It depends on the kind of link you make. A regular shareit.onl link can be downloaded as many times as you like while it is still alive. If you want stricter control, you can create a one-time link that deletes the file the moment it is downloaded once. Both are free and take just a click to set up.
Two kinds of links
When you share a file, you choose whether it can be reused or should burn after a single download:
| Link type | Downloads allowed | File deleted when |
|---|---|---|
| Standard link | Unlimited (while alive) | Its expiry passes with no activity |
| Delete after first download | Exactly one | Right after the first download |
A standard link is the default. It stays open to repeat downloads until it expires. A burn link is the tightest option, meant for one person and one grab.
Unlimited downloads while the link is alive
A standard link does not count downloads or cut you off at a number. Anyone with the link, and the password if you set one, can download the file again and again until the link expires.
What keeps a standard link alive is the 24-hour keep-alive. Every download extends the link's life by another 24 hours. So a file that lots of people are grabbing stays reachable, while a link nobody uses expires on schedule and is permanently deleted. You can dig into that behavior in what is the 24-hour keep-alive on links?.
This makes standard links great for:
- Sharing one file with a whole team or class.
- Posting a download for a group where people arrive at different times.
- Letting one person re-download if their first try failed.
One-time "burn" links
If a file is meant for a single person and a single download, turn on delete after first download. As soon as the file is downloaded once, it is removed and the link stops working. There is no second chance and no backup.
Use a burn link when you want to:
One thing to keep in mind: because a burn link is designed to disappear after one download, the keep-alive does not apply to it. It is one and done. If the recipient's connection drops mid-download, they may need you to send a fresh link.
Warning: Some chat apps and email scanners auto-open links to build a preview, which can count as the first download on a burn link. Send burn links through a channel you trust not to fetch them early.
Pair it with a password
For the strongest control, combine a burn link with an optional password. That way the file only opens for someone who has both the link and the code, and it self-destructs after that single download. Every share also comes with a short link and a QR code, so handing it off is easy whether you paste a link or have someone scan a code.
Which should you choose?
Match the link to the job:
- Many people, repeat access: use a standard link. It allows unlimited downloads while alive.
- One person, one time: use delete after first download.
- Extra privacy either way: add a password.
If you are weighing privacy against convenience, our guide on why expiring links are safer explains the thinking. And to see the full path a file takes from upload to deletion, visit how it works.
Related
Wondering how long a standard link stays open before it expires? Read how long do share links last? next. shareit.onl is a free, no-account browser tool and is not affiliated with the SHAREit app.