Temporary File Sharing with a Download Link and QR Code — No Signup
How to send a file with a temporary download link and QR code that auto-deletes after first download or in 3 days. Free, no signup, 100 MB per file, privacy-first.
Need to send a file to someone without a cloud account, email attachment, or permanent hosting? A temporary file share — upload once, get a self-destructing link and QR code, expire within days — is usually the cleanest way. This guide walks through the workflow and explains when to use it.
The three common ways to send a file
| Method | Friction | Privacy | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email attachment | Low | Stored forever in both inboxes | Small files you don't mind archiving |
| Cloud drive link (Google Drive / OneDrive) | Requires recipient permissions | Link can leak, stays forever | Long-term shared docs |
| Temporary file share (this guide) | None — no signup | Auto-deletes | One-off transfers, private content |
Temporary file share is the right choice when you want the file gone after it's delivered. Nothing stays in the cloud, nothing in anyone's inbox, no account history.
How FileIO Quick Share works
FileIO Quick Share is a free browser-based temporary file host. The workflow is:
- Upload a file (up to 100 MB) at fileio.top/share.
- Pick expiry — 1 hour, 24 hours, or 3 days.
- Pick download policy — single-use (deleted after first download) or unlimited until expiry.
- Get a link and QR code. Send either one to the recipient.
- File auto-deletes when the first download completes or the expiry timer hits, whichever is first.
No signup. No tracking. No ad network during upload. The file lives on Cloudflare R2 only for the duration you pick, backed by a 3-day bucket-wide safety-net lifecycle rule.
When to use Quick Share
- Sending sensitive content: tax docs, IDs, signed contracts, passport scans. Single-use + short expiry means even if the link leaks, the file is gone.
- Giving a one-off file to a colleague without inviting them into a shared folder.
- Public hand-off: post a QR code on a printed flyer so people can grab a PDF menu / brochure without you tracking them.
- Cross-device transfer when only one side is online: unlike P2P transfer tools, the sender can upload and close their laptop — the recipient downloads later.
Privacy model
Uploaded files are stored encrypted at rest on Cloudflare R2, only until one of these triggers:
- First download (if you chose single-use)
- Expiry time hits (1h / 24h / 3d)
- The 72-hour bucket lifecycle rule — a safety net so nothing ever stays longer than 3 days, even if the primary delete logic failed
A SHA-256 hash of the content is stored in object metadata for potential abuse-blocklist lookups; no other content analysis runs.
Tips
- Short expiry + single-use is the safest combo for sensitive files.
- QR code is convenient when the recipient is in the room with you; just show your screen and they scan it.
- Share the link via signal / encrypted channel, not SMS, if the content is truly private.
- 100 MB limit: if you need to send more, use P2P transfer which has no size limit (both devices must be online at the same time).
Related workflows
- How to transfer files from phone to PC wirelessly — for realtime device-to-device transfer
- Best AirDrop alternative for Windows — for when you need cross-platform phone-to-PC
- FileIO vs WeTransfer — how Quick Share compares to upload-and-email-link services
Try it
Upload your first file in 10 seconds: FileIO Quick Share.