# Where to Upload a File
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/where-to-upload-a-file/108766
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [February 9, 2019, 10:47pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/where-to-upload-a-file/108766 "2019-02-09T22:47:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@foros](https://meta.discourse.org/u/foros)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2019, 10:47pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/where-to-upload-a-file/108766/1 "2019-02-09T22:47:16Z")
Hi,
I want users to download files I can store in my server. I created a folder at /var/discourse/, where I uploaded a .doc file so that users can download it just by clicking on the link, example `https://www.example.com/forms/theformpath.doc`
Where is my server I can put files to be accesible using my discourse site if this is not working in /var/discourse?
Johnny
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### Author:  [@Stephen](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Stephen)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/where-to-upload-a-file/108766/2 "2019-02-09T22:50:11Z")
Attach them to posts. From there you can either link to the posts which contain the files or the attachments themselves. Discourse isn’t document management and doesn’t expose the webroot.
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### Author:  [@digitalgerry](https://meta.discourse.org/u/digitalgerry)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2019, 8:33am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/where-to-upload-a-file/108766/3 "2019-12-11T08:33:21Z")
Stephen - I am creating a Resource Category and within that topics and posts. To maintain minimimal storage on my osted server (which isn’t mine it’s digitalocean) would it be best to upload the document in the post OR add the link from where the document is stord (for example in my wordpress site?). I;d welcome your thoughts
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### Author:  [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2019, 8:49am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/where-to-upload-a-file/108766/4 "2019-12-11T08:49:01Z")
You might be interested in:
> [@Set up file and image uploads to S3](https://meta.discourse.org/t/setting-up-file-and-image-uploads-to-s3/7229):
>
> So, you want to use S3 to handle image uploads? Here’s the definitive guide, but also see [Configure an S3 compatible object storage provider for uploads](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configure-an-s3-compatible-object-storage-provider-for-uploads/148916) to see how to configure your app.yml. S3 registration Head over to [https://aws.amazon.com/free/](https://aws.amazon.com/free/) and click on [Create a Free Account] During the create account process, make sure you provide payment information, otherwise you won’t be able to use S3. There’s no registration fee, you will only be charged for [what you use](https://aws.amazon.com/s3/pricing/), if you exceed the [AWS …](https://aws.amazon.com/free/)
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### Author:  [@digitalgerry](https://meta.discourse.org/u/digitalgerry)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2019, 9:04am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/where-to-upload-a-file/108766/5 "2019-12-11T09:04:22Z")
I wasn’t in particular wanting S3 I’m working on the best way to minimise my DigitialOcean space (I have server space for my own WP site, so I can have documents there and will be featuring some on my site also, so would it be best to take the URL from where hosted and add to the Discourse post, or attach directly?
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### Author:  [@Stephen](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Stephen)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2019, 12:05am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/where-to-upload-a-file/108766/6 "2019-12-12T00:05:59Z")
It all depends on your workflow and needs
If a Discourse post which has included an attachment is deleted, that attachment will also eventually be lost. On the other hand attachments to Discourse posts can be protected and restricted from download by users who don’t have access to the original topic/post.
WordPress can manage attachments too, but doesn’t require they be listed in posts. Out-of-the-box it can’t protect files in the same way, if someone can get the path they can usually access the asset.
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### Author:  [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2023, 1:18pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/where-to-upload-a-file/108766/7 "2023-09-24T13:18:05Z")
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### Author:  [@Stephen](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Stephen)
#### Post date: [September 25, 2023, 12:55am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/where-to-upload-a-file/108766/8 "2023-09-25T00:55:49Z")