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xAI Introduces Public URLs for Files API, Enhancing Shareability

xAI has launched Public URLs for its Files API, allowing users to create permanent, shareable links to stored files on the xAI CDN without requiring an API key for access.

By Illumora Editorial

Source · Aug 20, 2026, 3:13 PM · On Illumora · Aug 20, 2026, 3:58 PM

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Read the source →xAI Docs — Public URLs | SpaceXAI Docs
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xAI has introduced Public URLs as a new feature within its Files API, enabling users to transform privately stored files into shareable links. These URLs provide unauthenticated access to files hosted on the xAI CDN, according to xAI Docs. This functionality is available for files uploaded through the Files API, which by default reside in private storage and require an API key for retrieval.

Key Points

  • Public URLs convert a stored file into a permanent, shareable link on the xAI CDN.
  • Accessing a Public URL does not require an API key.
  • Creating a Public URL does not alter the underlying private file, and revoking it does not delete the file.
  • Users can revoke a Public URL at any time via an API call, immediately invalidating the link.
  • Public URLs can be configured with an expires_after setting, allowing automatic revocation after a specified duration (from 1 hour up to 30 days).
  • For files generated using the Imagine API, a Public URL can be created in the same request through storage_options.public_url.

Context

According to xAI Docs, files uploaded to the Files API are private by default, necessitating an API key for access. The introduction of Public URLs provides an alternative for sharing content more broadly. For scenarios requiring gated access, xAI recommends keeping files private and serving them through a user's own backend using the authenticated GET /v1/files/{file_id}/content endpoint.

Why It Matters

This feature offers developers greater flexibility in managing and distributing content, balancing security with ease of sharing. It simplifies the process of making files accessible to a wider audience while retaining control over their lifecycle, which can be particularly useful for applications built with models like Grok 4.6 that might generate or utilize various file types.

What To Do

  • Review the xAI Docs on Public URLs to understand the implementation details.
  • Test the create_public_url and revoke_public_url API calls with your existing files.
  • Explore setting the expires_after parameter for time-limited sharing needs.
  • If using the Imagine API, investigate integrating storage_options.public_url into your image or video generation requests.