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How do I link to files in my Dropbox?
Dropbox designates a unique internet link to each file in your Dropbox Public folder. You can send these links to anyone by pasting them into your emails, instant messages, web pages… Any method you like.
First, you'll have to make the file available to anyone by moving the file you want to share to the Public folder located in your Dropbox.
On Windows
If you have the Dropbox application installed on your computer: once the file is in your Public folder, simply right-click it once to open a menu. Choose Dropbox > Copy public link
Choose Copy Public Link from the context menu
On the Website
If you are using the Dropbox website: once you’ve uploaded or moved the file to your Public folder, move your mouse over the file so that it’s highlighted. To the right of the file, click on the triangle that appears when the file is highlighted. Choose Copy public link from the resulting menu
Choose Copy Public Link from the website
Your Dropbox's Photos folder also has public links too. You can copy and send gallery links in a very similar way. However, while all files in your Public folder have a public link, only the folders, or galleries, in your Photos folder have public gallery links.
Now that you’ve copied a link to your file to your computer’s clipboard, you can paste it wherever you want as many times as you like! Links are re-usable as long as you haven’t moved or renamed your file since you copied the link.
- Public links can be shared and accessed by anyone, not just Dropbox users
- You don't have to be online for others to use these links and see and download your files
- While you can't link to folders in your Public folder, you can link to files within sub-folders
- Files in your Public folder are public and can be viewed or downloaded by anyone who uses the link. If at any point you want to stop sharing a file, all you need to do is move it out of your public folder and it will no longer be shared.
- If you want to share a whole folder with someone, you can create a shared folder or change an existing folder's sharing settings.
- Shared folders, unlike Public links, are only accessible by those you invite.
Important note on copyrighted material
You should only use shared folders, public links, and photo galleries for files that you have the legal right to share with others (for example, documents, photos, software, music, and videos that you personally created). You do not have the right to share files unless you own the copyright in them or have been given permission by the copyright owner to share them. Purchasing or legally acquiring video, music, ebooks, or software does not give you the right to share that material with third parties over the Internet.
If you have any doubts about whether you have the legal right to share certain files, you should not share them. By using the shared folder, public folder, or photo galleries features you represent that files placed in those folders do not violate Dropbox’s Terms of Service and that you own all copyrights to them or have been given permission by the copyright owner to share them. Dropbox has adopted a policy of terminating the accounts of users who repeatedly infringe copyright or whose accounts are subject to multiple infringement allegations. If you repeatedly share files that infringe others’ copyrights, your account will be terminated.
For more information on Dropbox’s copyright policy, please visit Dropbox’s DMCA page.