How to receive several files without downloading a ZIP
Learn how to receive photos, PDFs, videos and project files separately in a MallowShare room, without downloading or extracting a ZIP archive.
Why select individual downloads?
A ZIP archive is useful for moving a folder, but it can be inconvenient when you only need a few files. MallowShare shows shared files separately so a recipient can choose exactly what to keep. This guide covers how to receive files without fetching a whole unwanted package.
The person sending files and the person receiving them normally need to remain connected during a direct browser-to-browser transfer. Availability can change if the sender disconnects.
1. Join the right room
Open a room invite link or scan its QR code with your phone camera. A valid invite can admit you without re-entering a password. If you join using a room code, you must provide the room password. Do not share private invitations publicly.
2. Find the files you actually need
Use the filename search and format filter. The receiver-side Smart Picks tool can select images, documents, videos, audio or code files. It does not download anything automatically; you review the selection before clicking Download selected.
For a busy room, the file owner can organize related uploads into Smart Packs. Smart Packs are collections, not compulsory ZIP archives. You can still select individual originals.
3. Choose Download original or an available conversion
Each file has a Download original action. Only click Convert if the format you want is supported. Converting a scanned PDF to an editable document may require OCR and can lose the original layout. A complex presentation cannot always be faithfully converted to PDF in the browser.
On Chrome or Edge, large downloads may use direct disk saving when available. Other browsers might need to buffer data in memory or request a normal save, so avoid beginning a very large transfer with insufficient free storage.
4. Understand temporary expiry
Rooms are temporary and accept new sharing activity for their configured lifetime, up to ten minutes. A transfer that has already started may have a limited completion window after room expiry. That is not a guarantee that slow multi-gigabyte downloads will succeed.
If a file becomes unavailable, ask the original sender to reconnect or create another room. When a connection is blocked by a network or carrier, a TURN relay may be necessary.
What not to do
Do not assume that deleting a temporary room removes copies already saved by another participant. Avoid posting private room links in public comment sections. Verify important large transfers by comparing file hashes when possible.