How to create a link for downloading a file

At the bottom of the shared link settings pop-up, you will find a direct link to your file. A direct link is a web address (URL) that links directly to a file (without using Box Preview). This is different from a regular shared link, which will bring users to the Box preview screen for said file.

Direct links end with the file's extension type. Therefore, if you are linking to a Microsoft Word document, a direct link will end with *.doc. When a user clicks on the link, the file will be downloaded onto their computer or opened by a default program, depending on computer settings. Direct linking can also be used to host images or files for your website or blog.

Direct Linking is only available for individual files and is unavailable for folders. A link to a folder will always be a web address of a Box page.

Note: This is a premium feature, unavailable on free personal accounts.

Note: For security purposes, you cannot create a direct link for .msi and .exe files. It is important to be aware that the the file types can be harmful if downloaded from an untrusted source.