How to Share a Dropbox Folder (2026 Guide)
You share a Dropbox folder in one of two ways: invite specific people by email so each person has named access, or create a link that anyone can open. Both work on the web, desktop, and mobile, and you choose whether people can edit the contents or only view them. Here’s how each method works in 2026.
1. Share a Folder with Specific People
Inviting people by email gives you the most control. Each person has named access you can change or revoke later, and people with edit access can add their own files to the folder.
- Go to dropbox.com and sign in.
- Hover over the folder you want to share and click Share.
- In the To field, type the email addresses of the people you want to invite.
- Click the permission dropdown and choose:
- Can edit: add, rename, move, and delete files in the folder.
- Can view: open and download files only.
- Add an optional message, then click Share folder.
Each person receives an email invitation. When they accept, the shared folder appears in their own Dropbox and syncs to their devices.
To change someone’s access later, reopen Share, click the dropdown next to their name, and pick a new permission or Remove.
2. Share a Folder with a Link
A link is the fastest way to share, especially with people you don’t want to add as members of the folder.
- Hover over the folder and click Copy link. Dropbox creates a shareable link and copies it to your clipboard.
- Paste the link into an email, chat, or document.
By default a folder link is view-only. Anyone with the link can open the folder and download files, but not change them.
To control link access, hover over the folder, click Share, then click the gear or Settings next to the link:
- Who has access: choose Anyone with the link or limit it to Only people invited.
- Access level: switch between Can view and Can edit.
3. Sharing with People Who Don’t Have Dropbox
You don’t need a Dropbox account to open a shared link. Recipients click the link and view or download the folder’s contents in their browser.
- View and download work for anyone with the link, no account required.
- Editing a folder’s membership (adding files as a member) requires the person to sign in to or create a free Dropbox account when they accept an email invitation.
- For a one-way send where the recipient only needs to look at or grab files, the link method is simplest.
If you want people to send files to you instead, use a file request rather than a shared folder. See how to request files in Dropbox.
4. Add a Password or Expiration Date (Paid Plans)
Password protection and expiring links are available on paid Dropbox plans (Plus, Essentials, Business, and higher), not on the free Basic plan.
- Hover over the folder and click Share.
- Open the link Settings (the gear icon next to the link).
- Toggle on Set password and enter a password. Anyone opening the link must type it first.
- Toggle on Set expiration and choose a date. After that date the link stops working.
Use a password when the folder holds sensitive material, and an expiration date for time-limited shares like a proposal or event assets. For folder-level protection, see how to password protect a Dropbox folder.
5. Share from Desktop and Mobile
Desktop (Windows/Mac):
- Open File Explorer or Finder and find the folder in your Dropbox folder.
- Right-click it and choose Copy Dropbox link for a quick view-only link, or Share to invite people and set permissions.
Mobile (iOS/Android):
- Open the Dropbox app and find the folder.
- Tap the ”…” (three dots) next to it.
- Tap Share, then either add people by email or tap Copy link.
- Tap the access dropdown to switch between Can view and Can edit.
Quick Reference
| Method | Recipient needs account? | Edit access? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invite by email | Yes (to add files) | Yes | Ongoing collaboration |
| Copy link (view) | No | No | Sending files to look at or download |
| Link with edit | Yes (to edit) | Yes | Quick collaborative folders |
| Password / expiry link | No (just the password) | Either | Sensitive or time-limited shares |
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More on Dropbox: How to organize Dropbox · How to password protect a Dropbox folder · How to automate Dropbox · Dropbox integration
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