You might see that the Dropbox Community team have been busy working on some major updates to the Community itself! So, here is some info on what’s changed, what’s staying the same and what you can expect from the Dropbox Community overall.

Forum Discussion

Pysio13's avatar
Pysio13
Helpful | Level 6
2 years ago

Shared Link / "scl" to "s"

Hello. My question concerns my recent issue with file sharing. Usually, my links were generated in this way: 'https://www.dropbox.com/s/'. However, lately, every file is being generated in this way: ...
Preview
Share
Shared Links
  • JasonSilverDBX's avatar
    JasonSilverDBX
    2 years ago
    Thank you BenDBX  for splitting off a new thread specific to the 3rd party integrations issue, and especially for doing it in a way that migrates all the relevant posts to date!  To properly wrap up this thread, below is a summary.


    Why the new "/scl" link format?

     

    Dropbox is moving to an updated shared link architecture where links are based on the content being shared rather than on the user doing the sharing.  This new content-based link architecture is already in place for edit access links to folders and newly created links to files, and can be identified by the presence of an ‘rlkey’ parameter in the URL.  (They also begin with "/scl" instead of the previous architecture's  "/s".)  It is the rlkey parameter which grants access to the content.  That is why removing that parameter results in visitors having to sign in and request access.  I talk more about this transition in this forum thread.
     
    Over the next few months, we’ll round out the shared link portfolio by bringing this new architecture to newly created view-only access folder links, or view folder links for short.

    Direct Download on new link architecture is Solved

     
    Regarding this thread on “direct / forced” download not working on new links, this should be solved since a fix was implemented 2 weeks ago.  That is, all new links should now function the same as legacy links for these purposes.  This can be accomplished in two ways.  
    1. modifying the dl parameter in the URL
    2. modifying using dl.dropbox.com or dl.dropboxusercontent.com.  

     

    👉 In both cases you must retain the rlkey parameter for the URL to grant your recipients permission rights to access your file.

     

    What is the DL parameter?

     

    Anything following the ? in a URL are query parameters.  It’s worth reemphasizing that dl parameter in new links did not break and will continue to function identically to those in legacy links.  Manually changing the dl parameter does the following:

     

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0

    • Default link. This will render the content in the Dropbox file viewer.

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=1

    • Downloads the content of the link (if the user has access to the content based on link settings). This query parameter takes precedence even if raw=1 is also added.

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&raw=1

    • Directly renders the content in the browser (if the link has a public audience and no other restrictions). Note that this link has an HTTP 302 redirect, so the application or browser must be able to follow the redirect.

     

    What are the dl.dropbox... modifications?

     
    These are link transformations from the early days of Dropbox.  While we don't "officially" list these anymore in our Help Center, we are continuing to support them for now.  
     
    https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0
    • Replacing www with dl works exactly like a ?raw=1 link: this will directly render content for public links in the browser. It requires following an HTTP 302 redirect.
    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0
    • Works like a ?raw=1 link, but the application or browser will not need to follow an HTTP 302 redirect to access the content.
     
Turville Wines's avatar
Turville Wines
New member | Level 2

I've been creating direct download links via drop box for years but for some reason since 1st June 2023 the links have been behaving differently.

 

Previously the view only share link would display with the ending dl=0. I'd change it to dl=1 and that's my direct download link.

 

Since the 1st June the view only share link appears with the ending dl=0&rlkey=randomkey

 

when I remove everything from the 0 onwards (0&rlkey=randomkey) and replace it with a 1 the direct download works on Chrome (I'm logged into dropbox via chrome) but it doesn't work on any other browser.

 

Has there been a setting change by dropbox? Is this a user error?

 

Help

Jay's avatar
Jay
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
2 years ago

Hi Turville Wines, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

 

If you open the shared link with just dl=0, does it open normally on the site?

 

How are you copying the link, via the site, the desktop application, or the mobile app?

 

This will help me to assist further!

  • Turville Wines's avatar
    Turville Wines
    New member | Level 2
    2 years ago

    Yes, if I open with dl=0 then it opens in dropbox and asks me to sign in or request access.

     

    If I open with dl=0&rlkey=randomkey it opens in dropbox and asks me to sign in or request access.

     

    If I open it with dl=1 it does the same.

     

    I'm copying the link via the site.

    • Jay's avatar
      Jay
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
      2 years ago

      If you created a normal shared link, then there shouldn't be a login request, since the links should be visible to anyone with the URL. Is this a view-only shared link?

       

      Are you part of a Dropbox Business team, which could've changed the permissions on shared links?

       

      Could you clarify exactly how you created the link, and which steps you follow?

      • JasonSilverDBX's avatar
        JasonSilverDBX
        Icon for Dropbox Product Manager rankDropbox Product Manager
        2 years ago
        Thank you BenDBX  for splitting off a new thread specific to the 3rd party integrations issue, and especially for doing it in a way that migrates all the relevant posts to date!  To properly wrap up this thread, below is a summary.


        Why the new "/scl" link format?

         

        Dropbox is moving to an updated shared link architecture where links are based on the content being shared rather than on the user doing the sharing.  This new content-based link architecture is already in place for edit access links to folders and newly created links to files, and can be identified by the presence of an ‘rlkey’ parameter in the URL.  (They also begin with "/scl" instead of the previous architecture's  "/s".)  It is the rlkey parameter which grants access to the content.  That is why removing that parameter results in visitors having to sign in and request access.  I talk more about this transition in this forum thread.
         
        Over the next few months, we’ll round out the shared link portfolio by bringing this new architecture to newly created view-only access folder links, or view folder links for short.

        Direct Download on new link architecture is Solved

         
        Regarding this thread on “direct / forced” download not working on new links, this should be solved since a fix was implemented 2 weeks ago.  That is, all new links should now function the same as legacy links for these purposes.  This can be accomplished in two ways.  
        1. modifying the dl parameter in the URL
        2. modifying using dl.dropbox.com or dl.dropboxusercontent.com.  

         

        👉 In both cases you must retain the rlkey parameter for the URL to grant your recipients permission rights to access your file.

         

        What is the DL parameter?

         

        Anything following the ? in a URL are query parameters.  It’s worth reemphasizing that dl parameter in new links did not break and will continue to function identically to those in legacy links.  Manually changing the dl parameter does the following:

         

        https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0

        • Default link. This will render the content in the Dropbox file viewer.

        https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=1

        • Downloads the content of the link (if the user has access to the content based on link settings). This query parameter takes precedence even if raw=1 is also added.

        https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&raw=1

        • Directly renders the content in the browser (if the link has a public audience and no other restrictions). Note that this link has an HTTP 302 redirect, so the application or browser must be able to follow the redirect.

         

        What are the dl.dropbox... modifications?

         
        These are link transformations from the early days of Dropbox.  While we don't "officially" list these anymore in our Help Center, we are continuing to support them for now.  
         
        https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0
        • Replacing www with dl works exactly like a ?raw=1 link: this will directly render content for public links in the browser. It requires following an HTTP 302 redirect.
        https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/<token>/path.jpg?rlkey=<token>&dl=0
        • Works like a ?raw=1 link, but the application or browser will not need to follow an HTTP 302 redirect to access the content.
         

About View, download, and export

Need support with viewing, downloading, and exporting files and folders from your Dropbox account? Find help from the Dropbox Community.

Need more support

If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X or Facebook.

For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.

If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!