WeTransfer: how to send a large file?

With internet connections having an increasingly high speed, it has become easy to download a music album or a film very quickly, to watch series in HD on netflix and to do a thousand things that were once long or difficult.
For a long time, it was also complicated to send a large file for most Internet users. The reason was that the size of emails that could be sent was often very limited. There were other alternatives (server FTPfor example), but they were not necessarily accessible to the general public.

Currently, the size of emails that can be sent still does not exceed a few tens of megabytes, the limit not to be exceeded varying according to the email service provider. On the other hand, simple and practical solutions for transferring large files have emerged, we think first of all of the clouds which allow to store online documents and share them with other users.

These services are interesting, but there is a way that is also faster, easier and more suitable for those who only very rarely need to transfer large files to other people: WeTransfer. This free online service offers the possibility ofsend files of a size of up to 2 GB to the recipients of his choice. If you opt for the Premium plan, the limit then increases to 20 GB per transmission. Important detail: it does not require any registration. Futura explains how it works.

To access WeTransfer, click on the link below, then on the “Download” button in the page that appears: you will be redirected directly to the home page of the service:

Once on the home page, the first thing to do is to click on “I accept” to approve the general conditions of use.

Adding files

Then you have to select what you want to send. It is possible to add one or more files by choosing them one by one by clicking on “Add your files” or by directly importing a folder with all its contents by clicking on “Or select a folder”. The total size of the items to be transferred can reach 2 GB (or 20 GB for Premium members).

In both cases, the File Explorer appears on the screen. Depending on what you have chosen previously, click on the file(s) or folder to send, then on “Send” to validate the operation.

You can add as many files and folders as you wish, always within the 2 GB limit. To do this, simply click on the blue cross and choose “Files” or “Folders”. The list of elements, their name, number and size are displayed on the interface.

Identify yourself as sender

Then fill in your e-mail address in the field provided for this purpose so that the recipients know the source of the content sent.

It is possible to write a message to the attention of your interlocutors, note that it is not an obligation.

Choose the sending method

There are two ways to send the files: by email or by link.

By email

In the “Send to” field, write up to three email addresses. Each time you add one, press the “Enter” key to be able to fill in a new one.

All that remains is to click on “Transfer” to initiate the sending procedure.

Your files are then uploaded to the WeTransfer platform. At the end of the operation, you are notified that an e-mail has been sent to the chosen addresses and that the file transfer will be available for 7 days.

By link

In case the selected items should be sent to more than three people, there is the possibility to create a sharing link. To do this, click on theicon representing three dots in a circle (to the left of “Transfer”). The “Send as” field appears, then choose “link”.

Finally, click on “Transfer” to start uploading your files to the platform.

When the download is complete, the sharing link is indicated on the screen. Click “Copy link” to save it to the clipboard. You can now communicate it to the people of your choice in the way that suits you best (email, instant messaging, social networksetc.), simply by right-clicking and clicking “Paste”.

Upload by recipient

If you sent an email to recipients, they should click the link in the email. If you have communicated a direct link, it is enough that the people who have it open it.

In both cases, your contacts are redirected to the WeTransfer platform. They then only have to click on “Download” to transfer your files to their device.

Note: after 7 days, files stored on WeTransfer are deleted and therefore can no longer be downloaded.