Dropbox: Managing Notifications (Email, Folders, Desktop)

Environment

U-M Dropbox

Issue

I want to receive notifications for modifications made to folders and files stored in U-M Dropbox. 

Resolution

To avoid sensitive file and folder names from being sent to people via email, some Dropbox email notification settings are unavailable within U-M Dropbox. As a workaround, you can enable email notifications for each specific folder or enable desktop notifications through the Dropbox desktop app.

Note: Notifications for Dropbox Paper are turned off by default, You can turn them back on via your Dropbox settings under Notifications.

Email Notifications:

  1. Go to U-M Dropbox and sign in.
  2. Hover over the folder for which you want to receive notifications and click the three-dot icon.
  3. Hover over Activity in the drop-down menu and select Follow.
  4. Check the appropriate boxes for the type of notifications and how often you should be notified.
  5. Click Confirm.

After clicking Confirm, a banner will appear at the bottom of the page stating, "Notification options for "Folder-Name" have been set," followed by a confirmation email from no-reply@dropbox.com. When a file within the folder is modified, you will receive an email from no-reply@dropbox.com outlining the changes to the folder.

If the Follow option is greyed out but the folder meets all the criteria listed below in Additional Information, the suggested workaround is to:

  1. Sign in to U-M Dropbox on the web.
  2. Hover over the folder for which you want to receive notifications and click the three-dot icon.
  3. Select Share > Share with Dropbox
  4. Click the Settings gear
  5. In Folder Settings, confirm Viewer Info is toggled ON
  6. Wait about 10 minutes for the change to take affect and try the Follow option again

Desktop Notifications:

  1. Open the Dropbox desktop app.
  2. Click your icon/initials in the top right corner of the pop-up and select Preferences.
  3. Click the Notifications tab.
  4. Check the appropriate boxes for the type of desktop notifications you want to receive.
  5. Click OK.

You should receive pop-up notifications on your computer. The notifications will appear in the bottom-right corner on Windows or in the top-right corner on Mac.

Additional Information

  • The email notifications can only be set on folders in Dropbox, not on individual files.
  • You cannot follow private (unshared) folders or Team Folders at the root level.
  • If you aren't receiving email notifications, it will be best to ensure that the emails are not being filtered or directed to spam.
  • External (non-UM) collaborators do not have the option to "follow" folders.
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