Learn when you can skip the zip when downloading packages from your browser
When you receive a MASV download link and you choose to download the package using a browser (versus using the MASV Desktop App or cloud-direct), you can download your package in one of two ways, depending on the browser and the package size or composition:
- Zipless (Beta): Files are downloaded with their original file structure, without a zip container. You are prompted to select or create a dedicated MASV download folder and the browser confirms that you want to provide write permission for the folder (“Edit Files” message). You cannot download directly to the Downloads folder, but you can create a subfolder. Example: Downloads/MASV. Single file downloads are always zipless.
- Zip: The original files and folder structure are downloaded within a ZIP file. The browser permits ZIP files to download to the Downloads folder or the default folder you select for your browser. The destination must have enough free space to accommodate the ZIP file and to extract the ZIP file. Note: MASV does not compress files at any stage of the transfer process.
Benefits of zipless downloading
- No waiting for files to zip.
- Less free space required for download (no need to accommodate zip + extraction space).
- Option to download only the files your want instead of the full package.
- More granular Package Details info.
When are zipless downloads not available?
Zipless downloads aren’t available for multi-file packages in the following cases:
- You are using an unsupported browser (Firefox or Safari)
- One or more files exceed 100 GiB.
- Package exceeds 50,000 files.
- Package includes more than 10,000 empty folders.
To download files from your browser without a zipping (zipless)
- Click a MASV download link.
- In the Chrome or Firefox browser window, select the skip the zip link in the banner at the top of the window. Note: The banner appears only if the package meets the criteria for zipless downloading.
- On the download card, select the Download in Browser button.
- Select one or more files to download. By default, Select all is enabled.
- Select Download Location.
- In the pop-up window that displays, click Select Download Location.
- Create a dedicated folder for the download (recommended) or select an existing non-system folder that MASV can write to. Note: You cannot download to the root of a system folder.
- In the Let site edit files window, select Edit files. This allows MASV to write files to the folder you created or selected.
- On the MASV download card, select Start Download.
- When the download is complete, the files appear in a folder labeled with the Package Name.
