How to Force a File or Link to Download in Dropbox

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Downloading a file shouldn’t have to be a hassle

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: January 24, 2025 Fact Checked

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Forcing Downloads

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Do you want to know how to create a Dropbox link that initiates a download immediately instead of opening a preview? By default, Dropbox links open previews to their content, but you can edit the link so that it downloads automatically, and here's how.

Easily Force a Dropbox File to Download

To force a file to download directly from Dropbox on the web, add "dl=1" to the end of the shared Dropbox link in the URL; this tells the browser to download the file instead of opening it in a preview.

Section 1 of 2:

Forcing Downloads

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Add dl=1 to the end of the public link/file you wish to download. If the link already contains dl=0, simply change the 0 to a 1.
- Once you add the code to the end of the link and press "Enter/Return" on your keyboard, the Dropbox file will download instead of opening it in your browser.^{[1]
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- You can also use a script from Github, https://github.com/dpdornseifer/dropbox_download, to automatically download files that are either too big to download as a .zip file or if you don’t have enough room in your own Dropbox to move the content before downloading it. As long as you have IDLE installed, you'll be able to run the Python script.

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FAQ

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Why won't my Dropbox files download? There are a few troubleshooting steps for you to take in this case:
- Check your internet. Dropbox won't be able to download a file if your internet connection is poor. One fix might be restarting your router. Read How to Fix Your Internet Connection: Troubleshoot Common Issues for more tips to get your internet up and running.
- Update your browser. Outdated software can cause a mess of issues, like not downloading from Dropbox. You can go to the "About" section of your web browser to see if there's an update.
- Clear your web browser's cache. Corrupted temporary data can prevent Dropbox from downloading anything. Go to "Settings" to clear your cache and cookies.
Bypass the preview and render the file in an HTTP redirect by changing the dl= value to raw=1. This opens the file in an HTML preview even if the default preview doesn't open.
Yes, as long as you have a shared link. If the file is private and only shared with specific people, you can't download the file without logging into an account with privileges to access it.
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Is there a free download link generator that I can use? You can easily manually change the "0" in the link to "1" to force a download when the link is opened, but if you're linking lots of files at once, doing this manually might get repetitive and annoying. Instead, you can use Paperform's direct download link generator. Go to https://paperform.co/blog/direct-download-link-dropbox/ and enter the shareable link for your Dropbox item, then click Generate to get the direct download link.
- For a monthly subscription fee, you can automate this process for any files you upload in Dropbox.
- Zapier offers the same arrangement.
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Is there an efficient way to automatically download folders in bulk? If you frequently share folders with another computer, download the Dropbox app (for your computer, phone, or tablet) and turn on the sync function.
- Dropbox's free basic plan includes 2 GB of storage space. Once you download the app to your computer, phone, or tablet, sign in and select whether you want to make files online only or use selective sync to keep space open on your hard drive.^{[2]
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You can use Dropbox to back up your information or to store files and share them with others.

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Alternatives include Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, and iCloud.

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