File expiration and deletion
Distinguish a temporary sharing link from the physical deletion of stored files.
1 min read
Know the retention window
At upload, the plan determines the retention window: 24 hours for Anonymous, seven days for Standard, and 30 days for Pro. Check the dashboard for the recorded expiry time and arrange delivery well before it.
Retention is not a backup service. Keep your original file somewhere you control, and upload again if the recipient needs a fresh link.
Download limits are separate
A sharing link can become unavailable because its download allowance has been used, even before its original retention window ends. Downloads also update the stored expiry time, so do not assume the initial window remains unchanged after downloading.
Do not assume immediate erasure
An unavailable link does not by itself prove that the stored object has been physically erased. Database cleanup and object-storage lifecycle handling are separate from the sharing-link checks.
OneTimeFile does not provide proof of immediate physical deletion on download. A recipient can also retain their downloaded copy. Review the Data Privacy policy for data-handling information rather than treating link expiration as a deletion guarantee.