How Long Do File Sharing Links Actually Last?

When you share a file online, you might assume the link will work forever. After all, it’s just a URL, right? The reality is more complicated. Most file sharing services automatically expire your links after a set period, and understanding these policies can save you from broken links and frustrated recipients.

The Expiration Landscape

Different services take vastly different approaches to link expiration:

WeTransfer is perhaps the most restrictive of the major services. Free accounts get just 7 days before links expire completely. Even paid “Pro” accounts only extend this to 28 days. After that, your files and links disappear entirely.

Dropbox has a more nuanced system. Basic shared links can theoretically last indefinitely, but there’s a catch: if your account becomes inactive or you stop paying for a subscription, those links can break. Dropbox also offers “expiring links” as a feature for paid accounts, letting you set custom expiration dates.

Google Drive links generally don’t expire on their own, but they’re subject to several conditions. If the owner deletes the file, changes permissions, or closes their Google account, the link stops working. For workspace accounts, administrators can also set organization-wide policies that expire links.

OneDrive from Microsoft follows a similar pattern to Google Drive. Personal links can last indefinitely, but are vulnerable to account changes, file deletions, or permission updates. Enterprise accounts may have admin-enforced expiration policies.

Why Do Links Expire?

Services expire links for two main reasons: cost management and security.

Storage costs are significant at scale. When WeTransfer automatically deletes your files after a week, they’re not being difficult—they’re managing the enormous expense of storing billions of temporary files. By enforcing expiration, services can offer “free” tiers that would otherwise be economically impossible.

Security considerations also drive expiration policies. Temporary links reduce the risk of unauthorized access over time. If you accidentally share a sensitive document, a 7-day expiration window means the link becomes useless relatively quickly. This can be a security feature, not a bug.

The Real Cost of Expiring Links

While expiration policies have their logic, they create real problems for users:

Broken links are embarrassing and frustrating. You share a portfolio with a potential client, reference materials with a colleague, or family photos with relatives. Weeks later, they try to access the files and find a dead link. Now you need to re-upload and re-share everything.

Re-sharing hassle compounds over time. For files you need to share repeatedly—like onboarding documents, press kits, or reference materials—you’re stuck in a cycle of re-uploading the same files and updating links across multiple places.

Loss of context happens when links break. That project specification you linked to in a dozen emails? Dead. The reference images you shared in a client presentation? Gone. You’re left searching through old uploads trying to reconstruct what you shared and when.

The Case for Permanent Links

Permanent links aren’t right for every use case, but they solve real problems:

For archival purposes, permanent links mean your shared content remains accessible. Documentation, portfolios, and reference materials stay valid indefinitely.

For reference materials that get linked repeatedly, permanent links eliminate maintenance. One upload, one link, used everywhere.

For collaboration, permanent links reduce friction. Team members can bookmark and reference files without worrying about expiration dates.

Stash’s Approach

Stash takes a different approach by offering links that don’t expire. When you share a file through Stash, that link remains active until you explicitly delete it. This makes Stash particularly well-suited for files you need to reference repeatedly or share in permanent documentation.

That said, this isn’t the right solution for every scenario. If you need temporary file sharing with automatic cleanup, services with forced expiration might actually better match your security requirements.

Choosing the Right Service

The “best” service depends on your specific needs:

Choose expiring links when sharing sensitive information, when you want automatic cleanup, or when you’re sharing files you’ll never need to reference again.

Choose permanent links when building documentation, creating portfolios, sharing reference materials, or collaborating on long-term projects where link stability matters.

Many users end up using multiple services: WeTransfer for quick, temporary shares; Google Drive for collaboration; and tools like Stash for files that need stable, long-term links.

The key is understanding the trade-offs and choosing intentionally rather than being surprised when a link breaks at an inconvenient moment.