# Automatic file transfers

*Applies to: Pearl-2, Pearl Mini, Pearl Nexus, Pearl Nano*

Pearl can be configured to automatically upload recordings from local storage to a network storage location or an attached USB drive. This is called Automatic File Upload, or AFU for short. You can schedule automatic file uploads for a time and day that's most convenient for your workflow.

### About Automatic File Upload (AFU)

Pearl can automatically upload recorded files to an accessible off-system storage location. You can set the file transfer to happen after a set amount of time or after the file completes recording.

There are additional settings to help you manage your AFU recordings and avoid file name collisions at the AFU server side. You can:

- Automatically create a folder for your recorded files using the channel or recorder name.
- Save recordings to a folder that's labeled using the device's serial number.

Automatic File Upload (AFU) is not enabled by default. You must enable this feature for a channel or recorder that you want included in automatic file transfers. A log file of all file transfers is created that you can view anytime from the Admin panel.

The following types of off-system storage are supported for AFU:

- FTP/SFTP
- RSync
- CIFS
- SCP
- Amazon Web Server 3 (AWS S3)
- WebDav
- USB Drive
- Epiphan Edge

**Important considerations**

- Only **one** type of AFU can be used for all file transfers from the same channel or recorder.
- Automatic File Upload (AFU) is not available while Content Management System (CMS) is enabled.
- Files are automatically uploaded only once. New recordings created during later sessions do not overwrite files that were previously uploaded. A new file is uploaded.
- If the connection is lost during the transfer, the transfer automatically restarts when the connection is reestablished.
- If recorded files are selected for upload while the AFU is at maximum upload capacity or when the AFU is unavailable, they are added to an upload queue; files and their relevant information are displayed in a list and are uploaded when the upload capacity becomes available.

**Device differences**

- **Pearl Nano:** Has only one channel and no recorder concept — "channel or recorder" above applies to the channel only.

> product: pearl-family · topic: other · source: pearl-family-common.md · updated: Oct 13, 2026