# How to share game files, mods, saves and builds

Source: https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/share-game-files/
Updated: 2026-11-05

> To share game files — a mod pack, a save folder, a world or a playtest build — send the folder directly to your friend with a peer-to-peer tool such as StrongFolder. The folder arrives with the same structure, nothing is zipped or uploaded, and the service sets no size limit. Share only files you have the right to share.

1. **Close the game** — Quit the game (and its launcher, if it syncs saves) so no file is being written while you copy or send it.
2. **Find the folder** — Locate the mod, save or build folder — for example the world folder inside the Minecraft saves folder, or your game engine's build output folder.
3. **Choose the folder in StrongFolder** — Open [strongfolder.com](https://strongfolder.com) or the Chrome extension, click **Upload Folder** and pick the folder. Nothing is uploaded.
4. **Send the link** — Paste the link into your group chat or show the QR code. Several friends can open the same link.
5. **Stay online until everyone has it** — Keep the tab open until the last person finishes downloading, then click **Stop Sharing**.

Games are folders. A mod pack is a folder of folders, a world is a folder, a playtest build
is an executable next to a data folder it can't run without. When you want to share game
files with a friend, a playtester or another one of your own PCs, the structure matters as
much as the files — one misplaced subfolder and the game won't load.

**Key facts**

- Game content is **folder-shaped**: mods, saves, worlds and builds only work with their structure intact.
- **Direct P2P transfer** (StrongFolder) sends the folder as is: no ZIP, no upload, one link for the whole squad.
- No size limit set by StrongFolder. The practical limits are free disk space on the recipient's device, connection speed, and how long both devices stay online.
- **Close the game** before you copy or send saves, so no file is half-written.
- **Only share what you have the right to share** — your own saves, worlds, builds and mods whose authors allow it.
- The trade-off: **your tab must stay open** until everyone has downloaded.

## What game files do people actually share?

| What | Typical shape | What breaks if structure is lost |
|---|---|---|
| Mod pack | Folder with many subfolders, configs and archives | Mods not detected, wrong load order, missing configs |
| Save files | A few files or a profile folder | Save not recognized or corrupted |
| World / map | One folder with region and data files | World won't open |
| Game build for testers | Executable + data folder + libraries | Build won't start |
| Replays, recordings, clips | Large video files | Nothing, but they are big |

Two examples of why the folder matters:

- A **Minecraft Java Edition world** is a folder. By default it lives in the `saves` folder
  inside `.minecraft` — on Windows, `%appdata%\.minecraft\saves`. Send the world's own folder,
  not just some files from it.
- A **Unity game built for Windows** is an executable plus a `<ProjectName>_Data` folder that
  holds the data the build needs, and `UnityPlayer.dll` with the engine code. Send only the
  `.exe` and the build will not run.

## How do I share game files with friends?

There are several ways, and each fits a different case:

| Method | Keeps folders | Free size limit | Upload first? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discord / chat upload | No | Small, depends on the app and plan | Yes | Single small configs, screenshots |
| Cloud drive (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive) | Online, usually zipped on download | Your storage quota | Yes | Files that must stay available |
| Mod sites, Steam Workshop | Managed by the site | Site rules | Yes (publish) | Public mods for everyone |
| USB drive at a LAN party | Yes | Drive capacity | No | Everyone in one room |
| **StrongFolder (P2P)** | **Yes, no ZIP** | **None set by the service** | **No** | Private mod packs, saves, worlds, test builds |

For a private group, a direct transfer is the fastest route from "I have it" to "you have
it": choose the folder, drop the link into the group chat, done. Nobody waits for an upload,
and nothing is left on a server afterwards.

[Send files now](https://strongfolder.com)
## How do I send a mod pack so everyone has the same setup?

Version mismatches are the classic multiplayer headache. The reliable fix is to share the
exact folder you play with:

1. Close the game and the mod manager.
2. Find the mod folder or mod-manager profile you want to share.
3. In StrongFolder, click **Upload Folder**, choose it and copy the link.
4. Each friend saves the folder and points their game or mod manager to it, or copies it
   into place.

Folders are sent as folders: subfolders and file names are kept, nothing is zipped. To save the whole folder in one go, friends should open the link in
Chrome, Edge or Opera on a computer. Saving a whole folder with its structure uses the File System Access API: Chrome, Edge, Opera and other Chromium browsers on a computer. Other browsers can download the files one by one or as a ZIP.


**Respect mod authors.** Many mod sites let authors decide whether their work may be
re-uploaded or redistributed. If a mod's permissions don't allow it, send your friends the
link to the original page and share only your own configs and load order.

## How do I send a game build to playtesters?

Indie developers often need to get a fresh build to a handful of testers today, not after a
store review. A direct link works well for that:

- Send the **whole build folder**, not the executable alone.
- One link serves the whole test group. One link can be opened by several recipients; each downloads directly from the sender.
- When the session is over, click **Stop Sharing** — the build is no longer available, and no
  copy stays on a server.

For public demos, regular updates and patching, use a distribution platform such as Steam
playtests or itch.io instead: they handle updates, accounts and availability while you are
offline.

## Can I use it at a LAN party?

Yes. Everyone opens the same link and downloads from the host's computer — no USB stick
passed around, no "who has the latest version". WebRTC picks the most direct route it can
find between the two devices. Simultaneous downloads share the sender's upload bandwidth, so
for a big pack, consider letting the first friend who finishes share it again from their own
machine.

## When should I not use StrongFolder for game files?

- **You want to publish a mod to everyone.** Use a mod site or Steam Workshop: they handle
  discovery, versions and updates.
- **Testers download whenever they like over several days.** A cloud folder or a
  distribution platform stays available while you are offline; a StrongFolder link does not.
- **You can't keep your PC on.** The sender's browser tab must stay open and online until the recipient finishes downloading — files come from the sender's device, not from a server.
- **The files aren't yours to share.** Commercial game copies, cracked files or other
  people's paid content — don't share them with any tool.

## Is it safe?

WebRTC encrypts every data channel with DTLS, so the file stream is encrypted in transit on every connection. Files are never uploaded to or stored on a StrongFolder server. The transfer itself is protected, but a mod or a
build can contain executable code. Download game files only from people you trust, scan
executables before running them, and send your link only to the people who should have it.
More in [Security & privacy](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/security/).

## Summary

To share game files, send the folder as it is — mods, saves, worlds and builds depend on
their structure. A direct peer-to-peer link gets a private mod pack or a test build to your
group without zipping or uploading; mod sites, Steam Workshop and distribution platforms are
better for public releases and long-lived downloads. Moving a game library between your own
computers? See [Mac to Windows file transfer](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/mac-to-windows-file-transfer/) and
[How to send large files](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/send-large-files/).

## FAQ

### How do I share a mod pack with friends?

Send the exact mod folder you play with, so everyone has the same versions. With StrongFolder you pick the folder, share one link in your group chat, and each friend saves the same folder tree. If the mods come from a mod site, check the authors' redistribution permissions — linking to the original page is often the right way.

### Can I send a whole Minecraft world?

Yes. A Java Edition world is a folder; by default it sits in the `saves` folder inside `.minecraft` (on Windows, `%appdata%\.minecraft\saves`). Close the game, then send that world's folder. The recipient puts it into their own saves folder.

### Is it legal to share game files?

Sharing your own saves, worlds, mods and builds is fine. Sharing copies of commercial games, cracked files or someone else's mod without permission is not. StrongFolder is for files you have the right to share.

### Is there a size limit for game builds?

No size limit set by StrongFolder. The practical limits are free disk space on the recipient's device, connection speed, and how long both devices stay online.

### Can several playtesters download one build?

Yes. One link can be opened by several recipients; each downloads directly from the sender. All downloads use your upload bandwidth, so they run slower when they happen at the same time.

### Is it safe to download game files from a friend?

The transfer is encrypted, but a mod or build can contain executable code. Only download from people you trust and scan executables before running them.