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.