files from a Shared Folder

import dropbox # Replace with your Dropbox API token ACCESS_TOKEN = "your_access_token" # Replace with the shared folder link SHARED_LINK = "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/somefolderid" # Initialize Dropbox client dbx = dropbox.Dropbox(ACCESS_TOKEN) def get_shared_folder_metadata(): """Get metadata of the shared folder.""" shared_link = dropbox.files.SharedLink(url=SHARED_LINK) try: folder_metadata = dbx.files_list_folder(path="", shared_link=shared_link) return folder_metadata.entries except dropbox.exceptions.ApiError as e: print(f"Error accessing shared folder: {e}") return [] def download_file(file_path, local_path): """Download a file from Dropbox to local storage.""" try: metadata, res = dbx.files_download(path=file_path) with open(local_path, "wb") as f: f.write(res.content) print(f"Downloaded: {file_path} -> {local_path}") except dropbox.exceptions.ApiError as e: print(f"Error downloading {file_path}: {e}") # List and download files files = get_shared_folder_metadata() for file in files: if isinstance(file, dropbox.files.FileMetadata): # Ensure it's a file, not a folder download_file(file.path_lower, file.name)

How It Works:
Lists all files in the shared folder using the shared link.
Downloads each file without needing to sync the full folder.
Saves files locally with the same name.