# How whole-gallery downloads work

> How clients download a whole CoreHue gallery at once: choosing chapters and size, ZIP files in parts for big galleries, the 48-hour link, and what's left out.

Source: https://help.corehue.co/docs/gallery-downloads/whole-gallery-downloads/

Clients can use **Download gallery** to save photos from several chapters as ZIP files. They choose the chapters and size, wait for the files to be prepared, then download each ZIP part.

## The steps your client takes

1. In the gallery, they click **Download gallery** in the row of buttons at the top. A download page opens in a new tab.
2. They enter their email and the [download PIN](/docs/gallery-downloads/download-pin), if you use one, then click **Continue**. Only what's missing is asked for.
3. They tick the chapters they want (or **Select all**) and pick a **Download size** if you offer two.
4. They click **Download** with the photo count, such as "Download 412 photos".
5. **Preparing your photos** shows while CoreHue builds the files: "This can take a little while for a large gallery. Keep this page open."
6. **Your photos are ready** appears with the number of photos and the total size.

Nothing is emailed. Everything happens on that page, so tell your client to keep the tab open while it prepares.

## Big galleries come in parts

A smaller download gets a single **Download your photos** button. A large one is split into several ZIP files, listed one under another with their sizes.

Every part has to be clicked. Nothing downloads on its own, and a client who clicks the first part and closes the tab ends up missing photos without realizing. If you're delivering a big gallery, say so in your email: "Your download comes in a few parts. Click each one."

## The 48-hour link

A prepared download stays available for 48 hours. After that, the page says **This download link has expired** with a **Request again** button. It's normal, not an error, and your client doesn't need you to fix it.

If your client comes back while an earlier download is still live, the page asks **Download existing files?** They can pick **Download existing files** to grab what was already built, or **Choose new photos** to start over.

If they leave the page half-way through picking chapters and come back much later, they'll see **Let's set up your download again**. Same idea: one click to start again.

## What's included in a whole-gallery download

- Photos from every chapter your client is allowed to download.
- Your [download size](/docs/gallery-downloads/download-sizes) settings, so a Free plan gallery delivers web sizes only.
- [Client-only chapters](/docs/gallery-sharing/client-only-chapters), but only for a client who came in with their private password.

## What's left out of a whole-gallery download

- **Videos.** They download one at a time from the gallery itself. Remind your client to grab the film separately. See [Letting clients download videos](/docs/gallery-video/letting-clients-download-videos).
- **Chapters with downloads off.** See [Allowing downloads for some chapters only](/docs/gallery-downloads/downloads-by-chapter).
- **Hidden chapters**, which nobody but you can see.

## Seeing when a whole-gallery download happens

A whole-gallery download shows under **Activity → Downloads → Gallery** once your client starts saving the files, not when they first prepare them. It's listed once, however many parts there are. You'll also hear about it through the **Full gallery downloads** notification, if it's on. See [Seeing who downloaded what](/docs/gallery-downloads/seeing-who-downloaded).

## Frequently asked questions

### Why can't my client see the Download gallery button?

The **Download gallery** button is missing when downloads are off for the gallery, or every chapter your client can see has downloads turned off. Check **Settings → Downloads**.

### My client says the download page told them to open the gallery first.

**Open the gallery first** means the download page needs your client to have opened the gallery in the same browser, so it knows they've got access. Ask them to open the gallery link, then click **Download gallery** from there.

### Can my client download just their favorites?

Not from the whole-gallery download page, which works by chapter. You can send any collection as a ZIP link with **Send as download**. See [Sending favorites as a download](/docs/gallery-favorites/sending-favorites-as-a-download).

### The download is very slow on my client's phone. What can they do?

Whole-gallery downloads are big, so a computer on Wi-Fi is the best option. If you offer a web size, that's much lighter than Original. They can also download a few chapters at a time.

### Does the 48-hour limit mean the gallery expires?

No. Only the prepared ZIP download expires after 48 hours. The gallery stays online until you unlist it or it reaches its [expiry date](/docs/galleries/gallery-expiry-dates).
