How Long Will File Transfer Take?

File transfer refers to how information, usually digital data, is shared between computers within a network or across the Internet. Typically, these transfers are governed by a communication protocol, such as file transfer protocol (FTP), transmission control protocol (TCP) or hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). Other methods of file transfer include email, instant messaging and a variety of cloud storage services.

Regardless of the method, it’s important to know how long it will take to move data from one computer to another so you can plan accordingly. This free calculator estimates transfer times based on your data size, network bandwidth and data transfer rate. Simply enter the two pieces of information and select units to get an estimate.

If you want to save some time, consider using a service that can upload files up to 5GB in size without the need for an account or software downloads. PlusTransfer, for example, doesn’t require any installation or login details and offers fast upload speeds without any limits.

If you’re transferring your data to a new PC, make sure the hard drives on both machines are connected so you can copy all of the files over in a single step. Alternatively, you can use a USB flash drive or CD to manually copy the files over — although this method is slower and more error-prone than the others. You should also back up your old computer before wiping it clean and deleting its contents so that important files aren’t accidentally lost. Upload large files