Create custom download links for files and folders in WorkDrive

Create and manage download links

Download links allow you to share files or folders for download-only access without adding users as collaborators or giving view or edit permissions. You can customize each download link with settings such as download limits and expiration, create multiple links for the same file or folder, and manage them based on your sharing needs.

Download links are ideal for sharing brochures, catalogs, manuals, handbooks, give-away files. You can share them through email or chat, or place them on websites and portals to make files easily available for customers, partners, or external users.
 

  1. Right-click the required file or folder and select Share > New download link.
  2. Enter a download link name. This helps you identify and manage the link later, especially when multiple links exist for the same file or folder.
  3. To limit the number of downloads, toggle Set download limit ON and enter the limit. Once the limit is reached, the link automatically becomes inactive.
  4. To make the link invalid after a specific period, toggle Set expiration ON, and set an expiration date. After that date, the link stops working automatically.
  5. Click Create. The download link will be created with the configured settings.



  6. Click Copy to use the link in emails, chat messages, websites, or portals.
    Users can download the file/folder by clicking this link. 
    When users open a download link, the files are displayed on a separate screen. Users must click Download each time to download the items.
You can also share the download link directly via email by clicking Email share link.
You can create multiple download links for the same file or folder, each with different settings, and use them based on your sharing requirements.
 
  • Select the file or folder and click Share from the top action bar. All download links and other share links will be listed.
  • Click Actions next to the Copy link icon for the required download link.
    You will see the following options:

      ➤ View stats: View the number of downloads by external users, along with the date and time of the last download for this download link

      ➤ Change settings: Modify this download link settings, such as the expiration date, after the link has been created.

      ➤ Delete download link: Delete the download link if it is no longer required.
 


By default, when users open a download link, the files are displayed on a separate screen. Users must click Download each time to download the items.

To enable direct file download, where files are downloaded directly to the user’s device when the link is accessed, append ?directDownload=true to the download link.

Normal download link:
https://workdrive.zohoexternal.com/external/b0fb59ea58a2e211e8eee4ebb9433aa4ac8e55cbef26022710256fa21025e8d/download
Direct file download link:
https://workdrive.zohoexternal.com/external/b0fb59ea58a2e211e8eee4ebb9433aa4ac8e55cbef26022710256fa21025e8d/download?directDownload=true

Notes Direct file download is not supported for folders or virus-affected files.

 

For Team Folders

  • Super Admins or Admins control external sharing at the team level.
  • If enabled, Team Folder Admins can turn external sharing on or off for their folders.
  • When external sharing is enabled, only Team Folder Admins and Organizers can create download links.
  • When disabled, Admins and Organizers cannot create or manage download links, and all existing download links become invalid.

For My Folders

  • Team Admin can enable or disable download links in team members' My Folders.
  • If external sharing is enabled at the team level, all team members can create download links.
  • If disabled, team members cannot create or manage download links