Recover a transfer link that's already expired
An expired link doesn't always mean the files are gone. WeTransfer Ultimate keeps expired transfers in a recoverable state, so you can restore access from your Transfers panel or directly from the expired download page — without uploading anything again.
Get your expired files back
If you're here because a transfer link stopped working and the files still matter, you may have more time than you think. When a transfer is set to recoverable (the default for most transfers), the download link going dark is not the same as the files being wiped from WeTransfer's servers — there is a retention window during which restoration is still possible. WeTransfer Ultimate subscribers can restore expired transfers from their Transfers panel, and someone who still has the expired link can also trigger a recovery right from the download page when they're logged in with an eligible plan. Recovery works retroactively too, meaning transfers you sent while on a Free or Starter account may already be restorable the moment you upgrade to Ultimate. Free and Starter users cannot self-restore an expired transfer, but files may still be on WeTransfer's servers during the retention window, so upgrading to Ultimate before that window closes is the way to get them back.
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FAQs
All your questions answered.
Not necessarily. When a transfer is marked recoverable (which is the default unless you turn it off before sending), the files stay in a recoverable state on WeTransfer's servers for a window after the link expires — up to about one year for files under 256 MB, or around 90 days for files over 256 MB. Permanent deletion only happens once that retention window closes, or if the sender manually deletes the transfer from their Transfers panel, which is an immediate and irreversible action. So if a link stopped working recently, there is likely still time to act.
If you're the sender, go to your Transfers panel, find the expired transfer, and look for a Recover or Restore option — this is available on Ultimate, Teams, and Enterprise plans. If you're someone trying to download and you still have the original link, opening it will take you to an expired download experience where you can trigger recovery when logged in with an eligible plan. Either way, no re-uploading is needed and the files come back exactly as they were sent.
Yes, recovery works retroactively. If you sent a transfer while on a Free or Starter plan and that transfer is still within the retention window, upgrading to Ultimate can make it restorable. The moment your plan changes, those older transfers appear in your Transfers panel and recovery becomes available for any that are still within their window. It is worth upgrading sooner rather than later if the files matter, since the clock on that window keeps running regardless of your plan.
Free and Starter users cannot self-restore an expired transfer — once the link expires, there is no recovery option available within those plans. However, the files are not always immediately and permanently removed from WeTransfer's servers at the moment of expiry. A retention window still applies, and upgrading to Ultimate before that window ends may still make those transfers recoverable. If the window has fully closed, the files are permanently deleted and cannot be retrieved by anyone.
The Recoverable option is on by default for new transfers, so you do not need to do anything special for most sends. On Ultimate, you can also set transfers to never expire at all, removing the need for recovery in the first place. If you want an added layer of certainty for important files, keeping your plan on Ultimate means both the sender recovery path and the recipient-link recovery path stay open for the full retention window.