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:
- Go to U-M Dropbox and sign in.
- Hover over the folder for which you want to receive notifications and click the three-dot icon.
- Hover over Activity in the drop-down menu and select Follow.
- Check the appropriate boxes for the type of notifications and how often you should be notified.
- 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.
Desktop Notifications:
- Open the Dropbox desktop app.
- Click your icon/initials in the top right corner of the pop-up and select Preferences.
- Click the Notifications tab.
- Check the appropriate boxes for the type of desktop notifications you want to receive.
- 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.