UPDATE: If you have upgraded to DSM 5.0, click on Share files one time using private link Synology DSM5.0
If you want share files with somebody without adding them as users, Synology has a feature to do this.
Here is how you do it:
1. Click on Menu button 
2. Click on Folder Station 
3. Select the file you want to share and click on Share file links:
4. Click on Validity period:
5. Click on Customize Validity Period, that is how long you want the option to download the link last. For example, if you want the link to be available for download one week, click on A week. For other options click on Customize…
6. If you want the link to be password protected, click on Password:
7. Click on Enable password protection and add password for your link, click ok:
8. How do you notify your recipiant that they have a link available to download their files? Either you send them the link manually and the password or you click on the Mail link:
9. They will receive an email or the link and will be sent to the following window:
10. The only thing they have to do is to click on the link, write the password and the file will download automatically:
And it is done, Enjoy!
Synoguide 
Works nice! Thanks for the nice information.
I have problems when trying to share a folder with a private link. It doesn’t work, i’m getting a access error when clicking the link created….
Any guess whats wrong?
John
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Hi John,
What does the error message says?
Did you set up a password? If so, can you try without it?
Let me know, Ruth
I will publish a new post this week on how to share folders via cloudstation. Extremely useful when you want to share files with somebody more than once or you want to work on the same files with him/her. Stay tuned!
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Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically
tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like
this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this.
Please let me know if you run into anything.
I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new
updates.
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Hi, You can use HootSuite. I can post a blog on that in the comming week.
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Hi, The best tip I can give you is to subscribe to http://www.copyblogger.com, they are really amazing and offer a lot of great content for free. You won’t regret it. They help on how to focus on writing, what to write about, how to write and much, much more.
Thanks for the compliment!/Ruth
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I have used this feature a couple of times. I have 10Mbit upstream from my home (and that speed is quite stable).
But when I attempt to download a file using the private link feature it is often very slow – especially during day time here in Denmark – as in 20-40KB/s.
If I make the same file available on my Synology NAS’s http server I can download the same file with the same browser with the full 10Mbit speed (or very close to).
Is the traffic when using private links routed through the Synology server – or is there anything I can do to improve transfer speeds for the private link files?
I thought the private link was just used to create the initial connection and then the actual transfer was a direct NAS -> Client transfer.
Maybe there is a port I can forward in my router to the NAS that would make transfers be more speedy?
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by “Is the traffic when using private links routed through the Synology server ” I meant routed through the gofile.me server
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Hi,
I have tested myself to share a 66MB file with private link and it took only a few seconds, so I am not sure what your issue can be. Have you upgraded to DSM5.0? If not, this site might help you:
http://blog.debruin.org/post/2012/03/15/Using-%22Share-file-link%22-with-DSM4
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Hi Ruth,
I just tried this for the first time and it didnt work. My friend (off my LAN) got a Page Cannot Be Displayed error. I got the same when i tried using my phone off the LAN (on 4G).
I went back onto Wifi and it DID work.
Is there a setting that needs to be changed to allow access from externally?
Dale
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Hi Dale,
The first thing that comes to mind is if you have set the duration of the link/share. If your friend access your link after it has expired you will get a “Page not found” page. You probably always have access to the link as you are the owner.
I have used the link with 3G and sent files to friends without any issues and unfortunately I am not aware of other settings.
Can you try again with your friend and set a expire date?
Ruth
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I’m having the exact same problem as Dale. It only works if the person receiving the link is on my LAN. Off wifi and on 3G/4G you get a Page Cannot Be Displayed. I have set the link to expire at the end of the year so that’s definitely not the issue. Very annoyed.
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Hi Britta,
Is the link that is being generated pointing to your LAN (http://192.168.x.xx:5000/xxxx/xxxx) or to your domain name (http://mydomain.com:5000/xxxx/xxxxxx)?
Ruth
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Hi, do you know if there is a way to modify the image background and logo for the password protection screen? Thanks a lot.
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No, sorry, I dont know if it is possible to do.
/Ruth
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Yes you can change the image background, you shall go:
File Station > Configuration > Share Links > Customize.
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Thanks Jorge! _
Ruth
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Is it possible to share a folder with a private link for someone without an account?
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Hi Beerts,
Yes it is, simply follow this tutorial:
https://synoguide.com/2016/04/15/upload-files-on-your-synology-with-a-link-and-no-access-rights/
/Ruth
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With this way you can only upload files?
I’m searching for an alternative like dropbox, where you can share a folder with a link, so the users can upload and download files in the folder 🙂
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Hi Beerts,
If you want to upload files in dropbox, dont you need an account there?
Anyhow with synology, you can give the user access to a folder to achieve that or you can share files, folders for download or share folders for uploads. Hope this helps,
Ruth
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