Practical file-transfer handbook
Plan the transfer before you hit upload.
Choose the right workflow, estimate how long a large upload will take, avoid common interruptions, and know what the recipient needs. These numbers are planning estimates, not promises from your internet provider.
Start a free transfer or review security first.
Start with what you are actually sending
| Your situation | Best starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A mixed set of documents, photos, or archives | Use one transfer link | One link can hold up to 100 files with a combined size of 20 GB. |
| Original video footage or a high-resolution export | Keep the original file | Avoid quality loss and plan for a longer upstream transfer. |
| Delivery through chat, a ticket, or a QR code | Share without email | Generate a link without entering a sender or recipient email address. |
| One file close to the service limit | Prepare for 20 GB | Check total size, expected duration, power, storage, and resume requirements first. |
Upload time estimator
Your upload speed matters more than your download speed. The table uses ideal transfer math and rounds to practical minutes. Wi-Fi quality, protocol overhead, other devices, browser retries, and provider throttling can make real uploads slower. Run an internet speed test and use the upload result.
| Transfer size | 10 Mbps upload | 50 Mbps upload | 100 Mbps upload |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 13 minutes | 3 minutes | 1–2 minutes |
| 5 GB | 1 hour 7 minutes | 13 minutes | 7 minutes |
| 10 GB | 2 hours 13 minutes | 27 minutes | 13 minutes |
| 20 GB | 4 hours 27 minutes | 53 minutes | 27 minutes |
Example calculation: 20 GB is roughly 160 gigabits. At 100 megabits per second, the ideal minimum is about 27 minutes before overhead.
A five-minute preparation checklist
- Confirm that the selected files total no more than 20 GB and contain no material you are not allowed to share.
- Keep the source files on the same device, unchanged and available, until the upload finishes.
- Connect laptops to power and prefer stable Ethernet or strong Wi-Fi for multi-hour uploads.
- Choose one day for a quick handoff or seven days when several recipients need time.
- Use a password for sensitive files and send that password through a different channel.
Troubleshoot before starting over
The upload was interrupted
Return to the pending upload and reselect the exact same files in the same order. Their names, sizes, types, and modification dates must match.
The transfer is over 20 GB
Split the delivery into two transfers or remove optional files. Compressing media can reduce quality, so use an archive only when it serves the recipient.
The recipient cannot open the link
Check that the complete URL was copied, that the transfer has not expired, and that the password is exact. Passwords are case-sensitive.
The transfer expired
Expired links cannot be extended after the files are removed. Create a new transfer from the original files.
Need a policy answer instead? Read the FAQ, the security explanation, or the acceptable-use rules.