Receive large files with a simple upload link

Why ask for files with a request link?

When you need files from someone else, the usual reply is “it’s too big to email”, followed by a search for a transfer service, a link that expires before you open it, or a folder shared from someone’s personal drive. A request link removes all of that: you send one link, the sender only has to drop the files, and they land with you.

It is the reverse of a normal transfer, and it is especially useful when the sender is not technical: a client sending photos for a print job, a family collecting wedding videos, students handing in projects, or a candidate sending a portfolio.

How to receive large files with Transfr

1. 1

   Step 1

   Create a request

   Open the file request page, give it a title (“Photos for the 2026 catalogue”) and an optional message explaining what you need. Without an account, just add your name and email so we know where to notify you.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Set the rules

   Choose how long the link accepts uploads (never expires, or 1 to 60 days), how many submissions it takes, and add a password if the link might travel.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Share the link or QR code

   Copy the link into an email or chat, print the QR code, or let Transfr email the request to up to 10 people.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Get notified and download

   Each time someone uploads, you receive an email with a link to their files, including their name and the list of files. Files stay available for 7 days.

What the sender sees

The sender opens your link in any browser, on a computer or a phone. They see your title and message, add their name and email, then drag files or whole folders onto the page. There is nothing to install and no account to create, and the upload retries on its own if their connection drops. When it finishes, they get a confirmation on screen.

Folders arrive with their structure, so a photographer’s “Selects / Rejects” split or an architect’s set of subfolders stays organised on your side. Files are delivered exactly as uploaded, never recompressed.

• Print shops and publishers: collect print-ready PDFs and artwork without size worries.
• Events: display the QR code and let guests upload their photos and videos.
• Teachers: gather video projects or portfolios that would never fit in an email.
• Recruiters and HR: receive documents with a password-protected link that closes on a set date.

File request options

With a free account, all your requests are listed in your dashboard, where you can pause a link, reopen it or delete it.

How do other services handle receiving files?

Most transfer services offer a way to receive files, but the conditions vary. As of October 2026, Smash requires a paid account (Pro, Team or Enterprise) to create a drop link, and TransferNow’s free service accepts 5 GB per transfer. Cloud drives can do it too: a Google Drive or OneDrive folder shared with edit rights works, but the sender usually needs an account and the files count against your storage.

Receiving files from clients

Freelancers and agencies collect logos, briefs, raw footage and signed documents all year. A permanent request link in your email signature or on your website means clients always know where to send things, and you get every delivery in the same place. Our guide on receiving files from clients has ready-to-use wording, and the pages for freelancers, photographers and agencies cover each workflow.

When you then need to deliver the finished work back, use a normal transfer: see how to send large files, up to 100 GB free, with a password and end-to-end encryption for sensitive material. For contracts and identity documents, read secure file transfer first.

Receiving files on a phone

Both sides work from a phone browser. You can create the request on your phone and show the QR code to someone in front of you; they scan it, pick photos or videos from their gallery and upload. The notification email opens the files on your phone or computer, wherever you read your mail. Photos, videos and PDFs can be previewed before you decide to download them, which saves mobile data on large deliveries.