---
title: 'Restricting access to the source file'
description: 'How to control whether share recipients can access the original source file or only a preview, for video, audio, images and other file types.'
url: https://www.medialab.co/support/core/sharing/restricting-access-to-the-source-file
---

# Restricting access to the source file

When sharing files in MediaLab, you can control whether recipients have access to the original source file or only to a lower-quality preview. Available options depend on the file type.

### Video

For videos, MediaLab automatically creates preview files (usually lower quality than the source) for online playback. If you share a video without **Download source** rights:

- Recipients can only stream the preview file.
- The source file cannot be downloaded from MediaLab.

**Example** A 1-hour Blu-ray 1080p video (17 GB, 38 Mbit/s bitrate) might have a preview file of about 460 MB (1 Mbit/s MP4, H.264). Sharing without source download rights means the recipient only streams the 460 MB version, not the 17 GB original.

> **Exception:** If your source already matches our preview specifications, the source may be used for preview playback. See the article on _Downloading Preview Files_ for more details.

### Audio & Images

- Audio files are converted into MP3 previews.
- Images (including PSDs) are converted into JPG previews.

If your source matches the preview specifications, see _Downloading Preview Files_ for more information.

### Office Documents & Other Files

For file types like Office documents, ZIP files, or executables, preview creation may not be possible. In these cases, sharing will include the source file.

- A placeholder file icon will be shown.
- A **Download** button will be available to retrieve the source file.

For Office documents, MediaLab will attempt to generate a PDF preview. However, this may not always match the original (e.g., large Excel sheets). In these cases, the source file remains downloadable.

### Custom Formats (Enterprise Feature)

Enterprise customers can configure custom transcode presets for sharing. For example, a custom HD preset can be created for videos, enabling you to share special formats with stakeholders instead of standard previews.