Dropbox is a simple cloud storage app that's easy to use, especially when it comes to sharing files. All you have to do is copy a file-sharing link and share it as you normally would. Then anyone with the link can view and download the file.
But with one simple tweak, you can make it so that the file automatically downloads once the link is clicked—the recipient doesn't even have to log in to Dropbox.
Here's how to generate a Dropbox direct download link.
How to share a Dropbox direct download link
Go to dropbox.com or open the desktop app.
On the web app, hover over the file you want to share, and click the Copy link button that appears when you hover over it. Alternatively, right-click the file, and select Copy link.
If you're viewing Dropbox files through your Finder or File Explorer window, right-click the file, and select Copy Dropbox link.
Paste the link somewhere you can edit it (another browser tab works fine). You should have a link that looks something like this:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/svmal51kp1qbf0rhnhhq6/Wallpaper.jpeg?rlkey=ubr8jiwyu90w1gzcfowxvx8a3&dl=0.Replace
dl=0withdl=1in the query parameters of the URL. For example,https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/svmal51kp1qbf0rhnhhq6/Wallpaper.jpeg?rlkey=ubr8jiwyu90w1gzcfowxvx8a3&dl=1.Share the link as you normally would.
That's it. Once someone clicks the link, the shared file will automatically download to their device.
How to unshare a Dropbox direct download link
If you no longer want anyone with the link to be able to access the previously shared file, here's how to unshare it.
Go to dropbox.com. Note: You can modify the sharing settings only from the web app.
Hover over the file you want to unshare, and click Manage permissions.
In the popup that appears, click Links.
Click Settings next to Link for editing. (If you shared a view-only link and you want to unshare it, click Settings next to Link for viewing.)
Click Unshare file.
Click Unshare to confirm.
Now if someone tries to click the Dropbox direct download link, they'll get an error message, complete with a sad-but-adorable French bulldog.
Learn how to see who has access to a Dropbox folder—and how to remove anyone who shouldn't have access.
Automatically generate a Dropbox direct download link with Zapier
Once you know how to generate a Dropbox direct download link, it's easy to do. But if you share a lot of files, manually updating the URL becomes a real time suck. With Zapier, you can connect Dropbox with your email app or team chat app. This way, you can automatically share a direct download link to any new Dropbox files in them. Here are a few workflows to get you started (they're already set up to include a direct download link).
Send emails via Gmail with new files added to Dropbox
Send Microsoft Outlook emails for new files in a Dropbox folder
Get notified in Slack when new files are added to Dropbox
To get started with a Zap template—what we call our pre-made workflows—just click on the button. It only takes a few minutes to set up. You can read more about setting up Zaps here.
Related reading:
This article was originally published in January 2022 by Matthew Guay. The most recent update was in January 2024.
