Delivering a 20GB 4K export to a marketing manager who has never heard of a ProRes file is one of the most underrated challenges in commercial video work.
They click the link. It times out. They email you. You re-upload. They click again. Their browser says the download failed at 94%. They call you.
This guide covers the workflow that eliminates that entire sequence.
Why large video downloads fail
Most cloud transfer services route your file through their own servers. Your client's browser opens a connection to that server, starts downloading, and if anything interrupts that connection, the download restarts from zero.
A 15GB file on a 10Mbps office connection takes about 3.5 hours. If the laptop sleeps, the VPN disconnects, or the browser tab closes, it starts over. Every time.
The fix is HTTP Range request support. When a download is interrupted, the browser can resume from exactly where it stopped instead of restarting. Cloudflare R2, which TrunkTransfer uses, supports Range requests natively on every file.
The delivery workflow that actually works
1. Export at the right codec for delivery, not editing
Do not send your client a ProRes 4444 file unless they specifically asked for one. ProRes is an editing codec. For delivery:
- H.264 / H.265: works in every browser, every media player, on every device
- ProRes 422 HQ: if the client is a post house that will do further editing
- DNxHD: if the client is on Windows with an Avid workflow
A 10-minute 4K H.264 at high bitrate is usually 3-6GB. The same edit in ProRes 4444 is 80GB. If your client just needs to watch and approve, H.264 is the right call.
2. Use a dedicated delivery link, not Google Drive
Google Drive prompts clients to sign in on mobile. The download button is buried. Files over a certain size show a virus-scan warning that confuses non-technical clients.
A dedicated delivery link opens to a single page with one button: Download. No account, no confusion. See how to send large files to clients without requiring a signup for the full step-by-step.
3. Set the expiry to match your project timeline
Most videographers leave the default expiry (7 days) and forget about it. The client comes back three weeks later needing the file again. Re-upload, reshare, another email thread.
Set the expiry to 30 days on anything going to a marketing team. They share links internally, someone needs it two weeks later, and you will not be tracking that conversation.
4. Password-protect anything unreleased
Brand campaigns, product launches, event recaps before the event. Any footage that should not be public gets a password. You control who has it.
Send the password in a separate message from the link. If someone forwards the link without the password, they cannot access the file.
5. Turn on download notifications
You need to know when delivery is confirmed. Not assumed. Confirmed.
A download notification email tells you the moment your client clicked Download. If you have not received it after 48 hours, follow up. Most "I never got your link" situations are caught this way before the deadline passes.
Delivering 4K video with TrunkTransfer: step by step
Here is how the workflow above maps to an actual delivery using TrunkTransfer.
Step 1: Upload your export
Go to trunktransfer.com and drag your exported file into the upload widget. No account required for a one-off delivery. If you are on the Starter plan, sign in first so the delivery appears in your dashboard.
For files over 5 GB, the upload automatically switches to multipart mode. If your connection drops mid-upload, it resumes from the last completed chunk instead of starting over.
Step 2: Set your expiry
On the free plan, links expire after 7 days. On Starter, set it to 30 days. Do this before you generate the link.
30 days is the right default for anything going to a marketing team. Campaigns get shared internally for weeks after delivery.
Step 3: Add a password if the content is unreleased
Toggle on password protection before generating the link. Set a short, memorable password you can send separately from the link itself.
Your client enters the password on the download page before they can access the file. If someone forwards the link without the password, the file stays private.
Step 4: Enable download notification
On the Starter plan, when your client clicks Download, you get an email immediately.
No more "did you get my files?" follow-ups. You will know the moment delivery is confirmed.
Step 5: Copy the link and send
Once the upload completes, TrunkTransfer generates a delivery link. Copy it and send it to your client however you normally communicate: email, Slack, WhatsApp, anywhere.
Your client opens the link and sees a single download button. No account prompt. No app to install. No WeTransfer ad in the corner. Just the file, ready to download.
On the Starter plan, the download page shows your name and studio instead of TrunkTransfer branding. Your client sees your delivery, not a third-party platform.
Even further, you can customize delivery link with your own domain like studio.yourdomain.com . so it make like more premium
What your client sees
When your client clicks the link:
- They land on a clean download page showing the file name and size
- If you set a password, they enter it first
- They click Download
- The file downloads directly from Cloudflare R2 with HTTP Range request support
If their download is interrupted at any point, their browser can resume from exactly where it stopped. They do not start over from zero.
The checklist before you hit send
- File is the right codec for the client's use case
- File size is confirmed before upload starts
- Link expiry is set to 30 days
- Password is set if the content is unreleased
- Download notification is enabled
- Link is tested in a private browser tab before sharing
That is it. Send the link. Get the notification. Move to the next project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What codec should I use when delivering 4K video to a client?
H.264 for most client deliveries. It plays in every browser, every media player, and on every device. Send ProRes 422 HQ only if the client is a post house that will do further editing, or ProRes 4444 if the footage needs alpha channels. A 10-minute 4K H.264 at high bitrate is typically 3-6GB. The same edit in ProRes 4444 is 80GB. If your client just needs to watch and approve, H.264 is the right choice.
Why does my client's 4K download keep failing?
Most likely the URL expired before the download finished, or the connection was interrupted and the tool restarted from zero instead of resuming. A 15GB file on a 10Mbps connection takes over 3 hours. If the download link has a short expiry or the delivery tool does not support HTTP Range requests, the client will hit failures. TrunkTransfer generates the download URL at click time with a multi-hour expiry, and uses Cloudflare R2 which supports Range requests natively.
How long should a delivery link for 4K video stay active?
30 days minimum. Marketing teams share delivery links internally, and someone will need the file two weeks after you sent it. The default 7-day expiry on free plans is too short for most commercial video deliveries. Set 30 days and enable a download notification so you know when the file is accessed.
Should I password-protect a 4K video delivery?
For any unreleased content: yes. Brand campaigns, product launches, and event footage before the launch date should be password-protected. Send the link and password in separate messages so that forwarding the link alone does not expose the file.
How do I know when the client has downloaded the 4K file?
Enable download notifications on your delivery tool. TrunkTransfer sends an email the moment your client clicks Download. Without this, you are guessing whether the delivery arrived. For large files where confirmation matters, this is the difference between following up on a hunch and following up on a fact.
