How Long Should a Shared File Actually Stick Around?

It's easy to upload a file and never think about it again. But leaving links active indefinitely isn't always the right call, and the right duration depends entirely on what the file is for.

Short-Lived: Hours to a Few Days

One-off transfers, a single document for a single meeting, a photo shared once, don't need to outlive their purpose. Setting a short expiration means you're not leaving old, forgotten links sitting active.

Medium-Lived: A Few Weeks

Project files shared with a small group over an active collaboration usually fall here, long enough to be useful throughout the work, short enough that it naturally cleans itself up once the project wraps.

Long-Lived: Rare, and Worth a Second Thought

Some files genuinely need to stay available for a long stretch, an ongoing reference document, for instance. Even then, it's worth periodically checking whether it's still actually needed.

The Simple Rule

If you're not sure how long a file needs to stay up, default to shorter rather than longer. Extending access later takes seconds; an old link floating around indefinitely is a small, avoidable risk.