Burn After

What is Burn After?

Burn After is a service for sending sensitive files using single-use links. The link is designed to disappear after the recipient downloads the file, helping reduce the chance that shared content remains accessible afterward.

The core purpose is to support time-limited, download-based sharing when you want the recipient to access a file once rather than keep an ongoing shared copy.

Key Features

• Single-use links for file access: share a link intended to work for one download.
• Download-based expiration: the link disappears after the file is downloaded.
• Focus on sensitive file sharing: positioned for cases where access should be limited to a recipient’s download event.

How to Use Burn After

1. Upload the file you want to share (using the service’s file-sharing flow).
2. Copy the generated single-use link.
3. Send the link to the intended recipient.
4. After the recipient downloads the file, the link is designed to no longer be usable.

Use Cases

• Sharing confidential documents with a contractor or external partner who needs one-time access.
• Sending sensitive screenshots or files to a support channel without leaving long-lived access links.
• Distributing draft materials to a colleague where you want the access to end after the initial download.
• Exchanging files during collaboration where you prefer link-based, download-limited availability.

FAQ

• What happens to the link after the recipient downloads the file? The link is designed to disappear after download.

• Is Burn After intended for general file sharing? It’s positioned for sending sensitive files with single-use, time-limited access rather than ongoing sharing.

• Do recipients need an account to download? The provided information does not specify whether accounts are required.

• Can a link be used multiple times? The product is described as single-use, so it’s intended to be usable only for the download event.

Alternatives

• One-time file transfer services: Other tools that share files via expiring links for a single download, typically used for similar “share once” workflows.
• Self-destructing message/file platforms: Services that provide disappearing content after viewing or opening, which may suit scenarios where you want access limited to an event.
• Secure email with expiring attachments: Solutions that wrap attachments in expiring access rules, useful when your workflow is primarily email-based rather than link-based.
• General cloud storage with access controls: Drive or storage platforms with permissions and link expiry; these can work for limited sharing, though the workflow is usually permission- and link-management oriented rather than inherently “single-use after download.”