Get back files from an expired transfer
A link going dark is not the same as losing your files. When a transfer expires on WeTransfer, the download link stops working, but the files behind it may still be recoverable. WeTransfer Ultimate lets you restore them without re-uploading, from your Transfers panel or straight from the expired download page.
Get your expired files back
That sinking feeling when a transfer link returns an expiry message is worth pausing on, because the files themselves may still be sitting on WeTransfer's servers. By default, transfers are set to recoverable, which means a retention window opens after the link expires and restoration is still possible during that time. WeTransfer Ultimate subscribers can pull expired transfers back from their Transfers panel, and anyone who still has the original link can also kick off a recovery from the expired download experience when they are logged in with an eligible plan. The retroactive reach of recovery is worth knowing about too: if you sent files while on a Free or Starter account, upgrading to Ultimate within the retention window may make those older transfers restorable right away. Free and Starter users cannot self-restore, but that does not mean files are gone the instant a link expires, and moving to Ultimate before the retention window closes is the path back.
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FAQs
All your questions answered.
When a transfer link expires, the download URL stops working for recipients, but that is not the same moment the files are removed from WeTransfer's servers. For recoverable transfers, files stay in a restorable state for a retention window after the expiry date, which gives you time to restore access without re-uploading. Permanent deletion only happens once that retention window closes, or if the sender manually deletes the transfer from their Transfers panel, which revokes the link immediately and removes the files right away.
The retention window depends on the size of the files involved. Transfers smaller than 256 MB can be recovered for up to one year after expiry, while transfers larger than 256 MB have a window of up to 90 days. These windows apply when the recoverable option was enabled on the transfer, which is the default setting. Once the window closes, the files are permanently deleted and cannot be restored.
Both paths exist. Senders on Ultimate can restore expired transfers directly from their Transfers panel, including transfers originally sent from a Free or Starter account if the retention window is still open. Someone on the receiving end who still has the expired link can also trigger a recovery from the expired download experience, provided they are logged in with a plan that includes recovery. Restoring from the recipient side extends the download window again without any re-upload being needed.
Yes, recovery on Ultimate works retroactively. Transfers you sent while on Free or Starter that are still within their retention window become restorable as soon as you upgrade to Ultimate. You do not need to have been on Ultimate at the time of sending for the restore option to appear. The key condition is timing: upgrading before the retention window for those specific files closes is what determines whether recovery is still possible.
WeTransfer Ultimate lets you set a custom expiry on any transfer, including the option to keep files available indefinitely so the link never goes dark on its own. You can adjust the expiry date of a transfer that is still active from your Transfers panel at any time, without touching the files or re-uploading anything. Setting a longer expiry upfront, or switching to no expiry for transfers that need to stay accessible long term, removes the recovery step entirely.