Secure Send Files – files.roanoke.edu

  • Created:

    Updated: October 6, 2025

Sending Files

Roanoke College hosts a secure file transfer service that allows confidential information to be shared between two parties, typically to or from the College.

Create a URL

Go to https://files.roanoke.edu/ in your web browser. You will see a page with the following fields:

Roanoke College Encrypted Files website screenshot. Shows the following fields available for the user to modify: Email Address, First Name (optional), Last Name (optional), Student First Name (optional), Student Last Name (optional), Student RCID (optional)

Enter your email address in the required field. This can be any valid email address. Optionally, you may include your first and last name—these will be visible to the recipient.

If you are sending files to the college on behalf of a currently enrolled student, please enter the student’s first and last name into the specified fields. If you know the student’s ID, please include that as well.

After you agree to the College’s privacy policy statement, and complete the CAPTCHA, you can generate your secure URL.

Upload Files

After generating your secure URL, you will be taken to a page where you can upload files.  You can upload as many files as you would like, though no individual file may exceed 100 Megabytes.

Files.roanoke.edu screenshot that shows how to upload files, and includes the secure URL that must be shared to send files.

You may optionally add a note per uploaded file, to describe the contents of the file.  This note is visible to anyone with access to the secure URL.

A screenshot of files.roanoke.edu, showing a successfully uploaded file and the notes associated.

Each uploaded file is scanned for viruses, and stored encrypted on a Roanoke College owned server.  If you mistakenly upload an incorrect file, you can delete them during the upload process.

Share the URL

Once you have finished uploading your files, copy and share the URL displayed on the page.  Only people who are given this URL will be able to access the files.  You can share this URL via email, text message, Teams/Zoom chats, etc.

A screenshot of the files.roanoke.edu application, with an arrow pointing to the URL that must be shared in order to access the secure files.

By default, uploaded files will remain on our server for 14 days or 5 accesses, whichever comes first.  Afterwards, the files are permanently deleted from our servers and are unable to be recovered. 

If you need to change the length of time or number of accesses, you can change these settings under the advanced options on the setup page.

A screenshot of the files.roanoke.edu webpage, showing the advanced options available to set.

Receiving Files

Direct the sender of the files to https://files.roanoke.edu. They can follow these same set of instructions seen here. Remind them that they must send you the URL after uploading their files.

A screenshot of the files.roanoke.edu application, showing the page you will see after receiving a secure URL.

The page showing the file uploads displays how many more accesses and how much longer the link will last.  Each file is able to be downloaded independently.  Make sure you download all necessary files, and store them in a secure local location locally, as the files will be permanently deleted after meeting one of the specified limits.

Troubleshooting

If you receive an “Invalid Request” warning, it means the link you were given is no longer valid.  This could mean

  • The URL you were given was copied and pasted incorrectly.
  • The URL expired due to exceeding the number of accesses or the time limit expiring.

In either case, contact the sender and ask them to re-upload the files and send a new link.

A screenshot of the files.roanoke.edu application demonstrating the Invalid Request warning that appears for invalid or expired links.