How to share Large Files in Email

Update for 2024 - OneDrive Direct Download Link Generator for 2024 Breaking API Change

Microsoft OneDrive Direct File Download URL Maker

I get asked all the time to by my clients to provide a way to direct download URL to a file and NOT preview the file, especially if the file is large in email. It's often very confusing for novice users to have preview mode of file, such as PDF files which launch a separate user interface. Moreover, if the file is over 100Mb, the preview appears too slowly for most users, and they'll abandon the file.

So I came up with this mini "App", it takes a OneDrive Share Link and returns the direct download URL for that file.

Enjoy! The original download maker, accept no other.

Microsoft OneDrive Direct File Download URL Maker

1. Right-click on item in Onedrive, Choose Embed. For images, see below.
2. Click Generate button
3. Get Embed code from Onedrive as in picture above. i.e.: <iframe src="https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=8F99649728BEB2F3&resid=8F99649728BEB2F3%211010&authkey=AFo8ZQ_-qj84DEQ" width="98" height="120" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>  see instructions below, if you don't know how. NOTE : For images there an extra step below.

New 17-Jan-17: Copy Embed Code 3 and paste into text-box, click Get embed link button

This will produce, extract the File Embed Link which looks like: https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=8F99649728BEB2F3&resid=8F99649728BEB2F3%211010&authkey=AFo8ZQ_-qj84DEQ and populate the text-box below. To proceed click "Get Download Link" button.

3.1 Alternatively, you can paste (ctrl-v) your OneDrive File Embed Link in text-box below and click "Get Download Link" button below


4. Now, Click on Get Download Link button.

Text-box will be highlighted so you can copy the full link. To copy, right-click and choose  "Copy" or simply (ctrl-c) to copy link. Note: Entire URL is automatic selected for your convenience.

 


Now you can Paste (ctrl-v) and share the OneDrive Direct Download Link in your email ;)

How to get a Microsoft OneDrive Embed Code detailed instructions

1. Goto OneDrive (https://onedrive.live.com/)
2. Upload you file
   
   
3. Right-click to "Embed" your uploaded file 
   
   
4. Click Generate HTML Button.
   
   
5. Copy and Paste HTML Code to Notepad
   
   
6. Copy the all the embed code ie. <iframe src="https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=..." >...</iframe> and paste into  above.
7. Done!

For Images, you have to do an extra step

1. Right-click to "Share" your uploaded file
   
   
2. Click Copy button. Updated Jan 01, 2017 API change.
   
   
   This will produce a share URL that looks like this, 
   
   https://1drv.ms/i/s!AvOyviiXZJmPlSc1CjtKuwc_gqVu
3. Paste share URL into http://www.linkexpander.com/ and copy that URL. or http://www.websiteplanet.com/webtools/redirected/
   
   
   
   The resulting Uncovered URL is in the format we need, and look like this.
   
   https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=8F99649728BEB2F3!2727&authkey=!ADUKO0q7Bz-CpW4&ithint=photo%2cjpg
4. Paste "Uncovered URL" link into 3.1 OneDrive File Embed Link text-box above
   and click 4. "Get Download Link" button above.
5. Right-click and choose "Select all" and "Copy".
6. Paste the OneDrive Share Direct Download Link in emails instead.
7. Done

OR for images only

1. Updated June 07, 2016 API change!
   
   
   

   Right-click on image and select Embed. The Copy the URL to embed image now gives you direct download URL, but is super long.

   
   So you do not need to do the above! 

   
   

Using OneDrive as a CDN


Bonus : For images, read Using OneDrive as a Content Delivery Network (CDN) plausibility post.

A note about Sharing PDFs

Google Chrome Warning: Very large PDF files do not preview in Chrome

• 

PDF files approx. over 100Mb in size, do not preview in Chrome, and you get a splash page to "For the best experience, open this PDF portfolio in Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader"

You have to save the file first then open in Adobe Acrobat/Reader.