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Forum Discussion
Why do shared files count against my space use???
Why are files shared with me counted against my space usage? Is this data counted twice? If someone who is sharing files with me is paying for this space, why should I have to pay as well just to access it? I am out of space, I have no intention of buying more space, and yet, when someone shares some files with me, I cannot access them and I am forced to buy space in order to access them. Why is this?
Thank you.
dualice wrote:
Why are files shared with me counted against my space usage?
Because the files exist in your account.
When you have access to a shared folder, you're not accessing someone else's folder. You're accessing your own COPY of the folder within your account, and you need to have enough space available to hold that folder.
If you just need to view or download files that someone else is sharing with you, ask them to send you a shared link instead. A shared link is a view-only method of sharing and you don't even need a Dropbox account to access it.
Dropbox says I can't have access to a folder that was shared with me because I don't have enough space in my dropbox? What does the space in my drop box have to do with accessing someone else's folder?
- Ed
Dropbox Staff
Hi Tom
A shared folder takes up space from all accounts that are in that shared folder. To access files without consuming space on your account, please ask the sender to send a link to the shared folder instead (so you can download its contents). More info: https://www.dropbox.com/en/help/167 - Rich
Super User II
You're not accessing the data in someone else's folder. You've been invited to the folder, so the folder will be added to your account. That can only happen if you have enough space in your account.
So that means that if i belong to a large organisation that uses Dropbox to store documents relevant to it's members, and then wants those members to have access to edit those documents (such as meeting minutes, agendas, calendar of events, rosters for volunteers etc), then each user would need to have a Dropbox account equivalent in size to that of the organisation, even though they are not using it for themselves, only for the running of the organisation. Sounds a bit unfair to me.
- Rich
dualice wrote:
Why are files shared with me counted against my space usage?
Because the files exist in your account.
When you have access to a shared folder, you're not accessing someone else's folder. You're accessing your own COPY of the folder within your account, and you need to have enough space available to hold that folder.
If you just need to view or download files that someone else is sharing with you, ask them to send you a shared link instead. A shared link is a view-only method of sharing and you don't even need a Dropbox account to access it.
That's completely ridiculous. That is just a way for DropBox to make money off of the same data/space. Sharing is sharing, copying is copying. If I share a file with someone on google drive, google doesn't make a copy of that file, it gives access to the file.
This is just dumb. No way they're really copying each and every file within that shared folder. That makes zero sense, and is just a method to rip off users of their money! 😠
Repugnant stuff
My client has a dropbox plus account and wants me to upload files to her folder. She has sent me a link to a shared folder
However, I only have a basic plan which caps me at 2GB for uploads.
I don't need to store the files, only she does
Is there a way for me to send her files from my basic plan, or do both parts need a dropbox plus account?
- Rich
Nake wrote:
Is there a way for me to send her files from my basic plan, or do both parts need a dropbox plus account?
If you've been given access to a shared folder, then you'll need to have enough space in your account to hold the entire folder, including what you add to it, because the folder will exist in your account. You're not uploading directly to your client. If you don't have enough space, you would need to upgrade.
The other option is to ask your client to send you a File Request instead. A File Request will allow you to upload files directly to her account. You don't even need an account of your own to do so.
Okey I understand, but can I send files exceeding the 2GB limit if I recieve a file request from a Dropbox plus member?
I keep getting a message that I don't have enough storage space, but it's because other people are giving me access to THEIR Dropbox files.
- Rich
mardigrascat wrote:
I keep getting a message that I don't have enough storage space, but it's because other people are giving me access to THEIR Dropbox files.
When you're a member of a shared folder you aren't getting access to data in someone else's account. You have your own COPY of the data in your account, so you need to have enough available space to hold that data.
I was given edit permission by an employer to a Dropbox Folder but Dropbox requires me to add the shared folder to my Dropbox account. It's a large folder so I don't have enough space on my account.
Is this normal? I can't find any information connected to this on the website nor does my employer.
Thank you,
Sandra
- Rich
sandragouveia wrote:
I was given edit permission by an employer to a Dropbox Folder but Dropbox requires me to add the shared folder to my Dropbox account.
Yes, that's normal. When you're a member of a shared folder you get your own COPY of the folder in your own account, and that copy syncs back to all other members of the share. In order to add a shared folder to your account, you need to have enough space to hold the entire folder.
Thank you for your help! 🙏
I'm sharing a folder with my boss, who has a paid version of Dropbox (mine is the free one). Now she can't access the information that I save on the folder because my Dropbox reached the limit. But if she is paying for it, then why is it not working?
Does Dropbox wants two paid versions to be able to provide the full space for both?
And why do I have to write on a community chat to be able to get any answer?
If I'm going to pay for storage, definitely I won't be using Dropbox, if that's how they do business. I can share my OneDrive with my boss there are plenty of space there.By the way, Microsoft loves that kind of business you do Dropbox 👏👏👏
- Megan
Hi Blavious_B, thanks for posting here!
I've merged your post under a similar thread, where others have also expressed this question. Feel free to have a look at what was mentioned here.
Essentially, since the folder exists in both accounts, you'd both need space to edit, and make changes.
If you have any questions, let me know!
I uploaded photos to someone elses dropbox account for them but it using up MY data storage - I want them to store it NOT me - It should not effect my account - How do I remedy that?
I am trying to open a new file shared with me and Dropbox is telling me i am out of storage and need to upgrade. I am using the free basic plan and 0GB out of 2GB so this upgrade is unnecessary.
Maybe the file is more than 2GB but why would they prevent me from accessing it?
It is frustrating and I have had zero help from Support Chats.
Anyone have any ideas?
- Rich
becca4 wrote:
I am trying to open a new file shared with me and Dropbox is telling me i am out of storage and need to upgrade. ... Maybe the file is more than 2GB but why would they prevent me from accessing it?
When you're a member of a shared folder you have your own COPY of the share in your account, so you need to have enough space in your account to hold the entire folder.
If you only need view/download access to the files in the share, ask the owner to send you a shared link instead.
Dropbox is telling me my storage has reached capacity, but I only have 1 file and a shared folder (from a friend that has 5GB max). It says I need to update to be able to upload more. Do shared folders count against your 2 GBs of space?
- Rich
brandonbrant wrote:
Do shared folders count against your 2 GBs of space?
Yes.
When you're a member of a shared folder you aren't getting access to data in someone else's account. You have your own COPY of the data in your account, so you need to have enough available space to hold that data.
That sounds like dropbox is throttling my capacity based off of things I can't control. If a used folder gets 10 GBs of photos added to it, I need to be able to accommodate their data (i.e. spend more money just to be able to view them).
Thanks for the answer, I'm just going to cancel my account.
Hi. I have received edit request of a folder, which has 2000 GB space. But when I am trying to upload files, I can't upload files more than 2gb of space. I have a basic account. but the owner of the folder is a subscriber of a paid plan. What am I doing wrong?
- Rich
Anandarup wrote:
I can't upload files more than 2gb of space. I have a basic account. but the owner of the folder is a subscriber of a paid plan. What am I doing wrong?
You're not doing anything wrong. Since you have your own COPY of the shared folder in your account, you need to have enough space in your account for anything stored in the folder. You're not uploading directly to someone else's folder.
If you just need to be able to upload files to someone else and will have no need to access those files again, ask the other person to send you a file request instead.
