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'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 , w...
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
I've been looking into other options... won't pay much longer for something that doesn't allow me to work on my phone.
Sam DBX
Community Manager
Community ManagerHi all,
Just to assure you that our team has this issue flagged (and are actively working on it).
We've shared the feedback from the Community and hope to resolve it as soon as possible.
Thank you for your patience so far!
- Thanks, Samantha. Please note:
Can't attach file from Dropbox to Gmail but also can't download an email attachment to Dropbox anymore. Only option is GoogleDocs!!! - Sam DBX
- I am. Samsung S22 Ultra
- Yes, I'm using an Android. Now my only proven is that I can't attach a file from Dropbox to a Gmail email.
The Android problem seems to be with the Gmail App and Dropbox.
I have a workaround to use Outlook on my Android, I now can attach Dropbox files using Outlook.
Try another email app like Outlook on your Android while the Dropbox team gets this issue resolved with Gmail.
Hope it works!
- Sam DBX
Hi all, thanks for your answers.
Yes, our team is looking at the Gmail attachment issue (specifically for Android).
I will update everyone as soon as we have news.
Thank you!
- I have an only slightly annoying workaround here:
When i go to attach a file, it takes me to the connected Dropbox, there is a square of little arrows on the right. When i click a file name, it starts to attach, but then i get the "can't attach" message. Same problem everyone is having, which started for me maybe 2 weeks ago.
If i click on the top-left hamburger instead of the desired file, i go back to the "open from" menu. Dropbox is a choice. If i click on the left side of the choice, it takes me back to the previous Dropbox. **But if i click on the RIGHT side, ** after the small vertical bar, on the little box with the arrow in it, it takes me to a different Dropbox menu, where i can SELECT the file i want by clicking a BOX next to the filename, then click the check mark at the top after the selection. The program says "downloading" (not to the download folder, but i don't know where) and attaches the file to the email. Send and done.
I'm sure the file gets downloaded somewhere, so that this solution is the same as first downloading the file and then second attaching it to the email, but it automatically attaches, i don't have to search or open another directory.... so this is good enough for me. I use the same workaround. Discovered by accident.
- Thanks Larry!!!!! I'll do this until they fix the problem
- Thanks Larry, it works but surprised a big company like this doesn't have a quick way of contacting Google and getting it sorted out within 24 hrs. Kind of gets me worried about if something more serious happened
- Thanks, Larry. Works like a charm!
- Larry you're awesome...!!...it never occurred to me to attach the files that way! Works okay until it fixes in place... Thanks again... Yes..I also have an Android... I attach files multiple times throughout the day and this has been a nightmare!
I am trying to figure out your workaround, what's a hamburger? I am not tech savvy and getting more and more frustrated with this. I cannot attavh a file, mostly adobe pdf files from my dropbox into an email in gmail. I tested it by attaching a photo from dropbox and it works. I have uninstalled both dropbox and adobe and nothing has helped. I was going to head to the Verizon store and have them restore factory settings but based on the comments here it appears this is a dropbox/android issue. I have a motorola maybe 1.5 years old. I need to be able to use my phone for sending emails with attachments, time is of the essence in my business and work around using google drive is a pain in the butt.
- The burgers they just refer to the 3 horizontal lines in the top left I believe. So when you are in email and click attach > burger (3 horizontal lines) > scroll to where you have drop box > click to to the right side of the dropbox link where there is a little triangle, instead of clicking on the word Dropbox or logo. That's what works for me
- A hamburger is the menu options, usually 3 short horizontal lines in the top corner. I hear your frustration as I am a realtor and we have definitive time constraints as well.
Feel free to let me know if you have any further questions. Always happy to help out another non techie individual Hi, I dont see three horizontal lines.....I have the paperclip, the google drive arrow, that 's all I got
no horizontal lines, just paperclip, google drive arrow and three vertical dots which gives me the choices of schedule send, add from contacts, confidential mode, discard, settings, help&feedback Thats it.
- After the paper clip for me. I click the paper clip > burger (3 horizontal lines) scroll down to the Dropbox folder > click on the right side of Dropbox logo
- Paper click > attach files > scroll down to the Dropbox folder > click the right side of Dropbox log which is a little arrow logo
I'm also using an Android 12. My only problem is that I can't attach files from Dropbox to a Gmail email.
- The hamburger is the 3 lines in the upper corner. Not sure if you saw these directions:
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. But Larry what happens when your phone is full after having use this system for 6 months?
Beware Metro, your phone may soon fill up with all the files that you have attached. Attaching them directly from Dropbox left the file in the Dropbox cloud. This workaround downloads them and clogs up your phone. But maybe you don't have large files or do this very often?
A little less cumbersome is using the "hamburger" rather than choosing a file directly. If there were a way to attach files here I would do so with each of the steps illustrated.
The hamburger is just the three horizontal parallel lines in the top left that typically indicate there are menu items when clicked. After clicking the paper clip in the upper right of your Gmail app, then instead of choosing Dropbox choose the hamburger and from within the hamburger don't click Dropbox but instead the arrow to the right of Dropbox. This opens Dropbox and lets you navigate and choose files by clicking the boxes to the right of the file names. All very cumbersome and all very unnecessary and all very stupid compared to the original elegant solution. It does work, but come on Dropbox!!!
