How long do file transfer links last?

It depends on the service and the plan. As of October 2026: WeTransfer Free links last 3 days. Smash Free links last 7 days. iCloud Mail Drop keeps attachments for 30 days. Google Drive and Dropbox links last until you stop sharing or delete the file. Skypost folders last 7 days on the free plan, 30 days on Pro and 90 days on Business. Other services' limits change, so check their sites for the latest.

Expiry keeps storage costs down, which is how free plans stay free. It is also a privacy feature. A link that stops working after a week cannot leak a document two years later. Cloud drive links that never expire are convenient, but they are also how old files end up exposed long after anyone remembers sharing them.

On most transfer services, including Skypost, the files are deleted from storage and the link stops working. On Skypost the folder closes and the 3-word password no longer opens anything. If the recipient has not downloaded in time, you will need to send the files again.

Usually by upgrading. On Skypost, Pro folders last 30 days and Business folders 90 days, and signed-in users can archive finished folders. See the pricing page. If you need files available indefinitely, a cloud drive is the right tool rather than a transfer service.

Tell the recipient when the link expires so they do not leave it too late. For sensitive files, delete the folder yourself as soon as it has been downloaded rather than waiting for expiry. And if you will need the files again, keep your own copy: a transfer service is a delivery van, not a filing cabinet.