# How to share a folder without making a ZIP first

> Choose a folder, preserve relative file paths and let recipients download one ZIP, within DROP’s 3 GB and 1,000 file limits.

Canonical page: https://drop.space/en/blog/send-folders/
Content updated: 2026-10-29
Published: 2026-10-29
Publisher: DROP

A project handoff can include photos, documents and nested folders. DROP accepts a folder from a compatible browser and creates a ZIP stream when the recipient requests Download all, so you do not need to build an archive before uploading.

## Prepare and share

1. Remove private or unrelated files from the folder. Check that the package is within 3 GB and 1,000 files.
2. Use the Folder choice in DROP. Review the queue before starting the upload.
3. Wait for completion and share the link. Tell the recipient when it expires.
4. The recipient can download a file or Download all as ZIP. Extract the archive to recover the relative file paths.

## What the ZIP does and does not do

The download archive uses STORE mode: it packages original bytes without recompressing every file. Do not expect smaller downloads, especially for already compressed photos and videos. Empty directories have no file entry and are not preserved. Browser folder selection support varies.