A Common Problem in Every Office
Files land in shared folders all day — scanned documents, completed reports, EDI files from suppliers, exports from accounting software. Someone needs to know about them. Right now, that probably means checking the folder manually, setting up a clunky alert in Windows, or asking IT to write a PowerShell script that runs on a timer.
There's a simpler way.
What We're Building
A setup where: file lands in folder → email is sent automatically — with the filename, folder name, and timestamp in the message. No manual checking. No polling scripts. No delays.
The Tool: ForgeDrop
ForgeDrop is a Windows desktop app that watches folders using the native Windows FileSystemWatcher API and fires actions the instant something happens. One of those actions is sending an email.
Here's how to set it up in under 5 minutes.
Step 1: Configure Your SMTP Settings
Go to ForgeDrop's Settings tab and enter your outgoing mail server details:
smtp.gmail.com, smtp.office365.com)For Gmail and Outlook with 2FA enabled, you'll need to generate an app password in your account security settings.
Step 2: Add the Folder to Watch
Click + Add Folder, give it a name, and browse to the directory you want to monitor. For network shares (\\server\sharename), ForgeDrop automatically switches to polling mode.
Step 3: Add a Rule
Click + Add Rule on the folder card:
* for any file, or *.pdf for PDFs only, or invoice_* for files starting with "invoice"Step 4: Add an Email Action
Choose Email as the action type and fill in:
New file received: {{fileName}}A new file arrived in {{folderPath}} at {{ts}}.ForgeDrop supports template variables so you can include file details directly in the message.
Example Email
> Subject: New file received: invoice_2026_0482.pdf
>
> A new file arrived in C:\Incoming\Invoices at 1748021600000.
> File: invoice_2026_0482.pdf
Optional: Conditions and Time Windows
You can add file conditions so the rule only fires on files above a certain size (useful for ignoring zero-byte placeholder files) or within a maximum age (useful for avoiding alerts on stale files restored from backup).
You can also restrict rules to a time window — for example, only send alerts during business hours (Mon–Fri, 09:00–17:00). Files arriving outside the window are silently ignored.
Works for Any Drop Zone
This setup works for:
Running Overnight, Unattended
ForgeDrop can be installed as a Windows Service so it runs at boot without anyone logged in. IT staff can manage it remotely via the built-in web interface.
Try It Free
Two folders, three rules, all action types — free forever.