On fluxer.com, attachments expire after a time that depends on their size, and smaller files stay available longer than larger ones. When someone views a message with a file that is close to expiring, the file stays available for 30 days from that view. On a self-hosted instance, the admins decide how long attachments last and can turn expiry off.
How expiration is decided
The timer starts when the file is uploaded. Files of 5 MB or smaller get the longest window and stay available for about three years, while files close to 500 MB get the shortest and stay available for about 14 days. Files in between get shorter windows the larger they are. fluxer.com doesn't accept files above 500 MB, with or without Plutonium.
Extending availability when accessed
When anyone loads a message with a file that has 30 days or less left, we extend the file to 30 days from that moment, without recording who loaded it.
This works the same way for every file size. It's enough for the message to load in a chat or in search results, and you don't need to open the file. If the file is viewed several times in a row, the days don't add up, because each view sets the time to 30 days from that view.
What happens after expiration
We delete expired attachments from our CDN and storage the same way as attachments you delete yourself, which section 7.3 of our privacy policy describes.
Why we expire attachments
If we stored every unused file forever, our costs would grow without limit. You can find out how we pay for storage on fluxer.com in our article about why attachments expire.
Keeping important files
If you want to keep a file for longer, download a copy of it to your device before it expires, because a data export only has links to your attachments.
Frequently asked questions
Does Plutonium extend file expiration?
No, attachments on fluxer.com expire on the same schedule whether or not you have Plutonium. Plutonium raises the saved media limit from 50 to 500 items, and anything you add to saved media doesn't expire, with or without a Plutonium subscription.
What about saved media?
When you add an image, video, GIF or audio file to saved media, we keep a separate copy for you that doesn't expire, as section 7.1 of our privacy policy explains. The attachment in the message still expires on its normal schedule, even after you save it. You can keep up to 50 items in saved media on a free account, or 500 with Plutonium.
Can I hide the expiration indicator?
Yes. Open "User settings" and go to "Advanced". Under "Chat", select "Configure" next to "Media buttons", then switch off "Show attachment expiration indicator". On desktop and web, you can also right-click the expiration date under an attachment and choose "Hide expiration footnotes". Hiding the indicator doesn't change when files expire.