Dropbox: Shared/Team Folder Subfolder Limitations

Environment

U-M Dropbox

Issue

  • How many shared subfolders can exist within one parent folder? How many shared folders can I have in my U-M Dropbox account in total? 
  • I received a notification in my Dropbox Team Folder or shared folder that said, "Your parent folder is # shared folders over the limit" or "This folder can only be shared as a link because your Dropbox folder is # shared folders over limit." What does that mean, and how do I proceed?

Resolution

Dropbox has the following limitations when creating shared folders in a parent folder or account:

  • A single parent folder can contain up to 1,500 shared folders. (This includes the parent folder.)
  • An individual's account can contain up to 30,000 shared folders. (This includes both parent and subfolders.)

If you receive a notification such as "Your parent folder is # shared folders over the limit" or "This folder can only be shared as a link because your Dropbox folder is # shared folders over limit," this indicates that the parent folder has met the maximum number of shared subfolders it can contain.

  • This is most commonly encountered in a Dropbox Team Folder with many subfolders.
    • In this case, we recommend breaking up the structure into an additional Team Folder or parent shared folder to reduce the total number of shared folders in a structure.
  • If it is a basic shared folder within your account, Dropbox recommends permanently deleting some shared folders within it or moving some shared subfolders to a new parent folder.

Learn more about Dropbox shared folders.

Additional Information

Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.

Print Article

Related Articles (1)

This article provides instructions for sharing files and folders in Dropbox on the web, desktop, and mobile apps.

Related Services / Offerings (1)

This service is a cloud file storage option that provides automatic back-up and is readily accessible from any device