Frequently Asked Questions
•   Where are my files stored?
•   Why do I need to sign up?
•   What is 4shared account verification?
•   Why do I need to verify my 4shared account?
•   How can I verify my account at 4shared.com?
•   How long are my files stored for?
•   How can I change the Nickname in my account?
•   How can I change the password for my account?
•   What should I do if I forgot my password?
•   How can I subscribe to a Premium account?
•   Is my data secure?

•   What files can I upload and store with your service?
•   Are there any limitations on the number of files, or size limit on files that can be uploaded per user?
•   Are there any bandwidth limitations?
•   How can I create a folder?
•   How many folders can I create?
•   Can I upload several files at once?
•   How can I arrange and manage my files?
•   How can I rename a file or a folder?
•   How can I change the description of a file?
•   How can I delete a sub-folder?
•   How can I move files from one folder to another one?
•   What is WebDav? How can I use a WebDAV client to connect to my account?
•   Why does the message "Windows can't get access to \\webdav.4shared.com@ssl\DavWWWRoot" appear? What does it mean?
•   Can I access my account with FTP?
•   Can I access my account with SFTP?
•   How can I create a photo album?
•   How can I stream video and audio files?

•   How do I share my files with other users? Can I share my files with non-registered users?
•   How can I share a folder?
•   How can I prevent users from changing my files in the shared folder?
•   How do I set a password for my shared folder?
•   How can I set a subdomain for a folder?
•   How can I share a folder which stores both public and private files?
•   Can I invite someone to upload files into my shared folder?
•   If I want to share my file, how can I email a sharing link?
•   How can I upload files to my account directly from the web?
•   How can I make my files available for public search?
•   Why can't I find the files of my account which I enabled for public search?
•   Are there any limitation on the number of downloads per file?
•   How can I download files using a download manager (FlashGet, GetRight, ReGet, etc.)?
•   Why does the Downloads counter give a different value for each file in Detailed Statistics, and it doesn't coincide with the Downloads column value on the Main file panel?
•   When I try to open a video, the message "Local Storage static.4shared.com is requesting permission to store information on your computer. Requested up to _ MB, currently used: _ KB" appears. What does it mean? Is it safe?


General questions

Where are my files stored?

The files you upload are hosted on our high-speed servers. Your individual virtual drive is set up for you when you register. By becoming a registered user you can create your own folders and upload files.
Why do I need to sign up?

To use our service, we require you to create an account and set up your virtual drive. This allows you access to your files from any laptop or PC connected to the Internet, just by entering your email and password. Your files are kept safe within your account until you decide to share them.

Registration is free, easy, and takes seconds to complete. There's no need to enter your credit card details.
What is 4shared account verification?

Once you have signed up for a 4shared account, you need to verify it prior to getting access to 4shared services and features.
Why do I need to verify my 4shared account?

Account verification confirms that the particular e-mail address, which you have entered while creating an account, is your actual e-mail address and ensures that you have access to it.

Only verified users can access their 4shared accounts, share and download files and folders, preview files, leave comments to files, or use other essential features of the service.
How can I verify my account at 4shared.com?

Upon the creation of your 4shared account, you will receive an e-mail with a verification link. To confirm the verification of your account, you only need to click on this link.

Having clicked on the link, your web browser will open with a notification, that your 4shared account has been verified.

In case nothing happens after you click on the verification link, you need to copy & paste it in your web browser.

In case you haven't received an e-mail with a verification link, please, check the Spam folder at your e-mail account.
How long are my files stored for?

Your free account and all your files will only be removed from 4shared if you don't log into your account for 180 days.
How can I change the Nickname in my account?

Go to Settings in the upper right-hand corner on your virtual drive, click Settings and choose Account Overview section. Enter a new Nickname into the corresponding field and click Save changes.
How can I change the password for my account?

Go to Settings in the upper right-hand corner of your account page, click Settings and choose Account Overview section. Find the Change password section and click on it. Enter your current password for the account in the Old password field, enter a new one in New password and Confirm password fields. Both fields are case sensitive, so enter the same password twice. Click OK to complete changing the password.
What should I do if I forgot a password?

If you forgot your password, open this link https://www.4shared.com/remindPassword.jsp, enter your 4shared login and instructions will be emailed to you. Copy the link you receive and open it in any browser to create a new password for your 4shared account. If you haven't received the email with these instructions, please send us a combination of digits or letters (at least 6), and our Support Team will generate a new password for you manually.
How can I subscribe to a Premium account?

Go to Settings in the upper right-hand corner on your virtual drive, click Upgrade account. Choose your Premium plan and click on the Purchase button.
Is my data secure?

We take security very seriously. Please review our 4shared security overview.
Managing Files and Folders

What types of files can I upload and store with your service?

You can upload any files that meet our Terms of use. You can't share illegal, pornographic, or copyrighted materials.

This is a list of the most popular types of files that can be shared:
  • Document files (doc, txt, pdf, rtf, xls)
  • Music files (mp3, ogg, wav, mid)
  • Video files (avi, mpg, mpeg)
  • Image files (jpg, gif, bmp, png)
  • Zip files (zip, rar, arj)
Are there any limitations on the number of files, or size limit on files that can be uploaded per user?

You may upload as many files as you like, but they must fit within your virtual drive space. The space limit is 15 GB per account.

Currently 4shared sets a 2048 MB size limitation per file. Your files must not exceed the limit, or they will be rejected.

If the size of a file is more than 2048 MB, you can split the file into smaller parts and upload them separately using the Multi-upload feature. In total, you can have up to 30 sub folders in a folder.
Are there any bandwidth limitations?

There are no restrictions on the amount of data that can be transferred. You can upload and download files that don't exceed the size of your account space.
How can I create a folder?

To create a new folder click New folder on the toolbar, then name the new folder and click OK. To create a subfolder start by opening the Main folder. Then click New folder on the toolbar, give it a name and click OK.
How many folders can I create?

Free 4shared users can create up to 1000 folders within their accounts. In total, you can create maximum 30 folders in a folder. As for Premium users, there are no limitations in the number of created folders.
Can I upload several files at once?

Yes, 4shared provides you with a special Multi-upload feature which allows you to upload several files at once. This feature is especially useful for uploading a file if the size of the file exceeds the space limitations.
How can I arrange and manage my files?

Files can be arranged in your folders and subfolders using a simple intuitive Windows-style interface. You can copy, paste, delete your files, or delete whole folders.
How can I rename a file or a folder?

To rename a file or a folder click on the Rename file/folder icon next to the name of the file/folder you want to rename. Type in the new file name and click OK to save the changes.

If you rename a file, you must type the same extension for it at the end of the new name.
How can I change the description of a file?

To change a file description, click on the name of a file and enter a new file description in the Description field at the bottom of the page. To save this change, click on the Save button. Your new file name can be seen on the download page of the file.
How can I delete a sub-folder?

Open the Main folder of a subfolder you want to delete. Then click on the Delete button next to the subfolder and press OK to confirm that you have successfully deleted the subfolder.
How can I move files from one folder to another one?

To move your files from one folder to another, select the files, then click Cut on the toolbar. Go to the folder you want to paste the selected files into, and click Paste on the toolbar.
What is WebDav? How can I use a WebDAV client to connect to my account?

WebDav is a convenient way to store and retrieve files between your computer and your 4shared account, using the built-in functions in the Microsoft Windows Browser with your local drives.

Our webdav address is: https://webdav.4shared.com/.

Follow the instructions to set up WebFolder in Linux

  • Go to Places -> Connect to Server.
  • Choose WebDAV (HTTP) from the Service drop list.
  • Enter webdav.4shared.com in the Server input box.
  • Click Connect.
  • Enter your username and password in the dialog box.

Follow the instructions to set up Web Folder in Microsoft Windows XP
  • Click Start and then choose My Computer.
  • Choose Tools Option (from the top of window).
  • Click Map Network Drive from list.
  • Click Sign up for online storage or connect to a network server at the bottom.
  • Click Next.
  • Select Choose another network location then click Next > again.
  • In the address field you will type https://webdav.4shared.com/.
  • Enter your 4shared account login and password.
  • Click Next.
  • Click Finish.
  • Drag the WebFolder onto your desktop from My Network Places, to create a Desktop Shortcut.
  • Copy/Paste or Drag/Drop files into and out of this new directory.
We are currently testing this feature and there could be a problem setting it up in Vista. We're sorry for this temporary inconvenience.
Why does the message "Windows can't get access to \\webdav.4shared.com@ssl\DavWWWRoot" appear? What does it mean?

This message is in no way related to problems with our 4shared services. If this message appears on your screen, please check your Internet connection and firewall.
Can I access my account with FTP?

4shared Premium users can access their accounts via FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

FTP is a convenient way to upload, download and manage 4shared hosted files. The advantage of this method is the absence of advertisements for everybody (whether the user has Premium membership, or not).

If you aren't currently using 4shared Desktop or access 4shared.com, all you need is a default Internet browser to use this method.

To access files with the browser quickly:
  1. Enter ftp.4shared.com in the address bar of the browser and press Enter.
  2. Enter your 4shared login and password in the required fields.
  3. You'll have access to the contents of your 4shared account. You can now browse and download.

To get full access to 4shared with FTP-manager:
  1. Enter ftp.4shared.com as Host.
  2. Enter your 4shared login and password in the required fields.
  3. You can now upload (use the drag and drop feature), download, copy, move and remove any of your files.
Can I access my account with SFTP?

4shared Premium users can access their accounts via SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol).

SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) is a convenient network protocol, which enables the user to access, transfer and manage files over a completely secure data stream.

This method is also for using 4shared Desktop or accessing 4shared.com – and the only thing needed is a default Internet browser.

To access files with the browser quickly:
  1. Enter sftp.4shared.com in the address bar of the browser and press Enter.
  2. Enter your 4shared login and password in the required fields.
  3. You'll have access to the contents of your 4shared account. You can now browse and download folders.

To use SFTP access to 4shared, you should use a free client, such as FileZilla, etc.

How can I create a photo album?

To create a photo album, open your computer's photo file, and then click on the Thumbnails button on the toolbar to open the photos in the preview mode. To close the photo album, click on the Thumbnails button again.
How do I stream video and audio files?

To play audio/video files online click on the Stream media file icon next to the file. The preview window will be opened.
Sharing Files and Folders

How do I share my files with other users? Can I share my files with unregistered users?

Your files can be shared with all 4shared users. After you upload your files on 4shared you'll be able to share your files with others by using an access link. You can email the link, place it on your web page, or publish it on blogs.

Every 4shared user will be able to download your files. Premium account users can send a direct download link via email, post it in a blog or forum. Also, if you don't want your file to be seen by everyone, you can share your link confidentially, only with the people you choose. Since in this case the link is securely generated, it is impossible to access the file.
How can I share a folder?

To share a folder, right-click it. You'll see the open window, choose Share. Then you'll need either to type the email of the person you want to share the folders or choose people from your Facebook account once it is linked to your 4shared account. Then click Done.
How can I prevent users from changing my files in the shared folder?

The Folder Share feature allows you to share any of your folders with anyone by setting different access permissions on the folder. Similar to a shared file, you can send a web-based link to your shared folder.

If the shared folder has a View-only access, people can only view  files from the folder, and not alter them in any way.

If you don't want specific files from your shared folder to be visible to other people, you can set up the View only public files option and set the files in the folder as Private or Public.

If your folder has Upload & Edit permissions, then 4shared visitors can change your files. Change the settings on your permissions to prevent your files from unwanted changes.

How do I set a password for my shared folder?

Protect your shared folder from unauthorized access by setting a password. To set a password, open a folder you want to share with password protection. Click Share on the toolbar and choose More sharing options. Choose Set password in the Set subdomain & password section, and type a password, click Apply and then Done.
How do you set a subdomain for a folder?

To share all your account materials through the myfolder.4shared.com, right-click on the My 4shared folder in the directory on the left, and select Sharing and Security. You will be taken to the page where you can select the Share this folder option.

On the same page you can customize the link to your shared folder so that it looks like myfolder.4shared.com. This can be implemented in the Subdomain section. Just enter the name for a subdomain and check to find out if it is available.

You can use one free subdomain for any shared folder in your account.
How can I share a folder which stores both public and private files?

Open a folder you want to share and select the files, enter email of people you want these files to be shared with and choose either View only or Upload & Edit permissions and then click Done.
Can I invite someone to upload files into my shared folder?

Yes, just set the Upload files permission on the folder, and send them a link to the folder. The user will be able to upload any files that fit the file size upload limit and your drive's free space.
If I want to share my file, how can I email a sharing link?

Click on the files you want to share by email. Then click on the Email selected files button on the toolbar. Type an email address in the To: field. There can only be one recipient for each email. Fill in the Subject field and type the text of the message. Click Send in the lower right-hand corner of your email.
How can I upload files to the account directly from the web?

Install Save to 4shared plugin and you'll be able to upload files to the account from the web.
How can I make my files available for public search?

4shared users can search among your files only if you allow them access. To make your files from a particular folder available for public search, check the box Public search when sharing the folder. If you want to make all files from your account accessible for public search choose the tab Settings in My Account and then click the box Allow to show my files in public search results.
It takes 24-48 hours to index the files for our search system.
Why can't I find the files of my account that I enabled for public search?

Your files will be added to our results list within 24-48 hours, along with the next database update.
Is there any limitation for the number of downloads per file?

All files can be downloaded as many times as needed. Different 4shared users are allowed to download the same file simultaneously, unless users have the same IP-address.

4shared also provides users with an opportunity to apply download accelerators.
How can I download files using a download manager (FlashGet, GetRight, ReGet, etc.)?

By using our special feature Direct link, which is available if you are a Premium Plan Subscriber. Click on the name of a file to get to the file information page. In the Direct link field, copy a link which allows you to download the file and paste it to the corresponding field of your download manager.

Also, you can download a file by clicking on the Download icon next to the name of the file.
Why does the Downloads counter give a different value for each file in Detailed Statistics, and it doesn't coincide with the Downloads column value on the Main file panel?

The Downloads counter in Detailed Statistics displays the total number of download requests, while the Downloads column on the Main file panel displays the number of successful downloads for each file.
When I try to open the video, the message Local Storage static.4shared.com is requesting permission to store information on your computer. Requested up to _ MB, currently used: _ KB appears. What does it mean? Is it safe?

This message isn't a warning about any danger for your computer, or 4shared account. It may appear, depending on the settings of the user's local flash player. Check this link: http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/help06.html

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