Manage Link Settings

Manage Link Settings
Every sharing link in PaperLink has settings that control who can access the document, what they can do with it, and how the link behaves. You configure these settings when creating a link and can change most of them after creation.
This article covers all available settings in one place. Each setting links to a detailed guide or blog post where applicable.
Edit an Existing Link
- Open the document from Shared Documents in the sidebar.
- Find the link you want to modify in the links list.
- Click the edit (pencil) icon on the link row.
- Change any settings in the edit form.
- Click Save Changes.
Changes take effect immediately. Viewers who open the link after you save see the updated settings. Viewers currently on the page are not affected until they reload.
All Link Settings
Settings are organized into four sections in the link form: Basic Info, Access Control, Viewer Permissions, and Link Settings.
Basic Info
Link Name (optional) - a label to identify the link in your dashboard and analytics. Useful when you share the same document with multiple recipients. Add multiple names separated by semicolons to create a separate link for each recipient - each with independent analytics.
Internal Notes (optional) - free-text notes visible only to your team. Viewers never see these. Use them to record context: deal stage, who requested the link, follow-up dates. Maximum 500 characters.
Access Control
These settings determine who can open the link.
| Setting | What it does | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Require email to view | Viewers enter their email before accessing the document. Their email appears in your analytics. | Email Verification |
| Restrict to specific email | Only the specified email address can access the document. All other viewers are blocked. | Works with "Require email" enabled |
| Require login to view | Only registered PaperLink users can access the document. Login automatically provides a verified email. | Disables "Require email" (login already verifies identity) |
| Password Protection | Viewers enter a password before accessing the document. Passwords are hashed - PaperLink cannot retrieve a forgotten password, only replace it. | Password Protection |
Access controls stack. A link can require both a password and email verification. The viewer completes each gate in order: password first, then email, then agreement (if enabled).
Viewer Permissions
These settings control what viewers can do after they access the document.
| Setting | What it does | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Allow PDF download | When enabled, viewers see a download button and can save the original PDF file. When disabled, viewers can only read the document in the browser. | Download Permission |
| Require NDA/Agreement | Viewers must read and accept an agreement before accessing the document. You provide the title (optional, up to 150 characters) and body text (required, up to 5,000 characters). PaperLink records who signed, when, and stores a downloadable PDF proof. | Require an Agreement |
Link Settings
These settings control the link itself - when it expires, what viewers see, and how the URL looks.
| Setting | What it does | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Expiration Date | The link stops working after this date. Viewers who try to open an expired link see an "expired" message. You can remove or extend the expiration at any time. | Set Link Expiration |
| Welcome Message | A message viewers see on the landing page before they open the document. Up to 500 characters. Use it for context, instructions, or a personal note. | - |
| Custom URL | Replace the auto-generated URL slug with a clean, memorable path like /my-proposal. Only lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens. If you change a custom slug, the old URL stops working immediately. | Custom URL Slugs |
Pair a custom URL slug with a custom domain for fully branded links like docs.yourcompany.com/proposal-2025.
Settings You Cannot Change After Creation
Most settings can be modified after a link is created. The exceptions:
- Link target - a link always points to the document (or folder) it was created for. To share a different document, create a new link.
- Link type - bulk named links remain individual links. You cannot merge them into a single link.
Related
- Create a Sharing Link - step-by-step guide to creating your first link
- Require an Agreement Before Viewing - NDA and agreement gates in detail
- Set Link Expiration - time-limited access for shared documents
- Password-Protect Your Shared Document Links - how password hashing and viewer experience work
- Require Email Before Viewing Shared Documents - email verification for viewer identification
- Control Who Can Download Your Shared Documents - download permission settings explained
- Custom URL Slugs for Shared Links - branded, memorable URLs
- Add a Custom Domain - share documents from your own domain
- Understand Viewer Analytics - track who viewed, when, and for how long
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