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Forum Discussion
Unable to attach as a file
I have been using Dropbox for several years now and up until last week I had 2 options when trying to send my files via email: attach as a file or upload a link. I no longer have the “attach a file” option. The people I work with do not use Dropbox and have no interest in the added steps to access the files I send. Please help me restore my ability to attach the file to my emails
- I've just tested the issue you've described and this seems to be an issue with Outlook, not Dropbox, as Dropbox doesn't control that process. Microsoft created the process of attaching files from within Outlook. They simply use the Dropbox API to do it. In fact, Dropbox doesn't even need to be installed on the device.
You'll need to reach out to Microsoft for assistance with this.
When I go to attach a PDF file to an outlook email through dropbox, I now only get the link option. I’m using an iPad Pro with 11.2.5 & I think this started after the update. Thanks
- Rich
Super User II
I've just tested the issue you've described and this seems to be an issue with Outlook, not Dropbox, as Dropbox doesn't control that process. Microsoft created the process of attaching files from within Outlook. They simply use the Dropbox API to do it. In fact, Dropbox doesn't even need to be installed on the device.
You'll need to reach out to Microsoft for assistance with this.- Please report this issue through your Outlook app and suggest a feature to bring it back. within the outlook app go to settings> help & Feedback> suggest a feature and put a request to add back 'attach as a file' for dropbox integration. I don't think dropbox can do anything about it.
You can use alternative email apps to access your outlook email to attach file. For iPhone iOS11 using native Mail app:
1. Go to Mail
2. Hold your finger on the blank space of the mail until the pop-up appears
3. Choose "Add Attachment"
4. You will come to native Document app, click the "Locations" of the top left corner
5. It will show any cloud storage apps you have on your phone, choose "Dropbox"
6. Choose any files you would like to attach in there
Hurrah, you have succesfully attached a file in your email! Different email apps may have slightly different steps but the key steps are choosing "Locations" and then "Dropbox" for iPhone users after you try to add attachment.
I think Android phone should work the same. By using other email apps will bypass the inability of Outlook app to attach file from Dropbox or any other cloud storage sources. Hope this helps.
- Mail no longer shows Dropbox as a possible location of files on my iPhone 6s
- Must be Apple's fault!
/sarcasm off...
Don't forget to take a video cast of your testing the issue for Dropbox!
/whoopee
We need to know how to attach a dropbox file via Outlook mail.
- Rich
Moma wrote:
We need to know how to attach a dropbox file via Outlook mail.
If you're doing this from within the Outlook app, then you need to contact Microsoft as it's their app and they seem to have removed that ability.
If you're doing this from within Dropbox, tap the elipsis ( ... ) for the file and select Export. Then tap Open in and select Outlook. Outlook will open and start a new email with the file attached.
- When composing email in iOS Mail
Press for action bar
Select Add Attachment
Screen should go to Locations/iCloud/Dropbox/
Dropbox not appearing even though files accessible via Dropbox app.
Going to blame Apple now along with Microsoft?
- RichWhat platform are you doing this on; computer, mobile, etc.? Please list the exact steps you're taking.
- I am using a mobile platform using all the same steps I have used forever.
I open my outlook, click to add an attachment, select the folder and then the file I am looking for...
The options have always been “attach as a file” or “attach a link”.
Now the only option is to attach a link
- I would like to know if you find a solution to this. I’m having the same issue
- I had the strangest thing happen last week with attaching a file from Outlook on my iPhone. After attaching and sending the person had access to my entire folder instead of the one file I selected. I chatted with support who insisted I must have created a link to my folder in error. Was disappointed at their response so didn’t share for about a week hoping issue was one time. Tried again today and same thing happened. Noticed also the option of attaching the file instead of a link now gone.
- Rich
A person can only have access to the specific item that was linked to. If they're seeing an entire folder, then the link was to the folder and not a file within it. Also, if you're testing the link yourself, YOU will see your entire folder because you're already logged in to Dropbox. A recipient of a link will not see that.
Microsoft seems to have changed the functionality within Outlook. The ability to attach a file directly no longer exists within Outlook. You can still attach a file to an email, but you need to initiate it from Dropbox by first opening the file, selecting the Export option and choosing Outlook. This will start a new email with the file as an attachment, not a link.
- I’m experiencing the same problem for a couple of weeks now when I send emails from my iPhone or my iPad using Outlook.
Previously when I wanted to attach a Dropbox file to an email I clicked on the “clip” icon, selected the file I wanted to share and once it opened on screen I had 2 choices at the bottom: one was to add the file as an attachment and the second choice was to include a link to the file. Now I don’t have a choice. In other words, I can only include the link, which for some people is not so practical. Especially elderly clients who don’t trust links even if they see they are coming from a well known source. I’d love to have the choice between attachment and link again, please!
Ps: The problem only occurs when I use Outlook. If I send emails from Mail the files can be attached without any problems. - I have same problem, using iOS. Can no longer attach a PDF saved to Dropbox which prior to now I’ve been able to attach. It appears the files that say “Shared” are ghosted, and I cannot attach any. Don’t have the little cloud icon. Instead what comes up when selecting is “change file name.”
You can initially upload to the File to Drop Box/ Google Drive and then create a link under given options.
Then you will able to insert the link to E-Mail.
