Computer Tricks and Secrets

Short answer: to let people send you files without giving them access to your other files, use an upload-only link, Dropbox File Requests is the cleanest, and Google Drive plus Google Forms works too. Recipients can add files but cannot see or download anything else in your storage. Here is how to set it up safely. The safest option: Dropbox File Requests Dropbox File Requests are purpose-built for this: In Dropbox, go to File requests and create a new request. Name it and choose (or create) the folder uploads should go to. Share the link. Anyone with it can upload files to that folder. They cannot see the folder's contents or anything else in your Dropbox, upload-only. Perfect for collecting documents, photos or homework from many people. Google Drive options Google Forms with a file-upload question: create a form, add a "File upload" question, and share it. Responses land in a Drive folder only you control. Great for collecting files with some struct...

Short answer: Use the Dropbox File Requests feature. Create a request, share the link, and anyone can upload files straight into a folder you choose without needing a Dropbox account. Everything they send lands in your Dropbox and you get notified. I run into this problem constantly. A teacher needs students to hand in homework, a designer needs mockups from clients, an event organizer wants photos from attendees. Email chokes on large files and turns your inbox into a mess. The cleaner solution is a folder that other people can drop files into but not browse or delete from. Dropbox File Requests does exactly that, and I will walk through the setup below plus a free Google Drive alternative. What is a Dropbox File Request? A File Request is a special upload link tied to one folder in your Dropbox. People who open it see a simple upload page. They can add files but they cannot see anything already in the folder, cannot see other people's uploads, and cannot delete anything. The...