The file-storing service Mega usually cuts free users off once they’ve downloaded around 5GB or so, forcing you to wait hours before you can resume whatever it is you were transferring. It feels like Mega is more generous nowadays (I downloaded 18.75GB of data the other day before I hit the wall), but it still has some kind of download quota. And if you want to get past it without waiting, there’s only one trick left in your arsenal.

There are a lot of services you can use to host your files in the cloud. Dropbox is one solid option, even though it doesn’t give you a lot of storage to play with if you aren’t paying its monthly fee. Still, it’s an incredibly convenient way to access a shared pool of files across your computers and devices.

Even if it’s reached “household name” status for software, here’s a guide to getting the most out of this great storage solution.

iOS: There are plenty of incredible password managers out there — 1Password and LastPass come to mind — but Mozilla has password-management aspirations of its own. The company just released two new new mobile apps as part of its Test Pilot program and one, Firefox Lockbox, is a pretty convenient way to pull up your passwords on your iPhone and iPad.

Mac/iOS: I recently checked out clipboard management app Paste 2. While it’s a bit pricey — $22.99 for the full version — it has some compelling features, and a free trial, that make it worth considering.

Windows/Mac: There are plenty of apps you can use to put on a little light show in your house (or geek den) if you’ve bought into Philips’ Hue ecosystem. My room is full of the company’s expensive colour-changing LED bulbs, and I’ve checked out a few of these apps, but generally don’t need to make my room look like an exploding volcano on a regular basis. These kinds of apps are fun for parties, but not all that practical for everyday use.

Apple recently (and finally) brought Messages to iCloud, which we've written about a bit over the past month because it's just that useful and necessary of a feature. However, with all new, great things comes confusion; setting it up can be a bit of a head-scratcher and apparently, figuring out just what it's doing is equally question-inducing.

When you're trying to collect together a lot of files, it's a pain to everyone on the same page. If you're a Dropbox user, Balloon is a web app that lets you create a single link you can send to people so they can add files to your Dropbox without needing a Dropbox account themselves.

Android/iOS/Windows Phone: BitTorrent Sync is a handy alternative to Dropbox if you need a lot of storage space or don't trust someone else's servers. The mobile apps have been a bit wanting, but now you can finally create, edit, and share files right from your phone.

A NAS, or network-attached storage device, is great for storing files and making them accessible from any computer in the house. But when you upgrade to a new one, you're stuck copying everything over by hand, swapping drives, and risking data loss. Here's a much more reliable method.

Over the weekend, Dropbox updated its terms of service so that customers outside of North America are now provided via Dropbox Ireland, rather than Dropbox USA. What's going on?

Hi Lifehacker, I recently signed up for Microsoft's OneDrive, but I'm still not sure: can data I store there be manipulated, copied or accessed by Microsoft staff? I have all the personal information on my drive now synced, and it's something of a concern.

Hi Lifehacker, We're thinking about updating our file server in the office so that it automatically backs up data to the cloud. We would ideally want to continuously sync the data as users modify the files quite often.

Between Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive and half a dozen other services, the sky is the limit on how much cloud storage you can get. Here are some of the best ways to get extra free space on each service.

We've looked at BitTorrent Sync before as an alternative to Dropbox for sharing large files across your devices. Now, the service has updated to version 2.0 and with it comes a new Pro tier.

Android and Windows: Transferring files to an Android device is a pain. Air Drive lets you wirelessly mount your Android file system as a drive letter in Windows Explorer.

Dropbox (and similar cloud services) are awesome, but they don't give you that much control, security or privacy over your files. If you want to take control into your own hands without losing the features of cloud syncing services, BitTorrent Sync is the service for you. Here's how to use it.

Mac: Evernote can be more than you really need if you just use it for basic writing. Alternote is a Mac app currently in beta that simplifies things a lot while still syncing up with your Evernote account.

Chrome: Sometimes when you're working, you need to jot down a quick thought. Instead of opening an app or another browser window, Sidenotes lets you create a note in your current window. Those notes then sync to Dropbox.

Chromebook: Have a new Chromebook with an Intel processor? Intel has released a tool to move your contacts, photos, files and bookmarks into your Gmail account.