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Forum Discussion

jaycub's avatar
jaycub
Helpful | Level 5
4 days ago

Remove "Login/SignUp" Dialog box from shared link download

Currently, when I send a client a link to download a file using the Dropbox share file functionality, they are directed to a preview page. When they click the Download button, they are presented with a dialog box prompting them to sign in or sign up for Dropbox. At the bottom of this dialog box, in text that more closely resembles a legal disclaimer, they are given the option to download without signing up. 

As a paid user, I cannot entertain this dark UI feature. If I need to provide clients with an instruction manual on how to work around a dark UI feature, then it makes me look really cheap and really hacky. 

Not only does it make me look bad, but it's also a really nasty look for the Dropbox brand. 

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    Hi jaycub, thanks for messaging the Community.

     

    Have you tried these steps to allow shared links to be downloaded automatically when a user clicks on the link?

     

    Would this satisfy your requirements?

  • jaycub's avatar
    jaycub
    Helpful | Level 5

    Jay, I don't think this is a suitable solution. For one, most of the time I am sending a link to a video, so forcing download would mean the client does not get the benefit of the video preview in the dropbox player. Secondly, these video files can be very large. I wouldn't want to forcebomb a 50gb file onto someone computer from an email link (and to that effect, it wouldn't be a terrible idea to see file size on the preview page. 

    All to say, for me to implement this solution, or to continue with the current solution I need to send clients an instruction manual on how to work around these various solutions. We live in a world where we have figured out how to implement intuitive UX/UI to offer users a seamless experience. I am taking a hard stance that as a paid user, I should not have to deliver work with an instruction manual about how to thwart or work around a premium service that at its core is designed to share files. 

    This UX practice is reflecting poorly on both Dropbox and myself, and it is unacceptable.

    • Mark's avatar
      Mark
      Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II

      I agree with everything on this 

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    We appreciate the feedback on this matter. 
     
    We take all comments into consideration when improving the Dropbox site and services.