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awertgcs's avatar
awertgcs
Explorer | Level 3
10 months ago

Why do i keep getting emails asking for permission to access a shared file?

I have shared files that are available with a public link for anyone to download. I have been doing this for years, but with my latest file I am getting automated emails asking for permission to access the file. The shared link should work for everyone. I even tested it by logging out and then accessing the file and downloading it and it never triggered an email asking me for permission. Anyone know how I can fix this? Are these people actually being blocked from accessing the file, or is the automated email a mistake?

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

    awertgcs wrote:

    I have been doing this for years, but with my latest file I am getting automated emails asking for permission to access the file.


    If your default is set to create a Can Edit link, people could be clicking the Join Folder button which would prompt you to approve the access.

     

    Go into your account settings and change What people can do to Can View.

    • awertgcs's avatar
      awertgcs
      Explorer | Level 3

      All the text in the sharing settings on the file says "view" so I didn't even consider there might be an account setting overriding that. It seems strange to set that per account and not per file. I believe it used to be per file. I changed the setting to "view" so hopefully that fixes it. Thanks!

  • JasonSilverDBX's avatar
    JasonSilverDBX
    Icon for Dropbox Product Manager rankDropbox Product Manager

    Hi awertgcs , 

     

    You are likely receiving permissions requests due to a change we implemented late last year which allowed recipients to join a folder with view-only permissions, from a view-only folder link. 

     

    However, after careful consideration, we've decided to remove this feature.  This change will be implemented by mid-March.

     
    Going forward, recipients visiting a view-only folder link will no longer see the option to Join Folder. No action or setting modification is required on your part. This change affects both new and existing view-only folder links.
     
    Assuming you have been using view-only folder links, this should solve your problem.
     
    -Jason

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