Sending something time-sensitive? Here's exactly how long your WeTransfer link stays active — and what happens when it expires.
WeTransfer Link Expiry by Plan
| Plan | Link Expiry |
|---|---|
| Free | 3 days |
| Starter | 7 days (extendable) |
| Ultimate | Up to 30 days, or no expiry |
The default for free users is 3 days from the moment the transfer is sent — not from when it's opened or downloaded. The clock starts the moment you hit send.
What Happens When a WeTransfer Link Expires
When the expiry window closes, WeTransfer permanently deletes the file from its servers. The link stops working. The file cannot be recovered through the link.
WeTransfer introduced a limited recovery feature for account holders — you may be able to re-activate an expired transfer within a short window after expiry through your account dashboard. But this isn't guaranteed, and files are permanently purged after a point.
If your client misses the window: you'll need to re-upload and send a new link.
3 Days Is Shorter Than It Feels
Think about how often this scenario plays out:
You send a file on a Thursday afternoon. Your client gets the email, sees it, means to download it — but it's end of day and they're heading into the weekend. They come back Monday morning, go to download it, and the link expired Saturday night.
Now they email you. You re-upload. You send a new link. They download it Tuesday.
This is not an edge case. It's a regular occurrence with WeTransfer's free tier, and it creates friction in client relationships that should be completely avoidable.
Can You Extend a WeTransfer Link Before It Expires?
On the free plan: No. The 3-day window is fixed and cannot be extended before sending.
On paid plans: Yes. Starter and Ultimate subscribers can set longer expiry dates and extend existing links through the WeTransfer dashboard or mobile app.
Can You Download After Expiry?
Rarely. WeTransfer's recovery feature works only within a short window after expiry and only for account holders. Once the file is purged, it's gone permanently.
The Simple Alternative
The 3-day expiry exists because storing files costs money. WeTransfer's free tier passes that constraint on to you in the form of a countdown your clients are racing against whether they know it or not.
If expiring links are a regular pain point — clients missing the window, you re-uploading the same files, the back-and-forth — it's worth using a tool where the link staying alive isn't a constant concern.
SimpleDrop handles this cleanly. Share a file, your client downloads it when they're ready. No three-day clock. No re-uploads. No "the link expired" email on Monday morning.
And when they open the link, AI has already read the document — so they spend less time hunting for the information they need and more time actually using what you sent.
Try SimpleDrop at simpledrop.zip.