How to Share a Dropbox Folder in 2025 (3 Easy Ways + Pro Tips)

Dropbox remains one of the most popular cloud storage and collaboration tools for individuals and businesses. Whether you need to share project files, collaborate with a team, or send large folders to clients, Dropbox offers several ways to share folders securely and efficiently.

In this guide, you'll learn:

• How to share a Dropbox folder by inviting people via email
• How to share a Dropbox folder with a link (with advanced options)
• How to use Dropbox Transfer for sending large folders
• The differences between free and paid plans for sharing
• How to enhance Dropbox security with Papermark

Dropbox pricing and plans

Dropbox offers a free plan (2GB) and several paid plans with more storage and advanced sharing features. Paid plans unlock options like password-protected links, link expiration, and Dropbox Transfer for sending large files. See our Dropbox Data Room overview for more details.

Step 1: Create and organize your Dropbox folder

1. Log in to your Dropbox account at dropbox.com
2. Click "Create" and select "Folder"

3. Name your folder descriptively

4. Add files to your folder by dragging and dropping or using the upload button

5. Your folder is now ready to share

Step 2: Share your Dropbox folder (3 methods)

Method 1: Invite people by email

1. Hover over the folder and click the "Share" button
2. Enter the email addresses of the people you want to invite

3. Set permissions (Can edit / Can view)
4. Add a message (optional) and click "Share"

Best for: Team collaboration, secure sharing with specific people

Method 2: Share a link to your folder

1. Click the "Share" button on your folder
2. Select "Copy link" to generate a shareable link

3. Click "Link settings" to configure advanced options (paid plans only):
   • Set a password for the link
   • Set an expiration date
   • Allow or block downloads

4. Share the link with anyone who needs access

Best for: Sharing with clients, external partners, or large groups

Method 3: Use Dropbox Transfer for large or one-off sends

Dropbox Transfer lets you send large folders or files (up to 100GB on paid plans) without giving access to your Dropbox. Recipients get a download link, and you can track downloads and set passwords/expirations.

1. Click "Transfer" in the Dropbox sidebar

2. Add files or folders to your transfer
3. Customize the design and settings (paid plans)

4. Send the transfer link to your recipient

Best for: Sending large files/folders securely, one-time sends, or when you don't want to share your Dropbox folder directly

For more details, see Dropbox Transfer Help.

Step 3: Manage folder sharing settings

1. Click the "..." (More) button next to your folder
2. Select "Folder settings" to review and adjust permissions

3. You can change who has access, remove people, or adjust link settings at any time

Dropbox security: What you get (and what you don't)

Dropbox offers basic sharing security, but there are important limitations:

• Password protection and link expiration are only available on paid plans
• Watermarking is available on Professional, Standard, Advanced, and Enterprise plans (static watermark only)
• No screenshot protection or dynamic watermarks
• Limited analytics and tracking
• No detailed audit trails

For highly sensitive documents, consider using a dedicated solution like Papermark for advanced security, analytics, and compliance.

Try Papermark for secure document sharing

Conclusion

Dropbox makes it easy to share folders in a variety of ways, but for organizations handling sensitive information, its security features may not be enough. Papermark adds advanced protection, analytics, and compliance tools for professional document sharing.

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