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It can be frustrating not to be able to email large files straightaway. Despite email being the most commonly used platform for sending files, it can’t often handle the size of modern media files such as videos and audio recordings. This is why most people have found alternatives to sending large files. Here are four of the best ways to send large files:
File Compression Software
This is one of the oldest methods of file sharing. File compression software reduces the size of a file to be sent over platforms like email. This form of file sharing has been around since the early nineties and is still used today. One of the best is arguably the multi-platform 7-Zip, which offers unprecedented file compression through its 7z feature. Both Winzip and WinRAR (which both started in the 90s) still provide excellent compression capabilities as well. All three are particularly handy when you need to send multiple files whose combined size exceeds 1GB. Once compressed, you can then send your files as a regular attachment.
The Cloud
If you need to send large files regularly, your best bet is the cloud, which we discussed in our post on Apple’s iCloud. The cloud is a personal hard drive that stores files digitally. This allows you to store any file of any size without physically storing it on your PC or laptop. According to a Digital Trends article on ways to send large files, this is why the cloud is now a trendy file storage and file-sharing option. You have plenty of choices here, starting with Google Drive and Dropbox. The former offers 15GB of free storage.
You can save your files for personal use and sharing. It’s also a built-in feature of Gmail, meaning you’ll have access to this cloud when you have a Google account. Dropbox is similar to Drive but can accommodate only around 2GB of files. However, it has a mobile app for neither Android nor iOS devices. Another option to consider is MediaFire, known for its 50GB free storage and easy sharing options.
Use File Transfer Platforms
You should use a professional file transfer platform if you want to send large files and have people collaborate on them in real-time. These platforms let you store or upload your file online, where the recipient can download it via a link that you send them. Doing so is straightforward, too. Box explains how sending large files through such platforms can be done simply by drag and drop.
After that, you’ll get the shareable link. From there, you can customize permission levels (to grant access only to the intended receivers), add an expiration date (so that the file will no longer be available after a set date), and include password protection. Those with access can preview, edit, comment, send, or download the files to their devices, allowing multiple people to work on them simultaneously. File-sharing platforms have become popular with companies due to their collaborative nature.
Use a VPN
The most secure way to send a large file is through a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your data traveling to and from your computer and reroutes it through various locations. This allows you to browse the web safely and to send and receive data securely. So, what does it have to do with transferring large files? Tech Radar notes that internet service providers often use broadband traffic management to control upload bandwidth, making it difficult to upload large files (they can be downloaded).
Using a VPN, like ExpressVPN, prevents your provider from tracking the type and size of the files you’re uploading, which means it cannot subject the files to traffic management. This means that you can move large amounts of data through peer-to-peer sharing. Despite the increase in large files being shared over the internet, it is still not as easy as possible. We hope this article has provided some good tips.
