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Forum Discussion
'Can not upload the file' error when attaching from Dropbox to Gmail on Android
When I try to add an attachment from dropbox to a mail in gmail, I receive a message in gmail "can not upload the file". This error occurs only on one smartphone with android 12. If I do the same , w...
Hi Everybody,
I've spoken with our Engineering team about this, who have confirmed that the 'Attach from Dropbox' option no longer being available is the result of an update to the Android OS and Gmail app, specifically Storage Access Framework. This means that the option to Attach from Dropbox will no longer be available.
As others have stated, to attach files, you will need to
Metro Condo,
This is the way that attachments in the Gmail App work already.
The point is that this works for all other files / images / anything EXCEPT with Dropbox where it does NOT work.
It remains IMPOSSIBLE to attach a Dropbox file to a Reply email in the Gmail App using Android (might be limited to Pixels) whereas you can do this using iOS without a problem.
- you can however use OneDrive or Box or any of the other Cloud File Storage solutions, just not Dropbox.
It is 100% a bug
Sorry, here's the best description of how to attach from driving. It works. I'm in your same situation.
"Unfortunately you can't attach files here or I would share the ones I have marked up illustrating the steps. But the key has been stated here several times. You start with the paper clip, But instead of choosing a folder from Dropbox you choose the hamburger at the top left, THEN choose Dropbox NOT by clicking on Dropbox but by clicking on the arrow or icon just to the right. This opens Dropbox and let you navigate and choose a file with checkboxes. It's stupid and cumbersome but a lot better than downloading the files to your phone and cluttering up your storage. And a lot better than starting from Dropbox and sharing it from there to your Gmail which you may already have started to compose. This whole change was so unnecessary and it was so intuitive before."
"Unfortunately you can't attach files here or I would share the ones I have marked up illustrating the steps. But the key has been stated here several times. You start with the paper clip, But instead of choosing a folder from Dropbox you choose the hamburger at the top left, THEN choose Dropbox NOT by clicking on Dropbox but by clicking on the arrow or icon just to the right. This opens Dropbox and let you navigate and choose a file with checkboxes. It's stupid and cumbersome but a lot better than downloading the files to your phone and cluttering up your storage. And a lot better than starting from Dropbox and sharing it from there to your Gmail which you may already have started to compose. This whole change was so unnecessary and it was so intuitive before."
- Thank you, this works but why would they take a process that worked so well and make it so horrible.
- Hi, just to clarify that there is an workaround. Here's that & Dropbox position together...
Here are some exchanges. To summarize: (1) Solution 3 does work just fine. You can attach a Dropbox file to a Gmail. You have to get used to it. (2) Dropbox Community Mgr started a month ago that Dropbox can't fix to the old way because of some change to the storage access framework standard.
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Re: Dropbox attachment in gmail
erlend w.
Helpful | Level 6
July
When I try to add an attachment from dropbox to a mail in gmail, I receive a message in gmail "can not upload the file". This error occurs with android
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DrVJMJ
Collaborator | Level 9
a month ago
SOLUTION: You start with the paper clip, But instead of choosing a folder from Dropbox you choose the hamburger at the top left, THEN choose Dropbox NOT by clicking on Dropbox but by clicking on the arrow or icon just to the right. This opens Dropbox and let you navigate and choose a file with checkboxes.
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DrVJMJ
Collaborator | Level 9
a month ago
Yes there are actually 3 workarounds.
One is to start from Dropbox and share it to Gmail. That's bass-akwards because most of us start our correspondence from Gmail and then want to attach a file as we have done with Dropbox and Gmail on our phones for years. So that one doesn't even count.
Another option is of course to download your file from Dropbox to your phone and then choose it through Gmail from your phone. This works but clutters up your phone with those downloaded files and Is even more cumbersome.
The third and preferred solution is to use the paper clip from Gmail but instead of choosing a directory or file from within Dropbox immediately by clicking on Dropbox, you go to the hamburger in the top left corner and THEN choose the arrow to the right of your Dropbox from which you can then navigate through Dropbox and select file or files by checking the boxes on the right and then the check mark at the top. Yes this works and it's less cumbersome than the other two, but it's still way more cumbersome than the original elegant solution.
DrVJMJ
Collaborator | Level 9
a month ago
The hamburger is just the three horizontal parallel lines in the top left that typically indicate there are menu items when clicked. After clicking the paper clip in the upper right of your Gmail app, then instead of choosing Dropbox choose the hamburger and from within the hamburger don't click Dropbox but instead the arrow to the right of Dropbox. This opens Dropbox and lets you navigate and choose files by clicking the boxes to the right of the file names. All very cumbersome and all very unnecessary and all very stupid compared to the original elegant solution. It does work, but come on Dropbox!!!
DrVJMJ
Collaborator | Level 9
a month ago
If Dropbox is not listed along with Google Drive and other options for sharing, then the linkage between the Gmail app and the Dropbox app has not been established. You need to do this within the Gmail app.
DrVJMJ
Collaborator | Level 9
a month ago
Exactly! The arrow workaround is fine and better than the other options but not better than the original more elegant solution!
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DROPBOX ANSWER. DO NOT CONSIDER IT A BUG.
BenDBX
Community ManagerBenDBX
Community Manager
a month ago
Hi Everybody,
I've spoken with our Engineering team about this, who have confirmed that the 'Attach from Dropbox' option no longer being available is the result of an update to the Android OS and Gmail app, specifically Storage Access Framework. This means that the option to Attach from Dropbox will no longer be available.
As others have stated, to attach files, you will need to select Attach File in Gmail, open the hamburger menu on the left, select Dropbox, then choose the files to be uploaded.
Regards,
BenThanks for this solution. I just did the Option 2 way by downloading to my phone. I came here after and saw the option 3, which I tested and it works, so thanks!
- Sorry driving should have said DrVjMj
That still means it is a Bug.
No other App requires you to take up valuable storage space for attaching files from a CLOUD Storage " solution ".
This is giving Dropbox too much room to dodge the issue and not fix this... it worked before, other Apps can do it, and iOS users can also do it... they owe us Android Subscribers to fix this and I am not about to give them an easy ride just because there is a workaround - especially when that workaround defeats the very object purpose of the product, which is to store & access your files in the Cloud.100% a bug and needs to be fixed
This did work on my phone - THANK YOU for being very specific about it. I was going crazy needing to attach 12 photos to a GMAIL message and not being able to do it directly!
