Email has been the traditional option if you want to share large files using Windows, but it has a few problems. Firstly, while you can share large files via email, it still puts a limit on the size of the files you can send. So, you may need to split the file into smaller chunks.

Additionally, it also does not allow sharing certain types of files, in which case you have to convert the file into supported formats, such as a .zip file. The good news is that there are other ways available by which you can share large files on Windows 11 that do not require you to rely on email.

Method 1: Using WeTransfer

WeTransfer is an online platform that lets you share files up to 2GB for free. And if you want to send files up to 3 GB per month, all you need to do is sign up on the platform for free. Simply upload your files to the WeTransfer website and you will get download links to the files which you can then share with others.

  1. Head to the WeTransfer website using your web browser and click on the 'I Agree' button on the left.
  1. Click on 'Add files' or 'Add folders' to upload your files or folders to the website.
  1. You can then choose the files or folders you want to share from your computer and use the 'Add More' option to upload additional files. Once done, click on the three dots on the bottom left.
  1. You can then select 'Send email' if you want to share the link to your files via email, or 'Create link' to get a download link for the files.
  1. If you select 'Send email', click in 'Email To' field and enter the email address of the person you want to share the files with. Enter your email address, the title of the message, and your message in the respective fields before sharing the link.
  1. Once you enter the details, WeTransfer will send a code to your email address. You will need to enter the code on the website and click on the 'Verify and Send' button.
  2. If you select the 'Create link' option, enter your email address, a title name for the file, and your message in the respective fields before clicking on the 'Get a link' button.
  1. Again, copy the code sent to your email address and paste it on the WeTransfer website. Then click on 'Verify and Send' before clicking on 'Copy link' to copy the link to the file.
  2. You can share the link you downloaded via email with the person you want to share the files with. WeTransfer retains user files for three days by default but you can change this to seven days when sharing files.

Method 2: With Smash

Smash is a platform specially designed to help you transfer large files online. While it is designed primarily for videos, you can also share other files with it.

  1. Visit the Smash website in your web browser and click on the button in the center of the screen to upload the file you want to share.
  1. Once you upload your file or folder, enter your email address, the email address of the recipient, the subject of the message, and the message itself in the provided fields. Then click the 'Send' button to send a link to the file via email to the person you want to share the file with.
  1. You can also click on the 'Link' option if you want to get a direct link to share with others. Enter your email address and other details and click on the 'Get link' button.
  1. Once you have the link, you can share it with the recipient. They can use it to download the file uploaded to the Smash website.
Note: You can upload and share files up to 2 GB in size using Smash but you can also sign up for a Pro plan which lets you transfer files up to 250 GB. It also provides 1 TB of cloud storage along with branding and customization options.

Method 3: Using Google Drive

You can also use Google Drive to share large files when using Windows 11. Free accounts have 15 GB of free storage, which you can use to share your files.

  1. Open the Google Drive website in your browser and log in to your Google account.
  2. Click on the 'New' button on the left.
  1. Then click on 'File upload' before selecting the files you want to share from your PC.
  1. After uploading your file, right-click on it and select 'Share'.
  1. Now, you can enter the name or email address of the person or group you want to share the files with in the provided field.
  1. You can select the 'Notify people' checkbox and type in your message in the provided box before clicking on the 'Send' button.
  1. You can share the file with anyone you want by clicking on the 'General access' dropdown and selecting 'Anyone with the link'.
  1. Then you can click on 'Copy Link' and select 'Done'. Now, just share the link with the person you want to share your files with. You can set the access to 'Restricted' when you don't want others to access your file.

Method 4: Using Microsoft OneDrive

If you have a Microsoft account, you can use OneDrive to share large files with others. Free users get 5GB of OneDrive storage that can be used to upload and share files with others.

  1. Go to the OneDrive website in your web browser and log in to your Microsoft account.
  2. Click on the 'Add new' button on the left and select 'Upload files' or 'Upload folders' as per your needs.
  1. After uploading your file or folder, right-click on it and click on 'Share'.
  1. Enter the name or email address of the person or group you want to share the file with in the provided field. You can also type in a message before clicking the 'Send' button.
  1. Next, choose how the recipient can interact with the files by clicking on 'Anyone with the link can edit' below the Message box.
  1. You can then choose the people who can use the link and whether they can only view the file or edit it as well using the provided options.
  1. You can also manually share the link by clicking the 'Copy link' button and copying it.

Method 5: Using WhatsApp

If you don't already know, you can share files up to 2 GB in size using WhatsApp and you can even do so by running the messaging app on your Windows 11 PC.

  1. Open WhatsApp Web in your web browser and scan the QR code shown on the screen using WhatsApp on your smartphone to sign in to your account.
  1. Click on the chat of the person you want to share a file with. Then drag and drop the file from your computer you want to share. If you want to add a caption, you can do so by typing in the provided field before clicking the 'Send' button.
  1. Once the recipient gets your message, they can download the file from it.

Method 6: Using Send Anywhere

If you're looking for a peer-to-peer file-sharing option, Send Anywhere is an excellent choice. Furthermore, you can do so without signing up for an account on the platform.

  1. Go to the Send Anywhere website and click on the '+' button under 'Send'.
  1. Upload the file you want to share and then click on 'Direct' to share it via the peer-to-peer method before clicking the 'Send' button.
  1. You will see a numeric and QR code appear on your screen for a limited time. Share the code with the person you are sending the file to. They will have to access the Send Anywhere website and enter the code to download the shared file.
Note: You can also share files using Send Anywhere with the traditional link sharing method as with Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive.

Things to know

  • Older file transfer methods like Bluetooth can also help you share large files with others using Windows 11 but they require the recipient device to be within range of your Bluetooth device.
  • Certain third-party programs, like EaseUS Todo PCTrans Free, also let you transfer large files with others but you will have to download and install them on your Windows 11 PC.
  • Just like Google Drive and OneDrive, Dropbox is another cloud storage solution that can help you store and transfer files online without using email. However, you only get 2 GB of free storage when using the free account.
  • When transferring files online, it is a good idea to compress them to reduce their size. This will also let you upload more files in one go, making the process more efficient.