HACKER Q&A
📣 ant6n

Anybody notice how Dropbox disabled direct access to files in their App?


Did anybody notice how Dropbox seems to have disabled access to files in the Dropbox (ios) app? Previously, when looking at/selecting files, there was an obvious way to use the built-in "share-to" feature to get files into other apps, share the file itself via e-mail, messengers, open in other software etc. Now, the only thing Dropbox will ever do is create a publicly viewable link to be able to share a file. It will do so automatically, with virtually any sharing button. I presume it's a kind of anti-feature that's supposed to get everybody to use Dropbox, because the receivers will get Dropbox links instead of the files directly.

But it means sensitive files are constantly shared view public links, and you cant get access to the data to use in other apps. I wonder whether the negative sentiment created by hiding direct access to data and constantly trying to publish sensitive private data inside some kind of ad-link is more harmful than the attempt to get more users onto the platform via those links.


  👤 coldtea Accepted Answer ✓
It's still there, you just need to click "Share -> Export a copy".

It will then download the file (if it's not locally available) and give you the option to share it directly via Messages, mail, Facebook, and all other usual stuff (with no link involved).


👤 simonblack
If it's on the Cloud, you don't own it.

If you must own it yourself, you need to store it on your own servers.