Temporary Links
Share files with links that are only available for a limited period.
Temporary File Sharing
Share files for a limited time with temporary download links. Upload your file, choose an available expiration period, and send the link to anyone who needs it.
Drop your files here
or choose files from your device
Expiration options will match the upload service when it is enabled.
Choose Expiration
Select an available expiration period before generating your link.
Easy File Sharing
Upload once and send the same link to the people who need the file.
Less Unnecessary Storage
Allow old shared files to become unavailable instead of keeping every link active indefinitely.
How Temporary File Sharing Works
Step 1 – Select a File
Choose the document, photo, video, or other supported file you want to share.
Step 2 – Upload Your File
Upload the file and wait for the process to finish.
Step 3 – Choose an Expiration Period
Select how long the sharing link should remain available from the options provided by the tool.
Step 4 – Copy and Share the Link
Generate your temporary link and send it to the recipient.
When Should You Use a Temporary File Sharing Link?
Not every shared file needs to stay available permanently. A temporary link is useful when someone only needs access for a short time.
Sending Work Documents
Share a draft, report, or reference document that only needs to be reviewed for a few days.
Sharing Photos
Send a collection of photos to friends or family without keeping the link active indefinitely.
Sending Project Videos
Give a client or coworker time to download a video before the sharing link expires.
One-Time File Transfers
Send a file for a specific task without creating a permanent download link.
If you only need to send a file once and don't want to create an account, you can also use our file sharing without an account tool.
How Long Should a Temporary File Link Last?
The right expiration period depends on how quickly the recipient can download the file.
Give recipients enough time to download the file. It is also a good idea to tell them when the link will stop working.
The available expiration options are displayed in the upload tool.
- A quick document review may only need a short period.
- A group of photos may need several days.
- A large video may need more time because the recipient could have a slower internet connection.
What Happens When a File Sharing Link Expires?
When a temporary link expires, the recipient should no longer be able to access the file through that URL.
The actual stored file may be removed through the service's cleanup process. Link expiration and physical deletion may not happen at exactly the same moment.
If someone still needs the file after expiration, you may need to upload it again and generate a new link.
Temporary Sharing vs. Regular File Sharing
Temporary file sharing is useful when a file only needs to be available for a short period.
Regular file sharing is more suitable when recipients may need to access the same file again later.
For example, a one-time document review may only need a temporary link. A product manual that customers need to download repeatedly may need a longer-lasting sharing option.
If you are sharing a video that only needs to be available temporarily, you can also use our video file sharing tool.