How to Send Large Files (Images and Video) Without Using Emails | Squarebird

How to Send Large Files (Images and Video) Without Using Emails

If you have ever tried to send a large file over email, then at some point you have probably been met with the dreaded autoresponder telling you that the file that you are trying to send is too large.

Email servers have protocols in place to protect the user’s inbox. Due to the potential size of files filling up your inbox there are rules on the size of the file you can send from one user to another.

Why are there limits to email size?

At the end of the day, mail servers are hard drives on computers linked to a network. If they are overworked, then they will eventually shut down.

Hacking groups and cybercriminals have been using this weakness for many years as a way to flood servers and shut them down. With most businesses these days relying on email for operations, you can only imagine how damaging this could be. If the email server for a large bank or hospital went down, then it could result in serious financial or medical consequences.

File size

As well as stress on a server, storage space is something else to keep in mind with emails. Most people have hundreds if not thousands of emails stored. If there was no limit in place to the size of emails you would need a massive amount of storage space just to hold emails.

Delivery chance

Mail services try to stay uniform across the board. This helps with making sure that all services can communicate with each other. A common limit is 10mb per email. This limit will usually make sure that the server you are sending the file to will allow it. By setting the send limit at around 10mb, your service will reduce the chance of bounce rates on your emails.

How to send large files

So, you need to send a large file to somebody, and it is too big to fit in an email, what can you do? Luckily, there are services in place specifically designed to help you solve this problem.

WeTransfer

Founded in 2009 as the simplest way to send big files around the world, WeTransfer is still one of the most used platforms for this activity.

WeTransfer allows you to send files up to 2GB to up to 3 users completely free. This file gets uploaded onto their server and deleted after 7 days, allowing you to almost instantly transfer large files around the world.

To send a file through WeTransfer visit their website.

Once on the website simply add your file, insert the email address of the person you are sending it to, your email address and a message.

After you click send, WeTransfer will send the recipient an email with a link where they will be able to download the file.

Dropbox

Another great way to share large files online is by setting up a shared Dropbox account for users to share an online storage space. Dropbox is more convenient when you have multiple files that may need to be accessed by multiple users, rather than simply sending a file from A to B.

OneDrive

If you are already signed up to Office 365 then you will have a OneDrive account ready to go. Much like with Dropbox, OneDrive allows you to save and share file online. You can create a shared folder that will allow you share files to anyone in the world.

There are many ways to send files to each other online that exceed the “standard” size for email. If you are just looking for a quick solution to send a few files WeTransfer will more than likely suffice. If you are looking for more long-term shared storage, then Dropbox or OneDrive may be better suited.

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