File uploader
If You're Looking for a File Sharing Service That Disappears Later
There are times when you want to temporarily send someone photos, videos, PDFs, or ZIP files, but you "don't want the shared files to remain on the internet forever."
For example, when you want to share materials temporarily for work, or send a collection of travel photos to a friend, or share images online. In such cases, a file sharing service that allows you to set a retention period is more convenient than regular cloud storage.
Some file sharing services automatically delete files after a certain period, while others allow the uploader to delete the files manually when they are no longer needed.
In this article, we will introduce points to keep in mind when choosing file sharing services that disappear later, along with the features of representative services.
How to Choose a File Sharing Service That Disappears Later
Even though they are referred to as "disappearing later," deletion methods vary among services. When sharing files, it is reassuring to confirm the following points.
- Can a retention period be set?
- Will files be automatically deleted after the expiration date?
- Can unnecessary files be deleted manually?
- Is it possible to set a password?
- Is membership registration required?
- Can it be used from a smartphone?
- Does it support the size of the files you want to send?
The particularly important distinction is between "automatic deletion" and "manual deletion."
If the requirement is that "it is sufficient for the recipient to be able to download the file for a few days," a service with automatic deletion is more suitable. On the other hand, if "you want to delete it as soon as you confirm that the recipient has downloaded it," a service with manual deletion functionality is more convenient.
5 File Sharing Services That Disappear Later
Here, we will introduce services that are easy to use for temporary file sharing while checking retention periods and deletion features.
1. UploadF
UploadF (uploadf.com) is a free file uploader available from both PC and smartphone. You can upload files without membership registration and share the issued URL with others.
You can specify a retention period, and it is characterized by the ability to delete unnecessary files individually. Therefore, it is suitable for cases where "you want to hand over the files for the meantime but do not want them to remain available after sharing."
You can also share files with a password. This is useful if you want to share them only with those who know the URL and further restrict access.
It supports simultaneous upload of multiple files, and you can upload them all at once by dragging and dropping. Since it can be used not only from a PC but also from a smartphone, it is convenient for sharing photos and videos taken on the spot.
For those who want to "publish files for a short period" or "delete them after sharing," UploadF is an easy option to consider.
2. Giga File Bin
Giga File Bin is a widely used file transfer service for transferring large files. You can choose a retention period for your files during upload, and they will be automatically deleted after the specified period has expired. According to the official guide, retention periods of 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, 14 days, 30 days, 60 days, and 100 days are available.
You can also use a deletion key to delete files before the expiration date. Therefore, it is suitable for uses where "you want to automatically delete files after a certain period has passed."
However, according to the official FAQ, you cannot change or extend the retention period after uploading. You need to select the necessary retention period before uploading.
3. WeTransfer
WeTransfer is also a representative file transfer service that allows you to upload files and share links. You can set an expiration date during transfer, and the shared link will become unusable when the time is up.
It also supports password protection, so it can be used when sharing files that make you uneasy just sending a URL.
Free plans have restrictions on the retention period, so if you want to keep files available for a long time, be sure to check the plan's conditions.
4. Cloud Storage
Cloud storages like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive can also be used for file sharing using shared links.
The benefit of cloud storage is not just simple file sending, but the ability to continuously save files and allow multiple users to edit them.
On the other hand, for uses such as "temporarily handing over files and wanting to delete them when no longer needed," management can become more complicated than dedicated file sharing services.
Additionally, if you forget to delete the shared link, there is the possibility that files could be publicly accessible for a long time unintentionally. Therefore, if you want to hand over a file for a limited time, it’s good to check the retention and deletion features.
5. Differentiation From Email Attachments
For small files, there is also the method of directly attaching them in an email. However, video files and large numbers of images are not suitable for email attachments due to their large file size.
Moreover, since attachments remain in the mailbox, file sharing services may be easier to handle for the purpose of "temporarily passing files."
Especially when you want to send multiple photos or videos together, uploading and sending a shared URL is a convenient method.
Which Is More Convenient: Automatic Deletion or Manual Deletion?
When choosing a file sharing service, a common dilemma is whether to prioritize automatic deletion or manual deletion.
When Automatic Deletion Is Suitable
If the duration for which the file needs to be kept is defined, such as "one week is enough" or "there’s no need after the recipient downloads it," automatic deletion is convenient.
Even if you forget to delete it yourself, it will be deleted after the set duration, which reduces the risk of leaving unnecessary files for a long time.
In fact, in Giga File Bin, files are automatically deleted after the specified retention period has passed.
When Manual Deletion Is Suitable
On the other hand, if you want to delete it as soon as the recipient downloads it, manual deletion is convenient.
For instance, you can send work documents to a client and delete them as soon as you confirm "the file is no longer needed."
You can also set a longer retention period while opting to delete the file yourself when it’s no longer necessary.
Checklist to Confirm Before Deleting File Sharing
Before uploading files, confirming the following items can bring peace of mind.
- □ Ensure you are not sending to the wrong recipient
- □ Ensure there is no unnecessary personal information within the file
- □ Have you set the required retention period?
- □ Did you confirm which is supported: automatic deletion or manual deletion?
- □ Did you set a password as needed?
- □ Are you sure you did not send the shared URL to irrelevant people?
- □ Did you confirm that you can delete the file when it is no longer needed?
Especially for files that include work documents or personal information, it is important to check how long they will remain public after sharing rather than thinking "it’s done after sending the URL."
Cautions When Using File Sharing Services
While file sharing services that allow later deletion are convenient, it does not mean "you can upload anything since it will be automatically deleted."
Before uploading to the service, review the contents of the files. It’s crucial to determine whether the information contained, such as addresses, phone numbers, facial photos, and contracts, are necessary to share.
In services that allow password settings, you can transmit the shared URL and password to the recipient by different methods.
The safety of file sharing services varies by service, so if you are handling important data, also check the terms of service and privacy policy.
Editing Images Before Sharing Is Also Recommended
When sharing photos or images, it can be convenient to edit them beforehand.
Examples include applying a mosaic to hide faces or addresses, resizing to reduce image size, and cropping unnecessary parts.
UploadF provides not only file sharing but also online tools for image manipulation. You can perform mosaic, cropping, resizing, rotating/reversing, background transparency, and watermarking directly in your browser.
Moreover, online OCR to read text from images, extracting color codes, and AI image learning prevention tools are also available.
If you want to edit images before sharing, doing so within the file sharing service reduces the hassle of transferring files to another editing software.
Choose File Sharing Services That Disappear Later According to Your Needs
File sharing services that can disappear later are not only for "simply sending files," but it’s important to think about how long you want them to be available.
If you want to share files for a short time, choose a service that supports automatic deletion; if you want to delete them yourself at the necessary timing, choose one that supports manual deletion.
Also, when sharing files that you don’t want others to see, such as work documents or personal photos, it’s advisable to choose services that allow password settings.
If you prefer "not to register," "want to use it immediately from a smartphone," or "want to delete files yourself after sharing," UploadF is a user-friendly option. It can be used for free and supports both PC and smartphone.
If you only need to temporarily pass a file to someone, there's no need to store and manage it in cloud storage. Consider sharing the file only for the needed duration and deleting it once it is no longer necessary.
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