FAQ

Answers to common questions about Gofile: accounts, storage duration, sharing, security, API, and billing.

Getting started

What is Gofile?

Gofile is a cloud storage and content distribution platform. You can upload files, organize them in a file manager, share folders publicly or privately, and (with Premium) generate direct links for embedding or integrations.

What’s the fastest way to share a file?

Use the upload box on the home page. After upload, you’ll get a share link to a download page. For advanced options (folder structure, permissions, tags, importing, bulk actions), use the File Manager.

Accounts & login

Do I need an account?

No. You can upload as a guest.

Creating a (free) account makes it easier to keep all your uploads in one place across sessions. Premium accounts unlock permanent storage and advanced features.

How does login work?

Gofile uses a secure login link sent to your email. No password is required.

Tip: if you don’t receive the email, check your spam folder and ensure your mailbox accepts automated emails.

What is my account token / API token?

Your profile page shows your account token, which is used for API authentication and some advanced tools.

If you reset your token, the old one is invalidated immediately and you’ll need to update any apps/scripts using it.

Storage & retention

What does “ephemeral storage” mean?

Free accounts (including guest and standard) use temporary storage intended for quick sharing.

By default, content is kept for 10 days and can be stored longer if it remains actively downloaded.

Premium provides long-term storage designed for permanent access.

What is “cold storage”?

Some content may be moved to cold storage for preservation after exceeding its storage period. Cold storage items aren’t directly downloadable until they are imported back into an account space.

Importing requires a Premium account.

Can I set an expiration date on my shared content?

Yes. Folder settings support an expiry attribute. Once expired, content may no longer be accessible.

Traffic & limits

Do you have bandwidth/traffic limits?

We do not limit bandwidth: uploads and downloads run at maximum speed for all users.

However, accounts have a monthly traffic allowance (see the Premium page for current numbers). You can view your current usage in your profile.

Important note for free accounts

For free accounts, traffic may be counted by IP address. If you’re using a shared IP (school, office, VPN), your traffic usage can include other users on the same IP.

What happens when I exceed my traffic limit?

Some download functionality can be temporarily restricted until traffic usage returns under the limit. You can upgrade to Premium for higher allowances.

Why do I see “Too many requests” (429)?

For security and platform stability, rate limits exist on some endpoints. If you repeatedly exceed limits, your IP address may be temporarily blocked.

If you have a legitimate high-volume use case, please contact support to discuss options.

Sharing & direct links

What’s the difference between a download page link and a direct link?

A download page link opens a Gofile page where users can view files in a folder, read descriptions, and download content.

A direct link provides immediate access without the download page UI. Direct links are useful for embedding or integrations and support extra restrictions.

How can I secure a shared folder or direct link?

  • Password protection
  • Public/private folder settings
  • IP allow-list restrictions
  • Domain allow/block rules for embedding
  • Direct link specific controls (including optional basic authentication)

What happens when I create a direct link to a folder?

For folders, direct links generate a ZIP archive containing all files.

Security & privacy

What data do you collect?

We aim to collect only what is needed to operate the service. When you create an account, we store your email address. When you purchase Premium, billing-related information may be collected to generate invoices.

For full details, see our Privacy Policy.

Is my content encrypted?

Yes. Your content is encrypted on our servers.

However, Gofile is not end-to-end encrypted. End-to-end encryption would prevent some features that require server-side access.

If you need maximum confidentiality, encrypt your files locally before uploading (for example with 7zip).

What happens if content violates Terms (copyright/illegal content)?

Content that violates our Terms may be removed, and accounts may be restricted.

If you need to report abuse or request a takedown, use the file’s report function when available or contact support.

Where is Gofile hosted?

We have two main storage datacenters located in Paris and Phoenix.

To optimize performance worldwide, we also operate multiple upload/download proxy locations, including:

  • Toronto
  • New York
  • Phoenix
  • São Paulo
  • Paris
  • Singapore
  • Tokyo
  • Hong Kong

You can choose an upload proxy in your profile preferences, and you can run a speed test to help pick the best one.

API & developers

Where is the API documentation?

The API documentation is available at /api. The API is in BETA and can evolve.

Does the API require Premium?

Most API endpoints require a Premium account. Some basic operations are available to free accounts (for example uploading and basic content management).

Are there API rate limits?

Yes. Rate limits exist per endpoint. If you exceed them, you may receive HTTP 429 responses.

For large integrations or higher limits, contact support.

Premium & billing

Is Gofile free?

Yes. Gofile offers a free tier designed for quick sharing. Premium is available for users who need permanent storage, higher limits, and advanced features.

See the Premium page for current plans, pricing, and allowances.

What’s the difference between Subscription and Pay-as-you-go?

Subscription provides a fixed monthly plan with defined storage and traffic allowances. Pay-as-you-go is credit-based and is designed for flexible or higher-volume usage.

Pay-as-you-go includes a minimum monthly usage. Check the Premium page for details.

Can I get invoices or billing help?

Yes. If you have billing questions or need invoice support, contact us via the contact page.

Desktop app & synchronization

Do you have a desktop app?

Yes, an alpha desktop app exists and is currently intended for Premium accounts. Availability and distribution may evolve as the app matures.

You can also synchronize with rclone, which has an official Gofile implementation.

Troubleshooting

My uploads/downloads are slow. What can I do?

Downloads should generally be fast. If they aren’t, it can be due to your network (ISP/VPN/corporate firewall) or temporary server overload.

Upload speed depends heavily on your distance to the selected upload proxy. If you are far from a proxy, uploads can be significantly slower. Running the speed test can help you choose the best upload proxy in your profile.

If you have upload speed issues, we recommend using Chrome or Edge. In some situations, Firefox can have major upload speed issues depending on your system or network.

Finally, if possible, try another network connection (some VPNs/corporate networks throttle uploads), and for very large uploads, prefer a stable wired connection.

A link doesn’t work (not found / removed / needs password).

  • The content may have expired (free/temporary storage).
  • The content may be private or password-protected.
  • The content may have been removed due to Terms/abuse reports.

If you believe this is an error, please contact support with the link.

I still need help.

If your question isn’t answered here, reach out via the contact page.