diff --git a/seahub/templates/snippets/file_share_popup.html b/seahub/templates/snippets/file_share_popup.html
index 06cece6784..47f147257d 100644
--- a/seahub/templates/snippets/file_share_popup.html
+++ b/seahub/templates/snippets/file_share_popup.html
@@ -3,13 +3,17 @@
         <h3 class="hd">{% trans 'Share %(name)s' %}</h3>
         <div id="file-share-tabs">
             <ul id="file-share-tabs-nav">
+                {% if is_repo_owner %}
                 <li id="private-share-tab"><a href="#private-share">{% trans "Private Share" %}</a></li>
+                {% endif %}
                 <li><a href="#link-share">{% trans "Share Link" %}</a></li>
-                {% if ENABLE_SUB_LIBRARY and not repo.is_virtual %}
+                {% if ENABLE_SUB_LIBRARY and not repo.is_virtual and is_repo_owner %}
                 <li id="syncable-share-tab"><a href="#syncable-share">{% trans "Syncable Share" %}</a></li>
                 {% endif %}
             </ul>
 
+
+            {% if is_repo_owner %}
             <div id="private-share">
                 <form id="private-share-form" method="post" action="{% url 'gen_private_file_share' repo.id %}">{% csrf_token %}
                     <select name="emails" class="w100" multiple="multiple"></select>
@@ -20,6 +24,7 @@
                     <input type="submit" value="{% trans "Submit"%}" />
                 </form>
             </div>
+            {% endif %}
             <div id="link-share">
                 <button id="gen-link-btn" class="hide">{% trans "Generate"%}</button>
                 <div id="share-link-body" class="hide">
@@ -39,7 +44,7 @@
                 </div>
             </div>
 
-            {% if ENABLE_SUB_LIBRARY and not repo.is_virtual %}
+            {% if ENABLE_SUB_LIBRARY and not repo.is_virtual and is_repo_owner %}
             <div id="syncable-share">
                 <p class="sub-repo-create-tip hide">{% trans "You need to create a sub-library from this directory to let others sync it." %}</p>
                 <button class="create-sub-repo hide">{% trans "Create" %}</button>
diff --git a/seahub/templates/snippets/shared_link_js.html b/seahub/templates/snippets/shared_link_js.html
index 4e5a6a7206..2f8ad245dd 100644
--- a/seahub/templates/snippets/shared_link_js.html
+++ b/seahub/templates/snippets/shared_link_js.html
@@ -87,7 +87,15 @@ function showSharePopup(op, name, aj_url, type, cur_path) {
                     }, 10);
                 });
             },
-            error: ajaxErrorHandler 
+            error: function(xhr, textStatus, errorThrown) {
+                var err;
+                if (xhr.responseText) {
+                    err = jQuery.parseJSON(xhr.responseText).error;
+                } else {
+                    err = "{% trans "Failed. Please check the network." %}";
+                } 
+                $('#syncable-share').append('<p class="error">' + err + '</p>');
+            }
         });
     }
 
diff --git a/seahub/views/file.py b/seahub/views/file.py
index 82c49fc5c7..3ddd4e6d54 100644
--- a/seahub/views/file.py
+++ b/seahub/views/file.py
@@ -311,6 +311,9 @@ def view_file(request, repo_id):
                                                                   obj_id, path)
     if not user_perm:
         return render_permission_error(request, _(u'Unable to view file'))
+    
+    # check if the user is the owner or not, for 'private share'
+    is_repo_owner = seafile_api.is_repo_owner(username, repo.id)
 
     # get file type and extension
     filetype, fileext = get_file_type_and_ext(u_filename)
@@ -412,6 +415,7 @@ def view_file(request, repo_id):
         search_repo_id = repo.id
     return render_to_response(template, {
             'repo': repo,
+            'is_repo_owner': is_repo_owner,
             'obj_id': obj_id,
             'filename': u_filename,
             'path': path,