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

jim10705's avatar
jim10705
Explorer | Level 4
4 years ago

Where does Dropbox inform potential users of unsupported file types

I am a fairly new Dropbox user and thus far very satisfied until I tried to upload certain file types developed by Google.  Dropbox would not allow them to be uploaded claiming they are not supported.  I don't recall anywhere in the sign up process for creating a Dropbox account seeing a disclaimer or warning stating which file types are not supported.  The Terms of Service do not mention or refer to unsupported file types.  It simply refers to content as your "stuff" without mentioning specific limitations on file types.

 

Unless I missed it, wouldn't it be a good idea to make any limitations on file types a big noticeable warning/disclaimer as part of the sign up process (?).

 

Shouldn't the Terms of Service include or refer to a section that states such limitations of the service (?)

 

Regards

  • Thanks for the update, this is the case if you're adding files directly from Google docs, since they won't be supported on Dropbox.

    If you need any further assistance in future, please let me know!
  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    Hi jim10705, thanks for contacting us!

    There are no restrictions on the type of file you can upload to the Dropbox site.

    Are you referring to uploading Google doc files which were already downloaded from Google, or some other type of files?

    Any other info or screenshots would be helpful!
    • jim10705's avatar
      jim10705
      Explorer | Level 4

      Thanks for replying.

      After doing more searching in Dropbox online Help I confirmed that Dropbox (or perhaps Google?) does not allow Google Docs Google Workspace file types moved/uploaded into Dropbox.  See attached screenshot of Dropbox help page.  I think this limitation, along with other noteworthy ones, should be a warning disclaimer (with explanation of alternative options) as part of the sign up process so that users can decide beforehand the impact on planned usage of Dropbox.

       

       

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    Thanks for the update, this is the case if you're adding files directly from Google docs, since they won't be supported on Dropbox.

    If you need any further assistance in future, please let me know!
    • Andyjenk2 's avatar
      Andyjenk2
      Explorer | Level 4
      Have created an epub file which I need to share with the author. I cannot upload this to Dropbox from Android but I can from Windows. The app only allows photos. Will it work to run Chrome on Android and do it from there? The app is useless. I do not want to upload photos to Dropbox. Amazon lets me upload as many as I want.
      • Jay's avatar
        Jay
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

        Hi @Andyjenk2, which option are you choosing to upload files manually? 

         

        There should be two options, one for photos and video, and one to create or upload file?

  • Andyjenk2 's avatar
    Andyjenk2
    Explorer | Level 4
    Further, as Dropbox allows you to UPLOAD unsupported files but not download them isn't that a form of theft? How DO you get your own property back?
    • Andyjenk2 's avatar
      Andyjenk2
      Explorer | Level 4
      I am collaborating with an author to convert his book to an ebook. It is big. I use Dropbox to transfer .docx and the converted epub and mobi formats for checking. His book is unprotected on Dropbox and neither he nor I can access our work. Help please
      • Jay's avatar
        Jay
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

        Hi @Andyjenk2, there aren't any unsupported document formats aside from Google Docs created outside of Dropbox. 

         

        The file types you've mentioned aren't Google Docs, so they can be downloaded from the site. What error are you getting exactly when attempting to download them?