# Download files and folders

Download one file, several files or a whole folder from Drime to your computer. Large selections are packed into a ZIP archive for you.

Updated: 2026-10-19  
Source: https://drime.cloud/support/drive/download-files-and-folders

You can download any file or folder you have access to. Several items or a folder are downloaded as a ZIP archive.

## Download one or more items

1. Select the file, the folder or the items to download.

2. Right-click the selection and choose **Download**.

   You can also click **Download** in the selection bar, or press `Ctrl` + `Alt` + `D` (`Cmd` + `Option` + `D` on a Mac).

   ![Right-click menu of Launch plan.pdf, with actions such as Get link, Share, Rename, Move to, File versions and Delete](https://drime.cloud/media/01M590JV38BNWV4BNXQ0X1KZ36/25a880ea79ca-web-drive-context-menu-file.png)

A single file downloads as it is. A folder downloads as a ZIP archive named after it, and several items as an archive named `download-` followed by a number (a timestamp).

## Large downloads

For a small selection, the ZIP archive starts downloading right away.

For a large selection, Drime first prepares the archive and shows its progress: **Preparing your archive...** followed by a percentage. When it is ready, **Archive ready, your download is starting.** appears and the download starts. A prepared archive stays available for 24 hours.

> **Tip**
>
> For a very large folder, the message **Still preparing - this archive is a big one.** means the preparation is still running normally.

## Good to know

- Drime has no download quota and no bandwidth limit, on any plan.
- Files in the Trash can still be downloaded.
- In a shared file or folder, people with **Can view** access cannot download it.

## If the download fails

If you see **The archive could not be built. Please try again.**, start the download again. If it fails again, try downloading smaller parts of the folder, then [contact support](https://drime.cloud/support/getting-started/contact-drime-support) if the problem persists.