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Forum Discussion
How to share a Dropbox File or Folder with a Short URL
I would like to make some files stored in my Dropbox, downloadable from a web page. For this reason, I would like to be able to create Short URL's for each file. I have read the following tutorial but it seems to be old: http://www.ampercent.com/link-to-dropbox-files-folders-short-url/6215/
Could you advise me please?
Thanks.
Hi Susan
What you could do is hit 'share' on your desired folder/files and then copy the long link into a URL shortener (any 3rd party shortener you currently use like http://bit.ly or http://tinyurl.com).
Hope it helps!
- Rich
Super User II
The shortened URLs were removed because many thought they looked suspicious/spammy. Apparently Dropbox received complaints (that's the information that was provided on the old forums). One of the only locations where they still existed was when sharing a link to Twitter. You could go through the process of sharing to Twitter to get the shortened URL without actually submitting the Tweet. You could then copy/paste the shortened URL to wherever you needed it.
Since this was an option that existed and was removed, it's highly unlikely that it will return. You're just better off running the URLs through a link shortening service like bit.ly or goo.gl. You'll get the added benefit of some stat tracking at most third-party services as well, which Dropbox has never provided.
Any way to default to a short link, or maybe custom link?
You can shorten your link within Dropbox. You can do this by following these steps:
(1) Select the file within your Dropbox folder by highlighting it (not clicking the link). Click an empty space anywhere after the name of your file.
(2) A new menu shown below will appear on top of the "list" of your Dropbox files
(4) "Shorten Link" will be available on the popup box
Hope this helps! :-)
- Rich
Any way to default to a short link, or maybe custom link?
No.
Hey people, at least on the Mac there are some app which automatically shorten URL when they are copied! I'm using Short Menu, it's really helpful.
@alex r thats a good question
- Rich
They have been removing shortened links from Dropbox over the last couple of years. They very likely will not add a feature that they have spent the last two years removing.
The last (it seems) location that can create shortened links is within the v1 API (which is likely how SnagIt does it). The v1 API is deprecated and will be discontinued this year.
Shortened links are dead within Dropbox. Use a third-party service such as goo.gl or bit.ly to create them.
You can use tinyurl or bit.ly to make your URL shorten
