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Share Dropbox files securely

Updated

T&I is replacing Dropbox with Google Drive, as Davidson’s primary cloud storage and file sharing solution. We have already begun to migrate our early adopters’ group. The second group and final phase is scheduled to begin in July, 2021.  We will continue to provide updates as the project moves forward. Check out our Dropbox to Google Drive Migration Project article for the most up-to-date information.

 

Due to Dropbox's collaboration features, it is extremely easy to share, as well as accidentally share, your files. Learn how to control who can access your files. 

There are two ways to share a Dropbox file:
  1. By sharing the file directly with the intended recipient
  2. By creating a link to the file
This article will walk through the two different ways to share a file. Note that, for documents containing confidential information, we only recommend option #1. 
 
 
PROS
CONS
Share the file directly
  • Only shared with the intended recipients
  • Easy to control access rights
 
  • Difficult to share with large numbers of users
 
Create a link to the file
  • Convenient
  • Even non-Davidson users can access
  • Anyone with the link can access (poor security)

 

Share the file directly 

  1. Select the file you wish to share

ON YOUR COMPUTER

  1. Click the Dropbox icon
  1. Choose Share
  1. Type the email address of the intended recipient

VIA DROPBOX.COM

  1. Click Share next to the document
  1. Type the email address of the intended recipient

 

The recipient(s) will receive an email with a link to the Dropbox file. This link will only work for those recipient(s)’ Davidson Dropbox accounts. 
 

 

Create a link to the file

  1. Select the file you wish to share.
ON YOUR COMPUTER
  1. Click the Dropbox icon
  2. Choose Copy Dropbox Link 

 
    VIA DROPBOX.COM
 
2. Click Share 
3. Choose Create a link
4. Select Link Settings to customize the link sharing.  
 
 
Now, anyone with the link will be able to view your file, even if they do not have a Dropbox account. 
 
If you would ever like to view all of your shared links, go to dropbox.com → Files → Sharing → Links. 
 
We do not recommend this option if you are sharing confidential information (unless you change the link settings!), since the risk of oversharing is so high.  
 
 

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