How to send large files — a step-by-step guide
Email attachments usually cap out around 25 MB. Here is how to send files up to 25 GB securely, with an expiring link the recipient can open in any browser.
The short answer
To send a large file, upload it to a file-transfer service and share the download link instead of attaching the file to an email. With TeraSender: sign in, drag the file into the upload area, set an expiry date and optional password, then press Send. You get a shareable link the recipient opens in a browser — no account or software needed on their side. Single files up to 25 GB are supported, and uploads resume automatically if your connection drops.
Step by step
Create a free TeraSender account
Go to terasender.com and sign up with an email address or Google. The free plan allows 10 files and 10 GB of total storage and needs no payment card. If someone sent you a voucher link, you can skip this step and upload as a guest.
Add the files you want to send
Drag files onto the upload area or browse for them. Single files can be up to 25 GB on the Pro plan. TeraSender splits each file into chunks as it uploads, so a dropped connection resumes from the last completed chunk instead of restarting.
Choose when the link should expire
Pick an expiry date — the default is 7 days. When the transfer expires, TeraSender deletes the files from storage and the download link stops working.
Add a password if the files are sensitive
Turn on encryption and set a password. It is hashed with bcrypt and required before anyone can download. Send the password through a different channel than the link itself.
Send the link, or let TeraSender email it
Press Send to upload and generate a shareable download link. Enter recipient email addresses first and TeraSender emails the link for you, with an optional subject and message.
Track downloads
Enable download notifications and TeraSender emails you each time someone downloads the transfer. The dashboard shows download counts for every active transfer.
File size limits, compared
| Method | Practical limit | Recipient needs |
|---|---|---|
| Email attachment | About 25 MB | Nothing |
| Consumer cloud storage link | Varies; counts against your storage quota | Often an account |
| USB drive or courier | Physically limited, slow | Physical access |
| TeraSender transfer link | 25 GB per file, 1 TB total on Pro | A browser |
Tips for very large transfers
Use a wired connection
For multi-gigabyte uploads, Ethernet is far more stable than Wi-Fi and avoids repeated chunk retries.
Keep the tab open
Uploading happens in your browser. Closing the tab cancels the transfer, so leave it open until every file reaches 100%.
Send folders as one archive
Zipping many small files into one archive is usually faster than uploading them individually and keeps the folder structure intact.
Share passwords separately
A password in the same email as the link protects nothing. Send it by a different channel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to send a large file?
Upload it to a large-file transfer service and share the download link instead of attaching it to an email. Email providers typically reject attachments over 25 MB, while a transfer service like TeraSender handles single files up to 25 GB and gives the recipient a plain browser download with no account needed.
How do I send a file that is too big for email?
Sign in to TeraSender, drag the file into the upload area, set an expiry date, and press Send. You get a download link you can paste into your email instead of the attachment, or you can enter the recipient's address and TeraSender emails the link directly.
How can I send a large video file?
Send video files the same way as any other file — TeraSender does not re-encode or compress them, so the recipient gets the original quality. Individual files up to 25 GB are supported, which covers most raw footage and finished exports.
What happens if my upload is interrupted?
TeraSender uploads in chunks and tracks which chunks completed, so an interrupted upload resumes from the last finished chunk rather than starting the file again. Keep the browser tab open while a transfer is running.
How do I receive large files from someone else?
Create a voucher in TeraSender and send the voucher link to the other person. They upload their files directly into your account through that link, without needing an account of their own.
See how TeraSender compares to other services on the WeTransfer alternative page, or read about big data transfer and how transfers are encrypted.