When you download files from MEGA, a popular cloud storage platform, you can expect a seamless and secure experience. MEGA encrypts all files during transfer and storage, ensuring your data remains private and protected from unauthorized access.
The download process is straightforward, with the ability to resume interrupted downloads and select specific files or folders to retrieve.
As you explore the advantages of downloading from MEGA, you’ll discover how this platform prioritizes user privacy and offers a convenient way to access your files from anywhere.
Is It Safe to Download on MEGA?
MEGA is a legitimate cloud service. Providing top-notch security and privacy measures, it’s one of the best out there in this aspect. Generally speaking, downloading files on MEGA is very safe. For the most part, you can download your files without worrying the least.
The software itself is immune to viruses, malware, and other such exploits across all its websites and applications. Besides, the safety of your device depends on what type of files you download and from which source.
That being said, it’s advisable to download files provided by trusted authorities and websites only. Doing so will reduce the risk of viruses and other malicious software entering your system with the files.
However, it is impossible to always download from a trusted source only. With a few extra measures, you can ensure your safety at all times. These steps will also enhance your downloading experience with MEGA.
VPNs
It’s not compulsory to use a VPN while downloading from MEGA. However, if you are going to download pirated content off some shady website, having a VPN is a good idea.
MEGA tracks its users’ actions by the IP address associated with the user account. So, a VPN will hide your IP address and help eliminate the risk of receiving a notice of copyright infringement or a fine for such activities.
VPN helps you stay anonymous online but doesn’t shield you from downloading malware and other threats, along with the contents. Most of the time, pirated software contains malware that is harmful to your system.
So, you should be aware of the files that you are downloading. However, only downloading an infected file won’t harm your system, but opening it certainly will.
Media files (videos, images, music, etc.) are still safe to an extent. Executable files (software, games, etc.) are the ones that can easily compromise the system.
Anti-Viruses
Again, anti-viruses are an added layer of security that is not mandatory at all. It can detect viruses and malware inside a file and warn you about the potential danger beforehand opening.
Anti-virus can clear the system of malicious programs even after they have begun their actions. Hence, it is the ultimate line of defense against any unwanted software that may creep in with the files.
Privacy
As far as the users’ privacy is concerned, MEGA provides GDPR protection to all its users. GDPR is a stringent privacy and data protection law by the European Union. With MEGA, you can rest assured that your personal information is not misused.
Now that we are all safe and secure, let’s move forward and look at the technical aspects of downloading on MEGA.
What Happens When You Download on MEGA?
As we have seen earlier, many websites and individuals use MEGA to share content online. While searching for a file, you may find that a website has the required file. In most cases, the website doesn’t host the file itself. An embedded link redirects you to MEGA or other such clouds, where the file is stored.
Once you click the keyword with the inserted link, a prompt opens asking if you want to continue with the web browser or the MEGA app. According to your choice, the MEGA app or website will open. You may need to sign in or sign up for using the app.
Afterward, the MEGA download page will open up. You will see the relevant information about the file you are about to download. This information may contain the file type, size, format, etc., and media files may preview.
After you click the download button for the file, either the process will start right away, or you will be requested to import the file. Next, a graphical download progress bar appears on the screen.
The actual download only starts within the app or the browser when the virtual progress bar reaches the 100 percent mark. Once the download is complete, MEGA saves the file in a folder within the system directory, and you can retrieve the files from there.
Resumable Downloads
It is worth mentioning that MEGA offers a resume feature for most of its downloads. It means that if a download pauses mid-progress due to a lost internet connection or other such reasons, you can resume it from the point it stopped.
Data Cap
There is a downside to downloading from MEGA as well. A data cap is applicable for non-registered and free users. It means that MEGA limits the download for the day after you use a certain amount of data bandwidth.
However, the data allowance is unpredictable and can vary from time to time. It can range anywhere between five and eighteen GBs in a single session. When the limit is exhausted, you’ll have to wait hours before you can resume downloading.
And once again, VPNs come to the rescue. MEGA monitors the downloads based on the user’s account’s IP address. When you hit the download limit for the current IP address, turn on the VPN, and it’ll change your IP address.
Then, refresh the website or restart the app. This way, you can renew your download and keep on downloading without any issues.
How Do I Download Directly from MEGA?
MEGA offers ease of use and versatile service across various platforms. Desktop apps are available for operating systems like Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Apart from Android and iOS mobile apps, extensions are present for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera web browsers. And obviously, the website is there. All this makes downloading directly from MEGA very convenient.
Whether you want to download a file sent to you by someone or some content off a website, a link to the online content is mandatory. You can also download a streamable file by following the given steps.
Steps to Download Directly from MEGA
Step 1. A MEGA account is not compulsory to download files using a browser, but you may need to sign in or sign up while using the MEGA app.
Step 2. Once you have signed in, paste the file link into the MEGA app’s search field (MEGA URL link box). The search field can be found on the app home screen or accessed using the dropdown menu. In the case of a browser, you can paste the link directly into the search tab.
Step 3. After you do the required, a page will open showing all the details about the file you are about to download. It may contain type, size, and format along with a preview, if available.
The page will also display a download button. Clicking the button will either start the download right away or open a window to import the file. MEGA will download the file once the import is complete.
Step 4. Next, a graphical download progress bar will appear on the screen. The actual download process will start when the virtual progress bar reaches the 100 percent mark.
You can monitor the download speed and progress in the app or the browser. Download controls like pause and resume and access options like renaming and sharing will also be there.
Once the download is complete, MEGA will save the file in the system directory of the app or the browser. You can retrieve the file from the app. In the case of a browser, you’ll have to save the file to the local storage yourself.
It may sometimes happen that a MEGA app doesn’t have a search box to enter a link or doesn’t support downloading from links. In such cases, you can always use a browser to download.
When You Download From MEGA, Where Does It Go?
Downloading files on MEGA is straightforward, but the trickier part is understanding how it stores the file. This section will look at how MEGA keeps the file while downloading and saves it once the process is complete.
When the graphical download starts, it creates a file in the system directory. As of now, this file is in a sandboxed section of the system. It implies that the app or browser is writing the file within its framework.
At this point, the contents are encrypted, and we can’t access them. Data saving, encryption, and retrieval may vary among apps and browsers.
MEGAsync, the desktop application, creates a temporary .mega file hidden in the download folder. If you don’t have a MEGA account and use a browser, the contents download to a .tmp file.
This file is temporary and has a code name (just a string of letters and numbers). However, it is not the file name.
If you close the browser without completing the download, the temporary file will be deleted automatically. Although, if the download barely starts, neither the MEGA app nor the browser might have created a temporary file.
After the graphical download process, the actual download starts—the contents from the system directory are copied to the download destination. MEGA links offer resumable downloads only because of this two-part procedure.
Once the transfer process completes, the file is saved in Mega > Mega downloads for mobile applications. The MEGAsync app for desktops also stores the files locally within the app.
You can find the files and move them to whatever folder you want. In the case of a browser, you’ll have to click on the downloaded file and manually assign a destination folder.
Due to all these procedures, finding your files after download can get tricky at times. So, we recommend you use a browser and a download manager like IDM to download files using MEGA.
Not only will it help in selecting the destination folder before the download, but it will also increase the download speed. The resume capabilities will remain intact as well.
Conclusion
The takeaway is that MEGA is a great platform to download files off the internet. A huge user base is a testimony to the fact itself. It offers an advanced level of convenience and security to its users.
However, using MEGA comes with its own set of challenges. We have tried our best to break down all the important aspects of MEGA downloads into simple terms. We have also resolved some common queries associated with using the platform.
That was all about what happens when you download on MEGA. You can now start downloading your files using MEGA without worrying about anything. We hope that this guide adds convenience to the entire downloading experience. Finally, have a great time downloading your files swiftly!