---
title: Share a file with a public link
description: "Send one file to someone outside quickS3 with a download link that expires after 1 hour, 24 hours, or up to 30 days, and what to do if it leaks."
section: Files
order: 80
audience: [owner, admin, member, agent-user]
status: published
lastVerified: 2026-09-15
sources:
  - web/src/components/app/bucket-browser/ShareDialog.tsx
  - src/routes/short-links.ts
  - src/objects/routes/short-links.ts
  - src/objects/routes/objects.download.ts
---

A share link lets someone download one file without a quickS3 account. It's meant for one-off handovers, like sending a report to a client. If someone needs ongoing access, [invite them](/docs/access/invite-assign-remove/) instead.

## Create a link

1. Find the file and select the share icon in its row. You need Read access to the file.
2. Under **Link expiration**, pick how long the link should work: 1 hour, 6 hours, 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days. 24 hours is selected to start with.
3. Select **Create link**.
4. Select **Copy link**, and send it to the person.

<figure>
  <img src="/docs/screenshots/v1.3.2/share-link-expiration-light.png" alt="Share file dialog warning that anyone with the link can download the file, with five expiration options from 1 hour to 30 days, 24 hours selected, and Cancel and Create link buttons." width="434" height="474" loading="lazy" />
  <figcaption>Pick the shortest time the person needs.</figcaption>
</figure>

## What the recipient gets

Anyone who has the link can download the file until it expires. They don't sign in, and they can't see anything else in the bucket. Each download is recorded in the [audit log](/docs/audit/overview/) as **Download via share link**, under your name.

The link has no password and isn't tied to one person, so anyone it's forwarded to can use it too. Don't use share links for passwords, contracts, or anything you'd be upset to see forwarded.

## When a link stops working

A link works until the first of these happens:

- It reaches its expiry time.
- You lose Read access to the file, or leave the organisation.
- The file, or its connection, is deleted.

Links created by an [AI client](/docs/agents/overview/) also stop when that client's access ends.

There's no list of your links and no way to switch off a single one. If a link reaches the wrong person, delete or move the file, or ask an Owner or Admin to narrow your access to it. Then create a new link with a shorter expiry if you still need to share it.