# Know When Your Files Are Opened and Downloaded

"Did you get the files?" is the most common follow-up after sending anything big. Download tracking answers it for you: an email the moment someone downloads, and a stats page for every transfer.

_Source: https://sharelargefilesfree.com/file-download-tracking · Updated 2026-09-30_

**Quick answer:** To track a download: tick "Email me when it's downloaded" when you send (you confirm your address once with a code). You get an email each time the files are downloaded. On your Transfers page, every transfer shows its activity (opens, previews, downloads, with time, country and device) and a stats page with a timeline, top countries, devices and, for email transfers, which recipients have downloaded. Tick "Email me updates" for a short digest instead of one email per download.

## Three ways to follow a transfer

| Option | What you get | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Email me when it's downloaded | One email per download | Sending to one person |
| Email me updates | A digest at most once an hour: downloads (N of M recipients), NDA signatures, form answers, client feedback, limits reached | Links shared with many people |
| Transfers page and stats | Full activity log, timeline chart, countries, devices, per-file downloads | Checking any time |

## What the stats page shows

- **Opens and downloads over time**, by hour or by day in your time zone, with a table view.
- **Countries** the link was opened from (from the IP address; approximate).
- **Devices**: phone, tablet or computer, operating system and browser.
- **Files**: previews and downloads per file, so you know which ones were actually used.
- **Recipients** (email transfers): who was sent the link, who opened it and who downloaded.

Open it from your [Transfers page](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/history); signed-in users see all their transfers across devices.

## Know exactly who, not just how many

On an open link you see anonymous activity. To see names, set **Who can open the link** to _Anyone who confirms their email_, or [ask for details before the files open](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/collect-emails-before-download). Email transfers are tracked per recipient automatically. With a [contact group](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/share-exam-papers-and-notes), activity shows names and roll numbers.

## Nudge people who have not downloaded

From the Transfers page you can remind recipients who have not downloaded yet: by email, or with a ready-made WhatsApp message you send yourself with one tap. You also get an email a day before a transfer expires, with a one-tap button to extend it.

## Privacy

Activity is kept for a limited time and deleted with the transfer's records. IP addresses are used for country and security checks and are shown to senders only partly masked. See the [privacy policy](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/privacy).

## Frequently asked questions

### Will I know when my file is downloaded?

Yes. Tick "Email me when it's downloaded" when sending, and you get an email for each download.

### Can I see who downloaded my file?

For email transfers and links that require a confirmed email or a form, yes, by name or email. For open links you see anonymous activity with time, country and device.

### What counts as an open?

Someone loading the download page. Repeat visits by the same person within 30 minutes count once, so the numbers are not inflated by refreshes.

### Can I track a link without an account?

Yes. Your Transfers page works in the browser you sent from; sign in to see transfers on every device.

### Is download tracking free?

Yes, including the stats page and email alerts.