{"id":"data-transfers.link-points-at-a-folder-error","url":"/faq/data-transfers/link-points-at-a-folder-error","category":{"id":"data-transfers","title":"Data Transfers"},"subcategory":{"id":"downloads","title":"Downloads and large files"},"question":"Why does New Transfer say my link “points at a folder rather than a file”?","alt_questions":["That link points at a folder rather than a file","Start Transfer is greyed out for my download link","download link not accepted","folder link instead of file link","why can't I download this URL"],"short_answer":"The link ends at a folder, so it would download a listing page, not your file. Add the file name to the end, or copy the link from the actual download button. When it's right you'll see “Download link recognised”.","answer_markdown":"The link ends at a folder (for example it finishes with a slash), so downloading it would only save the web page that lists the folder, not the file you want. Storage Studio stops you before that happens, and **Start Transfer** stays greyed out.\n\nTo fix it, add the file name to the end of the link — or go back to the web page, right-click the actual download button or file, choose *Copy Link*, and paste that instead. When the link is right, the sheet shows *\"Download link recognised\"* with the file name.\n\nRelated: [Download a file from a link](/faq/data-transfers/download-a-file-from-a-link)","answer_html":"

The link ends at a folder (for example it finishes with a slash), so downloading it would only save the web page that lists the folder, not the file you want. Storage Studio stops you before that happens, and Start Transfer stays greyed out.

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To fix it, add the file name to the end of the link — or go back to the web page, right-click the actual download button or file, choose Copy Link, and paste that instead. When the link is right, the sheet shows "Download link recognised" with the file name.

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Related: Download a file from a link

","answer_text":"The link ends at a folder (for example it finishes with a slash), so downloading it would only save the web page that lists the folder, not the file you want. Storage Studio stops you before that happens, and Start Transfer stays greyed out.\n\nTo fix it, add the file name to the end of the link — or go back to the web page, right-click the actual download button or file, choose Copy Link, and paste that instead. When the link is right, the sheet shows \"Download link recognised\" with the file name.\n\nRelated: Download a file from a link","tags":["download","link","error message"],"related":[{"id":"data-transfers.download-a-file-from-a-link","question":"How do I download a file from a web link with Data Transfers?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/download-a-file-from-a-link"},{"id":"data-transfers.download-needs-a-web-link-message","question":"What does “Download needs a web link starting with http:// or https://” mean?","url":"/faq/data-transfers/download-needs-a-web-link-message"}],"applies_to":"app>=4.16","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Why does New Transfer say my link “points at a folder rather than a file”? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"The link ends at a folder, so it would download a listing page, not your file. Add the file name to the end, or copy the link from the actual download button. When it's right you'll see “Download link recognised”.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Data Transfers","path":"/faq/data-transfers/"},{"name":"Why does New Transfer say my link “points at a folder rather than a file”?","path":"/faq/data-transfers/link-points-at-a-folder-error"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/link-points-at-a-folder-error","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why does New Transfer say my link “points at a folder rather than a file”?","alternateName":["That link points at a folder rather than a file","Start Transfer is greyed out for my download link","download link not accepted","folder link instead of file link","why can't I download this URL"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The link ends at a folder (for example it finishes with a slash), so downloading it would only save the web page that lists the folder, not the file you want. Storage Studio stops you before that happens, and Start Transfer stays greyed out.\n\nTo fix it, add the file name to the end of the link — or go back to the web page, right-click the actual download button or file, choose Copy Link, and paste that instead. When the link is right, the sheet shows \"Download link recognised\" with the file name.\n\nRelated: Download a file from a link","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/data-transfers/link-points-at-a-folder-error"}}]},"fragment":"
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Data Transfers · Downloads and large files

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Why does New Transfer say my link “points at a folder rather than a file”?

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Short answer: The link ends at a folder, so it would download a listing page, not your file. Add the file name to the end, or copy the link from the actual download button. When it's right you'll see “Download link recognised”.

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The link ends at a folder (for example it finishes with a slash), so downloading it would only save the web page that lists the folder, not the file you want. Storage Studio stops you before that happens, and Start Transfer stays greyed out.

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To fix it, add the file name to the end of the link — or go back to the web page, right-click the actual download button or file, choose Copy Link, and paste that instead. When the link is right, the sheet shows "Download link recognised" with the file name.

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Related: Download a file from a link

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Applies to Storage Studio 4.16 and later · Last reviewed

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Related questions

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Also available as Markdown and JSON.

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