Access Control lets you control who can download your transfer. Separately, Transfer Activity shows download activity for transfers, including public transfers. Choose between tracked downloads (anyone with the link, after identity verification) or restricted downloads (only people on your access list).
How to enable Access Control
Access this feature via your transfer window where you'll see the option to enable tracked or restricted downloads.
- Tracked downloads: anyone with the link can access the transfer after verifying their identity. You’ll receive detailed download notifications, and download activity is shown in your transfer details.
- Restricted downloads: only the people on your access list can download the transfer. Downloaders are asked to verify their email; only those whose address matches your access list will be granted access.
Once they've verified, they'll have access to your transfer and be able to download it. You'll receive a download confirmation email once your recipient has successfully downloaded.
Who's on the access list?
- Email transfers: the access list is automatically set to your recipient list — only the email addresses you added as recipients will be able to download the transfer.
- Link transfers: when you select restricted downloads, you'll see a form where you can add the email addresses of the people you want to give access to. Add them one at a time before sending.
- As the transfer owner, you'll always have access to your own transfer, regardless of your access list settings.
Managing your access list after sending
You can add or remove people from the access list at any time from the transfer details page — no need to create a new transfer.
- Go to your transfer details page.
- Find the Access list section and click Edit.
- To add someone, enter their email address in the Add recipients field and click Add.
- To remove someone, click the X next to their email address.
- Click Save edits to confirm your changes.
Changes take effect immediately. If you remove someone, they lose access right away. Once a transfer has expired, the access list can no longer be edited. Managing your access list from transfer details is only available on the web version of WeTransfer.
Where to see who downloaded your transfer
Open your transfer details page on the web and look for Transfer Activity. It shows who downloaded and when, including public transfers. Identified visitors appear by email; logged-out visitors appear as Anonymous. Activity is visible to anyone who can access the transfer details page.