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Aktar feature

Uploads that delete themselves, and links that expire

Sharing something just for a while? Pick Delete after 1, 7, 14 or 30 days and forget about it: your bucket's own lifecycle rules delete the file on schedule, even when Aktar isn't running. Or copy a temporary link that stops working in 5 minutes, an hour or a week, private buckets included.

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Available in
  • Mac0.5.0
  • Windows0.1.2
  • iPhone & iPad1.1.0
  • Android1.4.0

Temporary shares that never go away

A bug report screenshot, a draft for a client, a log file for support: most shared files are only needed for a few days. Then they sit in your bucket forever, still public, because nobody goes back to delete them.

Aktar puts the expiry in at upload time, where it costs one click, and leaves the deleting to your storage provider.

How it works

  1. 1

    Pick Delete after

    In the menu bar or a destination's Upload Defaults: 1, 7, 14 or 30 days.

  2. 2

    Let Aktar set up the rules

    The first time, Aktar adds four lifecycle rules to the bucket in one click, and leaves your other rules alone.

  3. 3

    Forget about it

    The file is uploaded under tmp/7d/ (for example) and the bucket deletes it on schedule.

What you get

  • 1, 7, 14 or 30 days

    History shows when each upload will be deleted.

  • Done by your bucket

    Lifecycle rules run on your provider's side, so files are deleted even when your computer is off.

  • Temporary links

    Link: Public, 5 or 15 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours or 7 days, signed with your key so private buckets work too.

  • Delete sooner

    Once the recipient has the file, Delete Remote File removes it from your bucket.

  • As a profile

    A "Temporary" destination with a 24-hour link and Delete after 1 day, next to a "Permanent" one with public links.

  • Your other rules stay

    Aktar's rules are named aktar-expire-1d to aktar-expire-30d and only cover tmp/.

Two kinds of expiry

Delete after removes the file itself. Temporary links leave the file in place but make the link stop working: they're presigned URLs, signed on your device with your own key. Use the first to keep your bucket clean, the second to share from a private bucket, or both together.

The 5 and 15 minute links are for credentials and confidential files that shouldn't stay reachable. Single-use links aren't possible without a server that sees every download, and Aktar doesn't put one between you and your bucket.

When rules can't be set up

If your key can't manage lifecycle rules, Aktar tells you which four rules to add in your provider's dashboard. Read how lifecycle rules work on S3, R2 and B2. Expiring uploads are only deleted by Aktar while the bucket still has its rules, so nothing is removed by surprise.

Questions

What if Aktar isn't running when a file expires?

It doesn't matter. Your storage provider deletes the file through the bucket's lifecycle rules, on its own schedule, usually within a day of the expiry.

Do temporary links work for public buckets?

They work, but anyone who learns the file's public URL can still open it. For real expiry, keep the bucket private and use temporary links.

Does a short link expire too?

Yes. An expiring upload's short link expires with it, when your shortener supports expiry.

Which providers support this?

Amazon S3, Cloudflare R2, Backblaze B2 and most S3-compatible services support lifecycle rules and presigned links. See expiring uploads in the FAQ.

Release notes

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