Client approval
A client receives a draft on Monday and is expected to respond during the week. A seven-day link keeps the sharing window aligned with that review rather than leaving the old draft available indefinitely.
Time-based file access
Expiring links for files with a defined sharing window
Some files only need to be shared for a limited period. A proposal may only matter until the client reviews it, while a support screenshot can become useless once the issue is closed.
Media2URL lets you choose from the expiry options available for the current upload. Once that time window ends, the link stops providing its normal access while the stored file can still be managed separately from your account.
The workflow
What the recipient experiences
An expiring link works like a normal supported link while its sharing window is active. The important difference appears later, when the selected time is reached.
The file itself and the link do not have to follow the same lifecycle.
1. Upload the file
Upload a supported file through the relevant Media2URL tool. The accepted file types and limits still depend on the uploader and current plan.
2. Choose how long the link should work
Choose one of the expiry periods shown by the uploader. Use a short window when the file only matters for a review, support case or temporary handoff.
3. Share the result
Once the upload finishes, copy the available direct URL or share page. Use the direct URL when another system needs the file itself, and the share page when a person should open it in a normal browser view.
4. Let the access window end
When the expiry time is reached, the link stops providing its normal access and the recipient sees the current expired or unavailable state. The stored asset is managed separately. Expiring the link does not automatically mean the original file has been permanently deleted.
Time boundaries
Expiry controls time, not everything else
An expiry setting answers one question: how long should this link remain usable?
It does not decide who is allowed to open the link, whether the recipient can download the file or whether the original asset should be removed from your account.
Those are separate controls. This is why an expiring link can still be Public, Unlisted, Private or Password Protected where those combinations are available.
Control comparisons
Expiry, privacy and deletion are different actions
| Control | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Expiry | How long the link remains active |
| Private access | Who can open the file through workspace access |
| Password protection | Whether the recipient needs the configured password |
| View/download limits | How many allowed uses can happen before the threshold |
| Disable link | Stops the link before its normal expiry |
| Delete asset | Removes or manages the stored file through the account workflow |
These controls may work together, but one should not be used as a substitute for another. A confidential document that expires tomorrow is still not private unless the access mode also restricts who can open it.
When a time limit is actually useful
- Client review files: Share a proposal or draft while the approval window is open.
- Support screenshots: Keep evidence available while a ticket is investigated, then let it close.
- Temporary handoffs: Send a ZIP or reference file to someone who needs it for a short task.
- Short-lived media: Share images or media that should not remain open indefinitely.
Not every link should expire
A website image, documentation asset or downloadable file may need a stable URL for months or years. Giving that link a short expiry would break pages trying to load it later.
Use expiry when the file has a genuine end date. If the asset is meant to remain part of a website or long-term document, a normal link is usually the better fit.
Choose the duration based on the task
A one-day link makes sense when someone only needs quick access. A week or month may fit a normal review cycle better.
Longer options (1 year, lifetime) can appear in regular upload flows where supported. Temporary upload tools intentionally focus on shorter sharing periods.
Expiring Links vs Temporary Upload
Expiry is a feature attached to supported uploads. Temporary Image Upload and Temporary File Upload are dedicated workflows built specifically around short-lived sharing from the start.
Expiry cannot revoke downloaded files
If a recipient downloads the file while active, expiry cannot remove that saved copy. If preventing downloads matters, use preview or download toggle controls in Security & Access.
Time limits vs view limits
An expiring link remains usable until a particular timestamp. A view limit stops delivery after a set count. One-time view is the strictest version when only a single viewing opportunity is allowed.
Disable before the timer ends
If a client approves a draft early, you can disable the link from the dashboard immediately without waiting for the timer to finish or deleting the underlying library file.
Practical use
Where time-limited sharing fits naturally
Support evidence
A screenshot or log only matters while the issue is being investigated. Expiry gives that evidence a natural end point after the support case has moved on.
Contractor handoff
A contractor needs a project file during a short assignment. Give the link a time window that matches the work instead of relying on someone to remember to disable it later.
Temporary download
A ZIP or document may only be offered for a limited event, review or handoff. Once that period ends, the same old URL no longer needs to remain active.
Expiry boundaries
What to know before using an expiring link
- Expiry does not remove copies already downloaded. It only affects future access through the Media2URL link.
- Expiry does not automatically delete the stored asset. Manage the original file separately from the library or dashboard.
- A time limit is not a privacy control. Use Private or Password Protected access where the recipient also needs to be restricted.
- Available durations depend on the current tool and plan. Use the options shown by the uploader rather than assuming every page offers the same choices.
Questions about this workflow
Frequently asked questions
The current uploader can show options such as 1 Day, 1 Week and 1 Month. Longer choices such as 1 Year or Lifetime can appear outside the dedicated temporary-upload flow when the current account supports them. Check the uploader you are using because not every tool or plan shows the same options.
The link stops providing its normal access and the recipient sees the current expired or unavailable state. The original asset is managed separately and is not automatically treated as permanently deleted simply because the link expired.
Yes, where the file and account allow those settings together. Private controls who should be authorised to open the link, while expiry controls how long the link should remain usable.
Yes, where the relevant delete or dashboard controls are available. You do not have to wait for the expiry time if the file needs to be removed or its link should be disabled earlier.
No. If someone downloads the file while the link is active, the expiry cannot remove that saved copy from their device. Expiry only changes future access through the hosted Media2URL link.
No. Expiry is based on time. A one-time-view setting is based on the allowed viewing behaviour. A one-day link could be opened several times during that day unless another view limit is also applied.
Usually not when the image needs to remain available on a public page. Once the link expires, the website can no longer rely on that URL for normal delivery. Use expiry when the image itself has a short sharing purpose.
Expiring Links describes the time-based access feature across supported sharing flows. Temporary File Upload is a dedicated upload workflow built specifically around shorter sharing periods. Use the temporary tool when short-lived sharing is the main task from the start.
Next steps