Drop a video on FileGrab, and recipients can watch it without downloading. Same for audio, images, and documents. Here’s how media previews work.
Video Files
Supported Formats
- MP4, MOV, WebM (play directly)
- MKV, AVI, and others (converted for browser playback)
What Recipients See
- Video thumbnail
- Play button
- Full playback controls
- Download option for original file
Streaming
Large videos stream via HLS (HTTP Live Streaming). Recipients don’t wait for full download before watching.
GIF Previews
FileGrab generates animated GIF previews from videos. On hover, you see a quick preview of the content before playing.
Audio Files
Supported Formats
- MP3, WAV, FLAC, M4A, OGG
- Most standard audio formats work
What Recipients See
- Waveform visualization
- Play/pause controls
- Progress scrubbing
- Download for offline listening
Transcription (Pro)
Audio files can be transcribed automatically. Recipients see text alongside the waveform and can search for specific moments.
Images
Supported Formats
- JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF (native display)
- HEIC/HEIF (converted to WebP for browser)
- RAW formats (converted for preview)
What Recipients See
- Thumbnail in gallery
- Full-size preview on click
- Original file download
HEIC and RAW
Apple’s HEIC format and camera RAW files don’t display in browsers. FileGrab converts them to WebP for preview while keeping the original for download.
Supported RAW formats: Sony ARW, Canon CR2/CR3, Nikon NEF, Adobe DNG, and more.
Documents
Supported Formats
- PDF (native display)
- Microsoft Office (converted to PDF)
- Text files (displayed directly)
What Recipients See
- Document thumbnail
- In-browser PDF viewer
- Download for original format
Office Conversion
Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files convert to PDF for preview. The original file remains available for download.
The Preview Experience
Instead of downloading files to check contents, recipients preview directly:
- See thumbnails for everything
- Click to preview (video plays, document opens, audio starts)
- Download only what they need
This saves time when links contain many files.
Why Previews Matter
Verification
Recipients confirm they have the right file before downloading. No more “that wasn’t the file I needed.”
Mobile Friendly
Preview on phone without app installations. Videos play, audio works, documents display.
Bandwidth Savings
Preview uses less data than full download. Check contents first, download selectively.
File Organization
When sharing multiple media files:
By Type
FileGrab sorts by media type. Filter to see just videos, just images, just documents.
By Date
Sort by upload time to see newest first or oldest first.
By Size
Sort by file size to find the largest or smallest files.
Download Options
Individual Files
Each file has its own download button. Click to save just that file.
Download All
One button to grab everything as a ZIP. Useful for full collections.
Selective Download
Select specific files, download just those as ZIP.
Media Quality
FileGrab doesn’t compress originals. What you upload is what recipients download.
Previews are optimized for browser display (converted, scaled), but the original file always remains available at full quality.
The Bottom Line
Media files should preview without extra steps. Upload videos, audio, documents, and images. Recipients watch, listen, and read directly. Download what they need in original quality.
Try FileGrab - Share media with built-in previews.