> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.allgoodhq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Hosted files

> A PDF, ebook or other download held as an asset, served from your own subdomain at an address that doesn't change.

A **hosted file** is one downloadable file, such as a whitepaper, ebook, report or slide deck, held as an asset. It has versions, you publish it, and allGood serves it from your branded subdomain. Opening the address downloads the file under its original name.

It's the download counterpart of a [visual asset](https://docs.allgoodhq.com/mk/content/visual-assets.md). An image is shown inside an email or page. A hosted file is something a person receives and keeps.

In the Content list, a hosted file is labeled **Asset**. A file you host yourself and only point to is labeled **External Asset**.

## Where hosted files come from

Most hosted files are made while building a [gated content motion](https://docs.allgoodhq.com/mk/motions/gated-content.md). You upload the PDF as the motion's content, and allGood saves it to your library as a hosted file. The delivery email then links to it.

If the file already lives on your own website or CDN, you don't need to upload it again. Give Mary the link instead, and she records it as an **External Asset**. allGood links to the file where it is and doesn't keep a copy.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Pick one. Uploading a file you already host makes a second copy, and the two can drift apart. Point at the file you already have unless you want allGood to serve it.

## What you see on the asset page

**Summary** shows the file's title and description, and a card with its name, type and size.

The card on the right shows the file's address with buttons to copy and open it, and **Publish** and **Open Preview** buttons. Under the card, the version history lists each step, such as **v1**, **Published** and **Deployed**.

When this works, the file downloads from its address. The address starts with `/_ag/file/` on your subdomain.

## Publish it

Nobody can download a hosted file until you publish it. Select **Publish**, then confirm in the window. See [Publishing and versions](https://docs.allgoodhq.com/mk/content/approvals.md) for what that window shows.

A file that a motion made goes live with that motion. Its page names the motion and offers no **Publish** of its own.

## Reuse one file

Point a second motion at a file that's already in your library instead of uploading it again. One report then backs several motions, and its downloads aren't split across copies.

A template never copies a hosted file. Everything built from the template points at the same one.

## Take it down

Open the **⋯** menu on the file's card and choose **Take Down…**. Type **OK to take down** to confirm. The address stops serving the file, and any email that links to it leads nowhere. Every version is kept, so you can publish it again at the same address.

## Good to know

* **One file per asset.** For a second file, make a second asset.
* **Downloads aren't gated by the file itself.** Anyone with the address can download a published file. The gate is the form in front of it, in the motion.
* **There's no editor for the file.** To replace it, ask Mary to save a new file as a new version of the same asset. The address stays the same.

If you get stuck, contact [support@allgoodhq.com](mailto:support@allgoodhq.com).

## Related articles

* [Gated content](https://docs.allgoodhq.com/mk/motions/gated-content.md)
* [Visual assets](https://docs.allgoodhq.com/mk/content/visual-assets.md)
* [Publishing and versions](https://docs.allgoodhq.com/mk/content/approvals.md)


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.