How Long Do Shared File Links Last?
You share a file link and wonder how long it will keep working. The honest answer is that it depends entirely on the host you used. Some keep files for years, some delete them after a set time, and some remove them once they go quiet. Here is how to know what to expect and how to keep a link alive.
It depends on the type of host
File hosts fall into two camps. Storage services, like cloud drives, are built to keep your files until you delete them. Link based senders, built for sending a file once, usually remove files after a set period or once they stop getting traffic. Knowing which kind you used tells you how long the link lasts.
Storage versus senders
A cloud drive keeps a file for as long as your account exists, which is great for archiving but expects an account and management. A link sender trades that permanence for speed and no sign up: the file is there for active sharing, then cleaned up. Neither is wrong, they are built for different jobs.
How SAVEDLY handles it
SAVEDLY removes files that get no traffic for 7 days. As long as people keep opening the link, the file stays live. The moment a file goes a full week with no views or downloads, it is cleaned up to keep the service fast and the storage fresh. This makes it ideal for active sharing rather than long term storage.
How to keep a link alive
If you need a SAVEDLY link to stay up, make sure it keeps getting opened within each 7 day window. A file that people are actively viewing or downloading does not expire. For anything you want to keep permanently, the right move is always to keep your own master copy and re-upload if needed.
The takeaway
For sending something now, a link sender is the fast, no account choice, and the link lasts as long as the file stays active. For keeping something forever, use a storage service and keep a backup. Match the tool to whether you are sharing or archiving.
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Upload a file freeFrequently asked questions
How long do shared file links last?
It depends on the host. Cloud storage keeps files until you delete them, while link senders remove files after a set time or once they go quiet. SAVEDLY removes files with no traffic for 7 days, so an active link stays live.
Why did my shared link stop working?
On a link based sender, files are usually removed after a period of inactivity or a fixed window. On SAVEDLY, a file is cleaned up after 7 days with no views or downloads. Re-upload the file to get a fresh link.
How do I keep a file link from expiring?
Keep the file active. A SAVEDLY file that gets opened within each 7 day window does not expire. For permanent links, use a storage service and keep your own copy as a backup.
Is SAVEDLY good for long term storage?
No, it is built for active sharing. Files with no traffic for 7 days are removed. For long term storage, use a cloud drive and keep a master copy of anything important.
Do files get deleted right at 7 days?
Files are removed after 7 days with no traffic, meaning no views or downloads. Any activity on the link resets that window, so a file people keep using stays available.