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

# Direct Download (HTTPS)

> The no-install way to get files — a standard browser download over HTTPS, used automatically when you don't have Aspera.

You don't need **any** software to download from Pixwel. If you don't have [Aspera Desktop](/features/aspera-desktop) (or the Aspera Connect plugin) — or a [mounted drive](/features/webdav) — Pixwel falls back to a plain **HTTPS download through your browser**, and the file still comes down.

This is the universal option: it works in any modern browser, on any computer, with nothing to install.

## When it's used

It happens **automatically**. When you start a download and no Aspera client is running, Pixwel hands the file to your browser over HTTPS instead. You don't have to choose it — it's the fallback whenever the faster path isn't available.

## How to use it

Just [download a file](/features/downloads) as usual — open the asset, pick your language and version, and click the file. It saves to your browser's **Downloads** folder like any other web download.

## How it compares

|                        | Direct download (HTTPS)                    | [Aspera Desktop](/features/aspera-desktop) |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |
| **Install needed**     | None                                       | Aspera app                                 |
| **Best for**           | Smaller files, quick one-offs, any machine | Large media — trailers, masters            |
| **Speed on big files** | Standard browser speed                     | High-speed (FASP)                          |
| **Pause / resume**     | No                                         | Yes                                        |

<Note>
  Direct download is reliable and simple, but it's a normal browser transfer: a very large master downloads more slowly and can't be paused or resumed. For big media, [Aspera Desktop](/features/aspera-desktop) is faster and resumable.
</Note>

## Same rules apply

A direct download is still a download — your [permissions](/features/user-roles) and any [embargo](/glossary) apply exactly as they do through Aspera, and it's recorded in your [download history](/features/downloads).