How one-time download links work
Learn what consumes a download and why a one-time link is not a copy-protection system.
2 min read
Opening a link versus downloading
Opening the sharing page displays file details. Choosing Download File requests the file and counts as a download. Anonymous and Standard uploads have a one-download limit; Pro currently permits repeated downloads.
Do not click the download button to check a one-time upload before sharing it. Opening the file download endpoint directly can also consume the download.
If a download is interrupted
The service records a download when it issues access to the stored file, not when your browser confirms that every byte has arrived. A failed or cancelled transfer can therefore consume a one-time link.
Download with a stable connection and enough disk space. If the sharing link is no longer usable, ask the sender for a new upload rather than repeatedly refreshing it.
Understand the limits
A one-time link limits access through OneTimeFile. It cannot stop a recipient from copying or forwarding a downloaded file, and the temporary storage download URL may remain usable briefly after it has been issued.
Use one-time sharing as a delivery convenience, not as digital rights management or a guarantee that only one copy exists.