How to Request Files in Dropbox (2026 Guide)
A Dropbox file request lets you collect files from anyone, even people without a Dropbox account, into a folder you choose. Senders can only upload; they can’t see anything already in the folder or any other file in your account. Here’s how to set one up in 2026.
1. Open the File Requests Page
- Go to dropbox.com and sign in.
- In the left sidebar, click File requests.
- Click Create a file request (or New request).
If you don’t see File requests in the sidebar, click All files and look under the sharing tools, or go directly to dropbox.com/requests.
2. Set Up the Request
- Title the request. Type what you’re asking for, like “Headshots for the team page” or “Q3 expense receipts.” This title is exactly what senders see, so make it clear.
- Choose where files land. Pick an existing folder, or let Dropbox create a new folder named after the request. All uploads go straight into this one folder.
- Click Next.
Everything someone uploads lands in that destination folder, so you’re not chasing attachments around your inbox.
3. Share the Request
You can share a file request two ways:
- Copy the link and paste it into an email, message, or webpage.
- Send by email directly from Dropbox by entering recipients’ addresses and an optional message.
Anyone who has the link can upload to you. They do not need a Dropbox account and they do not need to sign in.
4. What Senders See (and What They Can’t)
This is what makes file requests safer than a shared folder for collecting things:
- Senders see only the request title and an Upload button.
- They cannot see files already in the destination folder.
- They cannot see anything else in your Dropbox.
- You can see who uploaded what, because Dropbox records the uploader’s name and email (it asks them for these before uploading).
So a file request is one-directional: files come in to you, and senders never get a view into your account.
5. Add a Deadline
You can set a cutoff so the request stops accepting uploads after a certain time.
- Open the file request (from the File requests page, click the request, then Edit or the ”…” menu).
- Turn on Set a deadline.
- Choose the date and time.
- Optionally allow late uploads if you want submissions after the deadline to still come through (they’re flagged as late).
Deadlines are useful for things like contest entries, signed forms, or assignment submissions where timing matters.
6. Manage and Close Requests
From the File requests page you can:
- See open requests and how many files each has collected.
- Close a request so it stops accepting uploads (click the ”…” menu > Close).
- Reopen a closed request if you need more files.
- Edit the title, destination folder, or deadline at any time.
Plan Limits to Know
File requests work on free and paid Dropbox plans, but the practical ceiling is your storage and per-file upload limits:
- Each uploaded file is subject to the same per-file limits as normal uploads (50 GB via the web).
- Total uploads count against your account’s storage limit. On the free Basic plan that’s a small amount of space, so collecting many large files may require a paid plan. See Dropbox storage limits.
- There’s no separate cap on how many file requests you can create.
Quick Reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do senders need a Dropbox account? | No |
| Can senders see my other files? | No, upload-only |
| Where do files go? | One folder you choose |
| Can I set a deadline? | Yes, with optional late uploads |
| What’s the size limit? | 50 GB per file (web), bounded by your storage |
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More on Dropbox: How to share a Dropbox folder · How to organize Dropbox · How to automate Dropbox · Dropbox integration
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