Help
How Ferndrop works, what the limits are, and what happens to your files.
How do I send a large file for free?
Drop the file on the home page and choose how to send it. Send directly works when you and the other person are both online: the file goes from your browser to theirs and nothing is stored on our servers. We set no size limit. Get a link uploads the file, up to 2 GB, and gives you a link to share. You don’t need an account or an email address.
How long is a link kept?
Forty-eight hours after the upload finishes. Then the file is deleted from storage and the link says it has expired. People can download it as many times as they like in that time. Their copy is theirs to keep.
What is the difference between the two ways to send?
| Send directly | Get a link | |
|---|---|---|
| Both online | Yes, you both need the page open | No, they download whenever they like |
| Size | No limit from us | Up to 2 GB per file |
| Stored on our servers | No | For 48 hours |
| The other person sees your IP address | Yes, as in any direct connection | No |
Is it private and secure?
Links are unlisted, hard to guess and not indexed by search engines, but anyone who has a link can download the file until it expires. Files are encrypted on their way to us and while stored, but not end to end, so we and our storage provider could technically reach them. For anything truly sensitive, put it in a password-protected archive first and send the password separately. We don’t scan files for viruses, so only open files from people you trust.
Why was my file refused or my upload slowed?
To keep the service free and safe we limit how much one person can send: a few uploads per hour and a daily amount. Programs that run on their own (such as .exe and .msi files) can’t be sent as links; put them in a .zip, or send them directly. If you hit a limit, wait a while or use a direct transfer.
What if someone sends something illegal or harmful?
Every download page has a “Report this file” link, and you can also use the report form. A person reads every report. Illegal material is removed, and where the law requires it we tell the authorities. Files sent directly never reach our servers, so we can’t remove those.
Who pays for Ferndrop?
Sponsors do. Every euro of profit after running costs goes to planting trees, and we publish the organisation, the amount and the receipt for each payment. There is no income yet, so nothing has been paid and we make no claims about trees planted. Sponsor Ferndrop.
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Questions or problems: hello@idleforest.com. See also the privacy policy and the terms of use.