Why track your downloads?
Sending a file is only half the job. You also want to know it arrived: whether the client downloaded the final cut before the deadline, whether the contractor actually got revision C of the plans, or whether the job application was ever opened. Without tracking you are left asking “did you get my files?” and waiting for an answer.
- Follow up at the right time, after the client has looked, not before.
- Keep proof of delivery: the date and time a document was downloaded.
- Spot problems early: a link never opened usually means it went to spam or to the wrong address.
- Learn what matters: which files in a delivery are opened first, and for how long people look.
Free: an email for every download
Send while signed in to a free Transfr account and you receive an email when your files are downloaded. It is on by default and can be turned off in your notification settings, where you can also ask for a reminder before a transfer expires. Your dashboard lists all your transfers, so you can see at a glance which ones are still active.
Send & Track: full visit analytics with Pro
Send & Track turns each transfer into a small analytics report. Turn it on when you create the transfer, then open the transfer in your dashboard to see:
Every visit
Each time the link is opened, with the date and time, and whether the visitor previewed a file.
Downloads per file
Which files were downloaded, and how often, so you know if the master was taken or only the preview.
Viewing duration
How long each visit lasted: a 3-second visit and a 6-minute review are not the same signal.
Countries and cities
A visit map and list of locations, for visitors who accepted analytics cookies.
Devices and browsers
Phone or computer, operating system and browser, to know how your work is being viewed.
Highlights
Totals for visits and downloads, to compare transfers at a glance.
Know when your files land
Download emails are free with an account. Send & Track comes with Pro.
How to track a transfer
Step 1
Sign in
Create a free account or sign in on Transfr. Download emails are then on automatically.
Step 2
Add your files
Drop your files or folders, up to 100 GB per transfer on the free plan, unlimited with Pro.
Step 3
Turn on Send & Track (Pro)
Switch it on in the transfer options to record visits and per-file activity.
Step 4
Send and watch the activity
Share the link or email it. Open the transfer in your dashboard to see visits and downloads as they happen.
How to read the signals
| What you see | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No visit after a day or two | The email went to spam, or the link was never forwarded | Send the link again through another channel |
| Previews opened, no download | The recipient reviewed online, often on a phone | Ask for feedback, or enable comments next time |
| Several visits from different devices | The link was shared inside the team | Normal for agencies; add a download limit if it should not be |
| Downloads of one file only | They needed the master, not the extras | Lead with that file in your next delivery |
| Visit close to expiry | The recipient is late | Extend the expiry from your dashboard |
Tracking that respects your recipients
Download tracking should tell you about your delivery, not spy on people. Send & Track is designed to stay on the right side of that line:
- IP addresses are anonymised before they are stored.
- Location is only recorded with consent: country and city are looked up only for visitors who accepted analytics cookies.
- Tracking is per transfer, switched on by you, not a global profile of the recipient across the web.
- Data is deleted with the transfer when it expires.
If you work under the GDPR, mention in your message that you use download tracking. Our guide to GDPR-compliant file transfer covers the basics.
Who uses download tracking?
| You are | What tracking tells you |
|---|---|
| A videographer | The client opened the cut, watched it for 4 minutes, and downloaded the master the next day |
| An architect | The contractor downloaded the issued set before the site meeting |
| A freelancer | The invoice and deliverables were downloaded, which helps when chasing a payment |
| A job candidate or a salesperson | Your portfolio or proposal was opened, and from which country |
| A law firm | The date and time each document was retrieved |
Each profession has its own guide: videographers, architects, freelancers and law firms.
Pair tracking with the right link settings
Tracking tells you what happened; link settings decide what can happen. Limit downloads to the number of people you expect, so an unexpected extra download is impossible rather than just visible. Add a password for sensitive files. And with Pro, transfers can stay online up to 60 days, with your own logo and domain on the download page (custom branding), which makes the link look like part of your service.
Stop asking “did you get it?”
Free download emails with an account, full Send & Track with Pro.
Send large files for free
- Up to 100 GB per transfer
- No account needed
- Encrypted and hosted in Europe