Collecting files from clients, collaborators, or anyone else usually involves an awkward back-and-forth: you ask, they attach, the email thread grows, and large files hit size limits before they even get to you. Aldoo Transfer solves this with Request Files — a dedicated link that lets anyone upload files directly into your account, on their schedule, without needing an account of their own.
What Is Request Files?
Request Files is a feature in Aldoo Transfer that reverses the usual direction of file sharing. Instead of sending files out, you publish a link that others can use to send files to you. The link is permanent or time-limited by your choice, and it works like any upload form — the sender visits the URL, selects their files, and uploads. The files land directly in your account.
No signup required on their end. No size negotiations. No email threads. Just a link.
How It Works
- Create a Request Files link from your Aldoo Transfer dashboard.
- Configure the duration, optional access restrictions, and an optional message for senders.
- Copy the link and share it — post it on your website, send it by email, add it to a client onboarding form, or publish it anywhere you collect submissions.
- Senders visit the link, see your message, and upload their files.
- You receive a real-time notification the moment a new file arrives, and the files appear in your account ready to download.
Key Features
1. Flexible Duration
Every Request Files link has a lifespan you control. Set it to stay active anywhere from 7 to 90 days. When the duration expires, the link goes dark automatically — no manual cleanup needed. If a project runs long, you can extend the link without creating a new one or redistributing a different URL.
2. Access Restrictions
By default, anyone with the link can upload. If you need to limit submissions to specific people, you can restrict access to a list of email addresses. Senders not on the list won't be able to upload. You can also restrict access to members of a team in your account, keeping intake limited to trusted collaborators without managing an address list manually.
3. Message to Senders
Attach a message that senders see before they upload. Use it to specify what you need — file formats, naming conventions, project references, or submission instructions. This cuts down on back-and-forth because senders know exactly what to provide before they start uploading.
4. Real-Time Notifications
You get notified the moment a file arrives. No polling, no checking the dashboard every hour. As soon as a sender completes an upload, Aldoo Transfer alerts you so you can act on incoming files immediately.
5. Transfer Tracking
Every Request Files link tracks how many transfers have come in. You can see submission activity at a glance — useful for knowing whether a client has sent their assets, how many responses a public collection form has received, or whether a deadline was met.
6. Pause, Edit, and Delete
You stay in control of the link after it goes live. Pause it to temporarily stop accepting uploads — for example, while you process a batch of incoming files — and resume it when you're ready. Edit the configuration (duration, access list, message) without changing the URL. Delete the link entirely when the collection period is over.
7. Custom Branding
The page senders see when they visit your Request Files link uses the same custom theme system as your outgoing shares. Set a background image, primary color, and accent color, then save it as a reusable theme. Pro plan users can also remove Aldoo Transfer branding from the upload page, making the experience feel fully custom — useful when embedding the link in a client portal or branded communication.
Common Use Cases
1. Collecting Client Deliverables
Freelancers and agencies regularly need assets from clients: brand files, source documents, signed contracts, raw footage. A Request Files link gives clients a clean, dedicated place to submit everything — without the chaos of email attachments, shared folder invitations, or file size rejections.
2. Submission Forms Without a Backend
Writers, designers, and creators who run calls for submissions — portfolio reviews, guest posts, contest entries — can use a Request Files link as a lightweight intake form. Publish the link publicly, set a 30- or 60-day duration, and let submissions come in. When the window closes, the link expires automatically.
3. Internal File Collection
Teams that gather files from colleagues across locations can use a Request Files link restricted to team members. Each person uploads their contribution — expense receipts, weekly reports, project files — directly into a central account without needing access to a shared drive.
4. Client Onboarding
Add a Request Files link to your onboarding checklist or welcome email. New clients can upload everything you need — identification documents, content, reference files — in one step, through a page that carries your branding and includes your specific instructions.
5. Replacing Insecure Email Attachments
Some files are too sensitive or too large for email. A Request Files link handles both problems: it supports large uploads without size limits and keeps the transfer off email infrastructure entirely. Restrict access by email address for an added layer of control over who can submit.
Availability
Request Files is available on paid Aldoo Transfer plans. The feature supports files of any size and integrates with your contacts, teams, and custom themes. Free accounts can explore the interface, but creating active receive links requires an active subscription.
Getting Started
To create your first Request Files link, log in to your Aldoo Transfer account and open the Request Files section from the dashboard. Set your duration, add an optional message, configure access if needed, and copy the link. The whole setup takes under a minute, and the link is ready to share immediately.
If you're new to Aldoo Transfer, you can sign up and explore the platform before committing to a plan. Request Files is one of several features designed to make file exchange faster and more controlled — in both directions.