How to Send Large Files to Another Computer via the Internet

Over the years, files have increased in size, yet most email services still impose restrictions on attachment size, typically allowing only a few megabytes to be sent. If you need to send large files or multiple files to a recipient, you must use alternative methods. Fortunately, online storage and file-sharing services have made sending large files easier than ever, often faster and more reliable than email attachments.

Consider whether online storage is the service you need. With online storage, servers located remotely store your files on the web, allowing you to access them from anywhere. You can share a link to those files with anyone, and they can download them directly from your online storage account.

• Most online storage services allow you to store at least 5 GB of files for free. Some services even offer more storage than that.
• When using online storage, it is rare that you'll encounter restrictions on the size of the files you want to send.

Choose an online storage service. There are various online storage services that offer similar file transfer features. You may have created an account for an online storage service without remembering it!

• Google Drive – This is Google's free online storage service, offering 15 GB for every Gmail account. You can access it at drive.google.com by logging in with your Gmail account.
• OneDrive – This is Microsoft's online storage service, providing 15 GB of free storage for every Microsoft account (Hotmail, Outlook.com). You can use this service at onedrive.live.com by logging into your Microsoft account.
• Dropbox – This is an independent online storage service. Free accounts are limited to 2 GB of storage, but you can increase this by referring others to Dropbox. You can sign up at dropbox.com.
• Box – Another independent online storage service, offering 10 GB of free storage with a 250 MB limit on file size. You can create an account at box.com/personal.
• Mediafire – Initially developed as a file-sharing service, Mediafire has expanded into online storage. Unlike other services, it focuses more on sharing files. The free account allows 10 GB of storage but features ads in every download link. When using a free account, you are no longer restricted to file sizes of 200 MB. You can start using the service at mediafire.com

Upload the file you want to share. Before sending a file to others, you must upload it to your chosen online storage service. The process will vary depending on the service you're using, but typically, you only need to log into your storage account via a web browser and drag the file into the browser window.

• Many online storage services have mobile apps that allow you to upload files directly from your smartphone or tablet.
• Some services, such as Google Drive and Dropbox, create synchronized folders on your computer. When you add a file or folder to this synced folder, it will automatically upload to your online storage account.
• The time it takes to upload a file will depend on your internet connection speed. If you're uploading large files (1 GB or more), it could take over an hour.

Create a link for your file. After successfully uploading your file, you can generate a link to share it with anyone. As mentioned, the process will vary depending on the service you're using, but usually, you simply select the file and click on 'Share' or 'Get Link'.

Copy and paste the link into an email. Anyone with the link you create will be able to view and download the file to their computer. You can paste the link into an email and send it to anyone you wish to share the file with.

• Your email service might include links to files hosted on online storage services. For example, when writing an email in Gmail, you can insert a link to a Google Drive file. If you're composing an email in Hotmail, you can include a link to a OneDrive file.

Guide the recipient on how to download the file. When the recipient clicks on the link you sent, the file will usually open in the online service's viewer. For example, if you're sharing a video via OneDrive, it will open in OneDrive's online video player. The recipient can download the video to their computer by clicking the 'Download' button.

Evaluate if a file sharing service suits your needs. These services work similarly to online storage but are primarily focused on file sharing rather than storage. You simply upload the file you want to send and share the link with others. Often, you don't need an account to share files with multiple people.

• Since you're uploading the file to a server you don't control, you should avoid sending sensitive files using this method.
• File sharing services are especially useful when you need to transfer a file quickly and don't want to deal with online storage services.

Compress multiple files into a single archive. Most file sharing services allow you to upload only one file at a time and typically do not support uploading entire folders. If you need to send multiple files, compress them into a ZIP file and send that instead. ZIP is a widely supported format, so you don’t need to worry about the recipient having trouble extracting the files.

• You can easily find guides to create ZIP files.
• If you're concerned about the link falling into the wrong hands, you can encrypt the ZIP file with a password before sending it.

Find the file sharing service that works best for you. With so many file sending and sharing services available, choosing the right one for your needs can be challenging. Here are some popular services along with their features and benefits:

• WeTransfer (wetransfer.com) – One of the most popular file transfer services. This service lets you instantly create and email a link to your file, or you can create a shareable link. You can upload up to 2 GB without needing an account.
• MailBigFile (free.mailbigfile.com/) – This service is similar to WeTransfer. With a free account, you can upload and share files up to 2 GB. Files can be downloaded 20 times or available for 10 days.
• Mega (mega.co.nz) – A popular file sharing service based in New Zealand. Free accounts get 50 GB of storage, and you can easily generate a link to share your file. Mega also offers file encryption.
• DropSend (dropsend.com) – A file transfer service like WeTransfer or MailBigFile. DropSend offers a free account with 4 GB of file storage and encrypts all files sent. The recipient has 7 days to use the download link before it expires.

Upload the file you wish to share. Generally, most services allow you to drag and drop your file into the browser window. However, you may need to locate the file on your computer manually.

• Depending on the service you're using, you may or may not be able to upload and share entire folders.

Create a link to your file. Once the upload is complete, you'll be provided with a link to share your file with others. You can also configure additional sharing options, such as limiting access to specific users or securing the file with a password.

Share the link. You can send the link via email or messaging to anyone you wish to share the file with. The link will remain active as long as the service you're using keeps your account settings intact.

Decide if BitTorrent is the right option for you. BitTorrent offers a method for transferring large files over the Internet. Unlike online storage, with BitTorrent the file is downloaded directly from your computer rather than being uploaded to a server first. BitTorrent transfers files faster than online storage services.

• If you're looking to share large files with as many people as possible, BitTorrent may be your top choice. Those with a part of the file will share their portion with others trying to download it. This means many users can simultaneously share the file without putting a strain on a server. As long as one person with a complete file is running the torrent app, others can download it.
• BitTorrent requires more from users than online storage or file transfer services. You need to install a BitTorrent client and have a basic understanding of how torrents work. Additionally, at least one person must always have a complete copy of the file and remain connected.

Install a torrent application on your computer. This application facilitates the connection between you and anyone else sharing the file.

• qBittorrent is one of the most popular and lightweight applications. You can download it from qbittorrent.org.

Create a Torrent File. Use the built-in torrent creation feature in the torrent application. Typically, you can press Ctrl+N to use the torrent creation feature.

• Add the file you want to share. If you're sharing multiple files, consider creating a folder and adding it to the torrent.
• Paste a few tracker URLs in the "Trackers" field. Trackers are web addresses necessary for new connections to the torrent, as they contain a list of active connections. You can use several free trackers. The more you add, the longer your torrent will stay alive:
  • udp://open.demonii.com:1337
  • udp://exodus.desync.com:6969
  • udp://tracker.leechers-paradise.org:6969
  • udp://tracker.pomf.se
  • udp://tracker.blackunicorn.xyz:6969
  • udp://tracker.coppersurfer.tk:6969
• Save the torrent file. You will be prompted to name the file and select where to store it on your computer.

Distribute the Torrent File. Now that the torrent has been created, send the file to anyone you wish to share it with. Keep in mind that each recipient needs a torrent application to download the file from you.

• As torrent files are very small, you can easily attach them to an email.

Keep Your Computer Running, Torrent Application Open, and Don't Move the File. After distributing the torrent, you need to maintain the current state of the file so others can start downloading it. This means your computer must remain on, and your torrent application must stay running.

• If you move the file during sharing, others will not be able to download it. This happens because they are downloading it directly from your hard drive.

Wait Until the Torrent Has Seeded (Allowing Others to Download) Before Stopping or Deleting It. Depending on how many people you're sharing with, you might not need to wait long before at least one person finishes downloading the entire file. At that point, you can choose to stop or continue seeding the file. If you want the file to stay available, continuing to seed it is a good idea.

• If the torrent is shared among many people, it will quickly get seeded as all parts of the file become available thanks to contributions from different users. This is how torrents work without a central server.
• For more detailed information on how to create and share torrents, check out this article.

Upload the file to an FTP server (File Transfer Protocol). If you and the recipient have access to the FTP server, you should upload the file there so they can download it using their browser's FTP client.

Split the file into smaller parts. You can use third-party compression software like WinRAR or 7-Zip to create multiple compressed file parts. The recipient can then download each smaller part and combine them into a single file to open and view the content. A major downside of this method is that the recipient also needs to have the software you used and some basic knowledge of how to combine the parts into one file.

• The RIAA and MPAA are strongly opposing music and video copyright infringement. For safety, you should only use the services mentioned above for legal purposes.