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joannasm's avatar
joannasm
New member | Level 2
7 years ago

How do I upload a file to someone else's Dropbox account?

I need to upload a file to the Dropbox of another user.  I did not have an account, but in the process of trying to do this, I opened one.  The other user sent me a link to his Dropbox, but I don't think it was an actual "request" for files-- it says I have the right to edit his folder.  I have tried to upload my file from a flash drive to his folder about 15 times.  Each time, the screen says the file is "uploading" and there is a bar showing the progress--but then the entire thing disappears and the folder is still empty.

Questions:

(1) is this because he did not send me a file request, but just a link that gives me access to edit files in his Dropbox?

(2) is this because my own account does not have enough space for the large file?

(3) something else?  This is very frustrating and I am about to give up and just make a copy of the file onto another flash drive and put it in the mail.


  • joannasm wrote:

    I need to upload a file to the Dropbox of another user.  I did not have an account, but in the process of trying to do this, I opened one.  The other user sent me a link to his Dropbox, but I don't think it was an actual "request" for files-- it says I have the right to edit his folder.  I have tried to upload my file from a flash drive to his folder about 15 times.  Each time, the screen says the file is "uploading" and there is a bar showing the progress--but then the entire thing disappears and the folder is still empty.

    Questions:

    (1) is this because he did not send me a file request, but just a link that gives me access to edit files in his Dropbox?

    (2) is this because my own account does not have enough space for the large file?

    (3) something else?  This is very frustrating and I am about to give up and just make a copy of the file onto another flash drive and put it in the mail.


    1) No. You can join and add files to a shared folder, though you need an account to do it (which you said you have).

    2) That depends. How large is the file? You are limited to the amount of space in your account, event when uploading to someone else's shared folder.

    3) We need more details...

     

    Basically, if they shared a folder with you, you can upload files into it up to the limit of your own space. To send them a file that's larger than your space, just have them send you a File Request instead. You don't need an account to send a file through a request. If they're a Basic user, there's a 2GB limit files sent through a request.

     

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

    joannasm wrote:

    I need to upload a file to the Dropbox of another user.  I did not have an account, but in the process of trying to do this, I opened one.  The other user sent me a link to his Dropbox, but I don't think it was an actual "request" for files-- it says I have the right to edit his folder.  I have tried to upload my file from a flash drive to his folder about 15 times.  Each time, the screen says the file is "uploading" and there is a bar showing the progress--but then the entire thing disappears and the folder is still empty.

    Questions:

    (1) is this because he did not send me a file request, but just a link that gives me access to edit files in his Dropbox?

    (2) is this because my own account does not have enough space for the large file?

    (3) something else?  This is very frustrating and I am about to give up and just make a copy of the file onto another flash drive and put it in the mail.


    1) No. You can join and add files to a shared folder, though you need an account to do it (which you said you have).

    2) That depends. How large is the file? You are limited to the amount of space in your account, event when uploading to someone else's shared folder.

    3) We need more details...

     

    Basically, if they shared a folder with you, you can upload files into it up to the limit of your own space. To send them a file that's larger than your space, just have them send you a File Request instead. You don't need an account to send a file through a request. If they're a Basic user, there's a 2GB limit files sent through a request.

     

    • RichardF's avatar
      RichardF
      New member | Level 2

      Hi. I'm a new Dropbox user. I need, on a regular basis, to deliver a file into someone else's dropbox account. Not large in size, around MB.

       

      This is not about creating an intermediate Dropbox folder, to which we would both have access.

      Nor, is it about giving them access to my Dropbox account.

       

      It needs to be push mode, ie, I will need to put the file into a folder, within their account, myself.

      Their account is passworded, but I have the password  

      I have a Dropbox account myself, currently the basic (free) type.

       

      Can anybody clarify how to do this, ie, copy (aka upload) a file from my account straight into theirs ?

       

      Or, would it be just as easy to upload from my PC, straight into their account ?

       

      Thanks, Richard       

      • Walter's avatar
        Walter
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        Hey RichardF - thanks for joining the discussion here.

        If you choose to go with Rich's suggestion and have our collaborator open up a file request from their end, then yes, you'll be able to upload files to their account directly from your computer.

        Let us know if you have any other questions.
    • gsegallis's avatar
      gsegallis
      New member | Level 2

      So my church pays for 9 TB.  They have lots of folders and lot of people that take pictures for them.  But I can only upload 2 GB (cumulative over years) to THEIR 9 TB Dropbox because I only have 2 GB of storage?  That is the worst business model I have seen as a semi-pro photographer.

      Sounds like a workaround may be for them to only share a single folder with me (rather than each event I shoot), and they will then have to move the files out of this temporary "transfer" folder, that way I never have more than 2GB of "shared" files on their 9 TB Dropbox?

      Or even easier, switch them to a more professional storage option that allows any number of contributors to upload content up to the limit of the storage the church pays for (which would seem like a common sense approach)

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

        Hey gsegallis, thanks for taking the time to post your feedback.

         

        To give some additional info on this, sharing a folder with someone doesn't mean that you're sharing your account's space with them; shared folders take up space in each member's account.

         

        In your case, your church can send you a file request, which will not affect your own Dropbox quota at all.

         

        I hope this helps.

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