Creating a viewing link is only the start of a model review. When the review ends, the owner should know which links are still active and what each recipient can still open.
Find the link you own
Sign in and open My shares in My files. The list shows active links and expiry dates. You can open a link to inspect its receiving page or choose Stop sharing to revoke it. The workspace's Share panel also has link-management controls for the model you are viewing. Share management follows the account, so clearing browser cookies does not permanently remove your ability to manage links; sign in again.
Only the owner can manage a share. A recipient does not need to sign in to view a link, but a password-protected link also needs its password. Forwarding an unprotected link forwards access to anyone who receives it. Search exclusion keeps the share page out of normal indexing; it is not an authorization boundary.
Worked example: one shared assembly, from settings to recipient
We shared the CC0 assembly.step sample, two 10 × 20 × 30 mm blocks, from a signed-in account on 2026-10-01 and opened the link in a separate browser session.
The Share model panel has two tabs: Create share and Manage links. Under the filename it states the boundary in one line: view and measure by link, no original file download. We chose 30 days, set a password and left Public link preview unchecked. The panel reminds you that the password is not part of the link, so send it separately.
The recipient's page is headed Shared model · View only. It shows the expiry time (2026/10/31 23:37:33 for this link, 30 days after creation) and the note Viewing and measurement only. The recipient sees the model structure (Twin blocks with Block 1 and Block 2) and the same properties as the owner: X 50 mm, Y 20 mm, Z 30 mm and a solid volume of 12,000 mm³. There is no download button for the original STEP file.
Two checks follow from this example:
- Compare the expiry with your review plan. The recipient page shows the exact expiry time. If the review will run longer, plan a new link rather than assuming the old one will last.
- Use the numbers to confirm the right snapshot. Before you stop an older link, open the new one and compare a known value, such as the 50 mm overall X here, with the revision you meant to send.
This example covers one STEP assembly shared with a password. Since 27 October 2026, a 30-day lifetime and a password are Pro link options that use 1 point once per link; the free link lasts 7 days. The screenshots are dated evidence; use the current share panel labels when following the steps. Other formats show their own properties and warnings, as described on the sharing page.
Know what expiry and stopping do
A free link lasts 7 days from creation, and a Pro link lasts the 30 days, 90 days or 1 year chosen, unless you stop it earlier or delete its saved source file. After expiry or revocation, CADProps refuses new access through that link. A recipient who already captured a screenshot or extracted display data may still have that copy. Stop sharing to prevent future service access, not to promise data recall.
Deleting a saved file is broader than stopping one link: it removes the account's online original and results and revokes all linked shares. If you only want to end one review, stop that link in My shares instead. If you delete a folder, its files return to All files and their links are not revoked.
Replace a model without confusing revisions
A share is a fixed snapshot. Uploading a newer CAD file does not change the earlier link. For a new revision, open and inspect the replacement file, create a new link, then tell the recipient which revision it represents. Stop the old link when the earlier review should end. Do not describe a replacement upload as an edit to the existing snapshot.
If a link password is lost, the owner cannot retrieve it. Stop the protected share and create a new link with a new password. Send the link and password separately. Public link previews are optional and may be retained by social platforms after the share ends; the sharing page explains the preview boundary.
A short review-closing check
Before ending a project, check My shares for links that are no longer needed. Confirm the recipient has the correct engineering source if the task requires more than a browser view, then stop outdated links. The fixed-revision checklist helps keep the message and model version aligned.
Check the right link when several reviews overlap
Two active links may display the same filename while referring to different fixed snapshots. Keep a private review register with the revision, creation date, intended audience and expiry. The filename alone is not enough to decide which link should remain active.
When replacing a review, open the new link in a separate browser session before stopping the earlier one. Check the model, saved notes and password prompt. Tell recipients which review reference supersedes the previous one through your agreed communication channel; creating a link does not automatically communicate that decision.
| Problem | Appropriate response |
|---|---|
| Review ended early | Stop that share and verify later access is refused |
| Password lost | Stop the protected share and create a replacement |
| New model revision | Create and identify a new fixed snapshot |
| Need account space | Review snapshot usage before deleting the source |
If a revoked link still appears as a cover image in a messaging app, distinguish its cached public preview from access to the CADProps model. A cached preview may persist outside the service. Test actual viewing access separately and avoid enabling public previews when even the model title or image is private.
Original article: CADProps · https://www.cadprops.com/guides/manage-cad-share-links/