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Forum Discussion
'Can not upload the file' error when attaching from Dropbox to Gmail on Android
When I try to add an attachment from dropbox to a mail in gmail, I receive a message in gmail "can not upload the file". This error occurs only on one smartphone with android 12. If I do the same , with the same dropbox and google account, on an other android phone (android 11 )or an android tablet, there is no problem. Both phones have the same app version of gmail
Hi Everybody,
I've spoken with our Engineering team about this, who have confirmed that the 'Attach from Dropbox' option no longer being available is the result of an update to the Android OS and Gmail app, specifically Storage Access Framework. This means that the option to Attach from Dropbox will no longer be available.
As others have stated, to attach files, you will need to
- Nancy
Dropbox Staff
Thanks for posting on the forum today, erlend w.!
As a first, can you send me a screenshot of the specific error you're receiving?
Other than that, have you tried to add other attachments from Dropbox to Gmail on your Android 12 device, and the same error appears?
Keep me posted for more updates.
It is very difficult to make a Screenshot from the message, since it only appears 2 seconds and then disappears. But i will try.
The attachment ( a photo in jpg format) sometimes appear for a second and then disappear, before the message appears
The email is then automatically put in the outbox and after a while it is automatically put in concepts, without attachment.
I tried several other files from the same dropbox, with the same result, also other formats, txt, doc, instead of jpg, without succes.
Attachments from other cloud services, like Mega or google drive are possible.
Screenshot of the message in Dutch.
- Please help me
I'm not very techie so don't know the OS on my phone or the dropbox app version. I have tried attaching files from my laptop and they will only allow me to attached a link, versus attaching the file. I don't know if both of these changes happened at the same time or not but might get that is that case.
Suddenly I cannot attached Dropbox files to my emails. I create the email from Gmail, click the paperclips and choose my file from dropbox. It seems to attach and then disappears and says "Couldn't attach file". Same thing happen from my android phone or my desktop computer. I can share the file from within Dropbox to gmail however
- Same thing happens to me now. Any updates on the possible solution?
- Hannah
Hey VickiBurbank and c4l1n, sorry to see you're having this issue.
Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling both the Gmail and Dropbox apps, to see if that helps?
Keep me posted.
- I did that. But in no avail.
- Hi Vicci,
I'm having g the same issue. Were you able to find a solution?
Thank you
Warren King- Hi Warren, I'm just attaching them differently now. Got the suggestion from someone else here. From your email, click on the paperclip/attach, next screen click on stacked hamburger on the top left, then don't choose dropvox from the options but instead click on the plus sign to the right of the Dropbox icon, click on the file you want and then the upper right check mark. It attaches no problem every time.
I've been using Dropbox for years and this recently we could not attach a file on a mobile phone using Gmail. This started about a month ago and we went through the troubleshooting steps with Adobe and Google and they were unsuccessful. They're saying it is the Dropbox that is on error for not letting us attach a simple PDF to our mobile email.
- Calvin2DBX
Hi Me420,
Thanks for reaching out on the Community!
It sounds like you already tried steps to resolve the issue with Adobe and Google for the PDF files, but I'm sure we can get to the bottom of it.
Let's be sure you can find the file in the Dropbox mobile app — if it's not installed, you can find it at the app store on your phone.
Tap the three dots to the right of the file in the Dropbox app, choose "Share", then "Send a copy of the file", and choose the Gmail app, to add it as a regular file attachment.
Also, does the file open correctly in the Adobe Acrobat Reader, if you choose "Open with.." from the Dropbox app?
Email apps have a size limit for attachments, so if you find you're hitting that, you can send a link to it, on Dropbox, from the "Share" menu, instead.
Keep me posted with what you find!
I can leave an Gmail conversation and open the Dropbox app and email the file starting a new thread. However, I am unable to attach the file using Gmail on the Pixel phone.
When it comes to "Open with" I still am choosing and I choose Adobe Acrobat App. However, I have not made Adobe the default app yet.
- On Gmail app, not able to attach files from Dropbox app. Get error message saying not able to attach.
These are my files on Dropbox not shared files with restricted access etc. Facing this issue recently only.
OS and apps are all updated to the latest version. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling Dropbox too. Still doesn't work.
Mobile : Samsung S21 Ultra- Jay
Hi gogettervj, I've merged you to this post, please could you try the troubleshooting above to see if this issue persists in other apps or different file types?
need help with attaching document to gmail from dropbox, they are adobe pdf documents and they wont attach, says couldnt attach file. they are not shared files..i do not share files
Come on, Hannah!! You know better then this...
- Scroll through this thread. The workaround is described several times.
Yes there are actually 3 workarounds.
One is to start from Dropbox and share it to Gmail. That's bass-akwards because most of us start our correspondence from Gmail and then want to attach a file as we have done with Dropbox and Gmail on our phones for years. So that one doesn't even count.
Another option is of course to download your file from Dropbox to your phone and then choose it through Gmail from your phone. This works but clutters up your phone with those downloaded files and Is even more cumbersome.
The third and preferred solution is to use the paper clip from Gmail but instead of choosing a directory or file from within Dropbox immediately by clicking on Dropbox, you go to the hamburger in the top left corner and THEN choose the arrow to the right of your Dropbox from which you can then navigate through Dropbox and select file or files by checking the boxes on the right and then the check mark at the top. Yes this works and it's less cumbersome than the other two, but it's still way more cumbersome than the original elegant solution. I have no idea why Dropbox can't restore that arrangement unless perhaps Gmail has made it difficult wanting this all to switch from Dropbox to Google Drive!!
Sigh!!!!
From email on your phone click on attach/paperclip, click hamburg on top left, don't click Dropbox but instead plus sign to the right of icon, checkmark files you want to attach then checkmark at the top right. Easy once you get used to it
got a new phone with android 12 few days ago. and now i cant attach files directly from gmail.
before i click the paperclip, i get the sidebar with all the locations that i could attach, select dropbox, and will take me to the latest folder that i used on dropbox, click the file and vuala.
now doing that i get the error:
"couldn't attach file" but no other reason no additional information nothing...i found out
if i click on the "Dropbox" text yellow circle and select the file; i get the error message on the Gmail email,
but if i use the button on the right with the green circle i have to march down all the folders down to the file i want and is very lame... but does download the file and attach it properly.
why is this? i don't want to navigate all my folder on Dropbox every time i want to attach a file,
this doesn't happen on my old Motorola x4 with android 8(or 9)
any one have a similar issue?
Hi,
But this has been an ongoing problem for months ... still investigating?????
Theresa
- Jay
Currently, we've received reports about this behavior, so our team are looking into it in more detail on our end.
Exactly! The arrow workaround is fine and better than the other options but not better than the original more elegant solution!
All of the sudden, when I open my Gmail in my Android mobile, I can't attach files from Dropbox.
I worked before, and now it does'nt.
Maybe because of the last Andriod update..
Does anyone know how can I solve this?
Thanks.
Hey Jay,
It's not exactly an Error message.
These are the steps:
1) I open a new email
2) I'm choosing a file from Dropbox to Attach
3) The file appears on the emil for one second, then disappears
4) Then a message "The file could not be attached" pops-up.
BenDBXCommunity Manager
Hi Everybody,
I've spoken with our Engineering team about this, who have confirmed that the 'Attach from Dropbox' option no longer being available is the result of an update to the Android OS and Gmail app, specifically Storage Access Framework. This means that the option to Attach from Dropbox will no longer be available.
As others have stated, to attach files, you will need to
Thanks, Ben -
Does this mean the Dropbox Engineering team is not working on a way to bring the original functionality back at a later date?- BenDBX
Hi Tmdale808,
No, given that this is a result of the change to the Android OS itself, restoring the original attachment functionality is not something we're looking into. As I understand it, Storage Access Framework forces the change in the attachment flow so that users can attach from multiple document sources rather than allowing individual apps to live in the "Add Attachment" menu.
Regards,
Ben
- This is also not working. When I try to use this method and choose dropbox and then the file, I get an error message stating that 'unable to attach'
- I have to download the file to my device and then I am able to attach the files.
- *As others have stated, to attach files, you will need to select Attach File in Gmail, open the hamburger menu on the left, select Dropbox, then choose the files to be uploaded.* Yes, I do this but get the message "couldn't upload file". This sucks! A feature not a bug then, eh?
- Read back a few replies, I'm pretty sure someone from developer said they spoke to an engineer and it's not being done. Seems bizarre for what must be an easy fix.
- That references an old menu that gave a direct Attach from Dropbox function.
- this was removed quite a while ago.
Ben refers to another process to add using the hamburger, but that has been the only way to attach in Gmail from Dropbox since the direct attachment was removed (by Gmail), but this issue is preventing attaching files with ALL methods.
It is currently simply impossible to attach a file that is stored in my Dropbox without saving it to my device...- Mine still seems to be okay with the burger although I did notice last night when I attached an excel it did attach and then it crashed or disappeared from my email. It was late at night when I was in bed, so didn't think much of it and left it. Just tried now and it was fine with the burger. It's hard to believe a company like Dropbox is letting this happen and not sorting it out. If I get more issues, I guess I'll have to move everything into Gdrive or something like that
- Good Morning, it is December and this is still an issue for me on my Pixel 6 Pro. I have cleared cash, reinstalled programs etc. after doing all this the file attached for a split second and then it disappeared and the normal message appeared saying can't connect file. Need this fixed ASAP.
- Why has this still not been solved? I swear I give you time until end of January and if it's not done I will move my business elsewhere. So many emails that I sent out without attachments because of this bug. This is so unprofessional from your side, I am very disappointed.
- Dear fuserr
This is not considered a bug at this point. You have to learn a different way to attach, but it works fine and is easy once you get used to it. Solution is given in earlier threads.
"you will need to select Attach File in Gmail, open the hamburger menu on the left, select Dropbox, then choose the files to be uploaded. "
Hope that helps.Metro Condo,
This is the way that attachments in the Gmail App work already.
The point is that this works for all other files / images / anything EXCEPT with Dropbox where it does NOT work.
It remains IMPOSSIBLE to attach a Dropbox file to a Reply email in the Gmail App using Android (might be limited to Pixels) whereas you can do this using iOS without a problem.
- you can however use OneDrive or Box or any of the other Cloud File Storage solutions, just not Dropbox.
It is 100% a bug
