Frequently asked questions
Short answers before you send.
These are the practical details that matter most when a transfer is large, private, time-sensitive, or happening across different devices.
Does Dropfile store my file?
The selected file bytes are designed to move through WebRTC between participating browsers, not into permanent Dropfile storage. Temporary coordination metadata is stored so the browsers can authenticate and connect.
How large can a file be?
Dropfile allows selections up to 64 GB, but that is a software ceiling rather than a promise that every browser or phone can complete a transfer. Free disk space, browser storage limits, memory, battery, and network stability determine the practical limit.
What happens when time expires?
New recipients can no longer join after 15 minutes or one hour, depending on the sender's choice. A download that already started may continue until it finishes or a required peer disconnects.
Can several people use one link?
Yes, when the sender chooses multi-download swarm mode. One-person mode is claimed by the first recipient that successfully unlocks it and is the simpler choice when maximum sender bandwidth should go to one person.
Why must the sender stay online?
The sender's browser is the original source of the file. If it closes or the device sleeps, unshared pieces are no longer available. Swarm recipients can exchange verified pieces they already hold, but they cannot invent missing pieces.
Can an interrupted download resume later?
Not currently. Dropfile does not persist a resumable cloud copy, so a broken session generally needs to restart while the share is still available.
Why is mobile different?
Mobile browsers impose tighter limits on background activity, temporary storage, memory, and file saving. Keep the browser in the foreground, disable sleep for the transfer, and use a desktop browser for very large files when possible.
What determines speed?
The sender's upload capacity, each recipient's download capacity, network distance, Wi-Fi quality, device performance, and WebRTC routing all matter. More simultaneous recipients still share finite network capacity.
Can Dropfile recover a lost password?
No. The original password is not stored in a recoverable form. Stop the old share and create a new one with a new password.
What files are allowed?
Only files the sender is legally permitted to share. Pirated works, malware, stolen data, non-consensual intimate material, child sexual abuse material, and other unlawful or abusive content are prohibited.