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Forum Discussion
Why do shared files count against my space use???
Why are files shared with me counted against my space usage? Is this data counted twice? If someone who is sharing files with me is paying for this space, why should I have to pay as well just to access it? I am out of space, I have no intention of buying more space, and yet, when someone shares some files with me, I cannot access them and I am forced to buy space in order to access them. Why is this?
Thank you.
dualice wrote:
Why are files shared with me counted against my space usage?
Because the files exist in your account.
When you have access to a shared folder, you're not accessing someone else's folder. You're accessing your own COPY of the folder within your account, and you need to have enough space available to hold that folder.
If you just need to view or download files that someone else is sharing with you, ask them to send you a shared link instead. A shared link is a view-only method of sharing and you don't even need a Dropbox account to access it.
Dropbox says I can't have access to a folder that was shared with me because I don't have enough space in my dropbox? What does the space in my drop box have to do with accessing someone else's folder?
- Ed
Dropbox Staff
Hi Tom
A shared folder takes up space from all accounts that are in that shared folder. To access files without consuming space on your account, please ask the sender to send a link to the shared folder instead (so you can download its contents). More info: https://www.dropbox.com/en/help/167 - Rich
Super User II
You're not accessing the data in someone else's folder. You've been invited to the folder, so the folder will be added to your account. That can only happen if you have enough space in your account.
So that means that if i belong to a large organisation that uses Dropbox to store documents relevant to it's members, and then wants those members to have access to edit those documents (such as meeting minutes, agendas, calendar of events, rosters for volunteers etc), then each user would need to have a Dropbox account equivalent in size to that of the organisation, even though they are not using it for themselves, only for the running of the organisation. Sounds a bit unfair to me.
- Rich
dualice wrote:
Why are files shared with me counted against my space usage?
Because the files exist in your account.
When you have access to a shared folder, you're not accessing someone else's folder. You're accessing your own COPY of the folder within your account, and you need to have enough space available to hold that folder.
If you just need to view or download files that someone else is sharing with you, ask them to send you a shared link instead. A shared link is a view-only method of sharing and you don't even need a Dropbox account to access it.
That's completely ridiculous. That is just a way for DropBox to make money off of the same data/space. Sharing is sharing, copying is copying. If I share a file with someone on google drive, google doesn't make a copy of that file, it gives access to the file.
This is just dumb. No way they're really copying each and every file within that shared folder. That makes zero sense, and is just a method to rip off users of their money! 😠
Repugnant stuff
My client has a dropbox plus account and wants me to upload files to her folder. She has sent me a link to a shared folder
However, I only have a basic plan which caps me at 2GB for uploads.
I don't need to store the files, only she does
Is there a way for me to send her files from my basic plan, or do both parts need a dropbox plus account?
- Rich
Nake wrote:
Is there a way for me to send her files from my basic plan, or do both parts need a dropbox plus account?
If you've been given access to a shared folder, then you'll need to have enough space in your account to hold the entire folder, including what you add to it, because the folder will exist in your account. You're not uploading directly to your client. If you don't have enough space, you would need to upgrade.
The other option is to ask your client to send you a File Request instead. A File Request will allow you to upload files directly to her account. You don't even need an account of your own to do so.
Okey I understand, but can I send files exceeding the 2GB limit if I recieve a file request from a Dropbox plus member?
I am trying to open a new file shared with me and Dropbox is telling me i am out of storage and need to upgrade. I am using the free basic plan and 0GB out of 2GB so this upgrade is unnecessary.
Maybe the file is more than 2GB but why would they prevent me from accessing it?
It is frustrating and I have had zero help from Support Chats.
Anyone have any ideas?
- Rich
becca4 wrote:
I am trying to open a new file shared with me and Dropbox is telling me i am out of storage and need to upgrade. ... Maybe the file is more than 2GB but why would they prevent me from accessing it?
When you're a member of a shared folder you have your own COPY of the share in your account, so you need to have enough space in your account to hold the entire folder.
If you only need view/download access to the files in the share, ask the owner to send you a shared link instead.
Dropbox is telling me my storage has reached capacity, but I only have 1 file and a shared folder (from a friend that has 5GB max). It says I need to update to be able to upload more. Do shared folders count against your 2 GBs of space?
- Rich
brandonbrant wrote:
Do shared folders count against your 2 GBs of space?
Yes.
When you're a member of a shared folder you aren't getting access to data in someone else's account. You have your own COPY of the data in your account, so you need to have enough available space to hold that data.
That sounds like dropbox is throttling my capacity based off of things I can't control. If a used folder gets 10 GBs of photos added to it, I need to be able to accommodate their data (i.e. spend more money just to be able to view them).
Thanks for the answer, I'm just going to cancel my account.
I keep getting a message that I don't have enough storage space, but it's because other people are giving me access to THEIR Dropbox files.
- Rich
mardigrascat wrote:
I keep getting a message that I don't have enough storage space, but it's because other people are giving me access to THEIR Dropbox files.
When you're a member of a shared folder you aren't getting access to data in someone else's account. You have your own COPY of the data in your account, so you need to have enough available space to hold that data.
Hi. I have received edit request of a folder, which has 2000 GB space. But when I am trying to upload files, I can't upload files more than 2gb of space. I have a basic account. but the owner of the folder is a subscriber of a paid plan. What am I doing wrong?
- Rich
Anandarup wrote:
I can't upload files more than 2gb of space. I have a basic account. but the owner of the folder is a subscriber of a paid plan. What am I doing wrong?
You're not doing anything wrong. Since you have your own COPY of the shared folder in your account, you need to have enough space in your account for anything stored in the folder. You're not uploading directly to someone else's folder.
If you just need to be able to upload files to someone else and will have no need to access those files again, ask the other person to send you a file request instead.
- Hello, so my manager at work subscribed to a certain plan on dropbox, after that he made shared folder with me(I don’t have subscription). He uploaded large files that exceeds my storage, but still didn’t understand why I’m not able to access the files(please note I download via the application on windows not the browser) so the question is should we both have subscription? Cause this doesn’t seem to be logic for me! Or is there a way where he the one who already have subscription can upload files on shared folders and I download those files normally on my PC
Thanks.- Megan
Hey there, Zein awada, happy Thursday!
I merged your post under this thread, since many others also had the same question.
Feel free to take a look at the existing info our superusers have shared, along with what has been suggested already, and let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks!
I was given edit permission by an employer to a Dropbox Folder but Dropbox requires me to add the shared folder to my Dropbox account. It's a large folder so I don't have enough space on my account.
Is this normal? I can't find any information connected to this on the website nor does my employer.
Thank you,
Sandra
- Rich
sandragouveia wrote:
I was given edit permission by an employer to a Dropbox Folder but Dropbox requires me to add the shared folder to my Dropbox account.
Yes, that's normal. When you're a member of a shared folder you get your own COPY of the folder in your own account, and that copy syncs back to all other members of the share. In order to add a shared folder to your account, you need to have enough space to hold the entire folder.
Thank you for your help! 🙏
As the title states. At work I share a folder with colleagues with a large collection of useful files.
However I have noticed if their drobox personal storage amount is full they are automatically deleting my files. Its happened a few times and I have only just realised. Even though I'm paying for the storage.
What gives?? Thanks
- Mark
Dragor699 wrote:
Even though I'm paying for the storage.
What gives?? Thanks
You are paying for your storage. Not theirs. Therefore if they are in the shared folder they need enough quota to use it. If they dont have it syncing stops and people delete things I'm afraid.
They need to get more space, or, use things like Shared links instead.
That's a shame.
I'm paying premium prices so I can host my own files and provide other people access. I guess it just doesn't exactly fit my needs.
