diff --git a/src/lib/ae_core/ae_comp__hosted_files_download_button.svelte b/src/lib/ae_core/ae_comp__hosted_files_download_button.svelte
index 7b12470d..9449026b 100644
--- a/src/lib/ae_core/ae_comp__hosted_files_download_button.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/ae_core/ae_comp__hosted_files_download_button.svelte
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
         hosted_file_id: null | string;
         hosted_file_obj: null | key_val;
         filename?: null | string;
-        max_length?: number;
+        max_filename?: number;
         auto_download?: boolean;
         linked_to_type?: null | string;
         linked_to_id?: null | string;
@@ -28,16 +28,17 @@
         variant?: 'tonal' | 'filled' | 'outline' | 'ghost';
         color?: 'primary' | 'secondary' | 'tertiary' | 'success' | 'warning' | 'error' | 'surface';
         show_divider?: boolean;
+        show_direct_download?: boolean;
         classes?: string;
         label?: import('svelte').Snippet;
     }
 
-    let {
+    let { 
         log_lvl = 0,
         hosted_file_id,
         hosted_file_obj,
         filename = $bindable(null),
-        max_length = $bindable(30),
+        max_filename = $bindable(30),
         auto_download = true,
         linked_to_type = $bindable(null),
         linked_to_id = $bindable(null),
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@
         variant = 'tonal',
         color = 'primary',
         show_divider = true,
+        show_direct_download = false,
         classes = '',
         label
     }: Props = $props();
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@
     };
 
     let variant_classes = $derived.by(() => {
-        const base = 'btn btn-sm lg:btn-md min-w-48 transition-all overflow-hidden';
+        const base = 'btn btn-sm lg:btn-md min-w-48 transition-all overflow-hidden px-3';
         const style = color_map[color]?.[variant] || color_map.primary.tonal;
         return `${base} ${style} ${classes}`.trim();
     });
@@ -151,109 +153,134 @@
             }
         };
     });
+
+    let final_filename = $derived(filename ?? hosted_file_obj?.filename ?? 'unknown');
+    let shortened_filename = $derived(ae_util.shorten_filename({
+        filename: final_filename,
+        max_length: max_filename
+    }));
+
+    let direct_download_url = $derived.by(() => {
+        if (!show_direct_download || !hosted_file_obj) return '';
+        // IMPORTANT: For Direct Link Mode, we MUST use the V3 Action endpoint to support Random String IDs.
+        // Legacy endpoints often expect integer IDs and will return 404 for string IDs.
+        const file_id = hosted_file_obj.event_file_id || hosted_file_obj.hosted_file_id || hosted_file_id;
+        const obj_type_path = hosted_file_obj.event_file_id ? 'event_file' : 'hosted_file';
+        return `${$ae_api.base_url}/v3/action/${obj_type_path}/${file_id}/download?filename=${ae_util.clean_filename(final_filename)}&x_no_account_id_token=direct-download`;
+    });
 </script>
 
-{#if hosted_file_id && hosted_file_obj}
-    {@const file_id = hosted_file_obj.id || hosted_file_obj.hosted_file_id || hosted_file_id}
-    <button
-        type="button"
-        disabled={!$ae_loc.trusted_access}
-        class={variant_classes}
-        onclick={() => {
-            download_complete = undefined;
-            download_status_msg = 'Downloading...';
-            ae_promises[file_id] = download_ae_obj_id__hosted_file({
-                    api_cfg: $ae_api,
-                    hosted_file_id: file_id,
-                    return_file: true,
-                    filename: filename ?? hosted_file_obj.filename,
-                    auto_download: auto_download,
-                    log_lvl: log_lvl
-                })
-                .then((result) => {
-                    if (result === null) {
-                        console.log('File not found (404)');
-                        download_complete = null;
-                        download_status_msg = 'File not found';
-                    } else if (result === false) {
-                        console.log(
-                            'Possible error with API server (check network and server status)'
-                        );
-                        download_complete = false;
-                        download_status_msg = 'Failed to download';
-                    } else {
-                        // console.log('File found and downloaded');
-                        download_complete = true;
-                        download_status_msg = 'File downloaded';
-                    }
-                    return result;
-                });
-        }}
-        title={`Download this file:\n${filename ?? hosted_file_obj?.filename}\n[API] SHA256: ${hosted_file_obj?.hash_sha256?.slice(0, 10)}...\nHosted ID: ${file_id}\n Linked to: ${linked_to_type} ID: ${linked_to_id}`}
-    >
-        {#await ae_promises[file_id]}
-            <div class="flex items-center w-full min-h-[1.5rem]">
+{#snippet content()}
+    {@const file_id = hosted_file_obj?.id || hosted_file_obj?.hosted_file_id || hosted_file_id}
+    {#await ae_promises[file_id]}
+        <div class="flex items-center w-full min-h-[1.5rem]">
+            <div 
+                class="flex items-center pr-2 shrink-0 {show_divider ? 'border-r border-surface-500/30 mr-2' : ''}" 
+            >
+                <Lucide.Loader2 class="animate-spin" size={18} />
+            </div>
+            <div class="grow relative text-left h-full">
+                {#if show_filename_view}
+                    <div in:fade={{ duration: 250 }} out:fade={{ duration: 250 }} class="flex items-center h-full">
+                        <span class="truncate">
+                            {shortened_filename}
+                        </span>
+                    </div>
+                {:else}
+                    <div in:fade={{ duration: 250 }} out:fade={{ duration: 250 }} class="absolute inset-0 flex items-center h-full">
+                        <span class="font-bold whitespace-nowrap">
+                            Downloading:
+                            {#if $ae_sess.api_download_kv[file_id]}
+                                {$ae_sess.api_download_kv[file_id].percent_completed}%
+                            {:else}
+                                ...
+                            {/if}
+                        </span>
+                    </div>
+                {/if}
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    {:then}
+        {#if label}
+            {@render label()}
+        {:else}
+            {@const IconComp = ae_util.file_extension_icon_lucide(hosted_file_obj?.extension)}
+            <div class="flex items-center w-full">
                 <div 
                     class="flex items-center pr-2 shrink-0 {show_divider ? 'border-r border-surface-500/30 mr-2' : ''}" 
                 >
-                    <Lucide.Loader2 class="animate-spin" size={18} />
+                    <IconComp size={18} />
                 </div>
-                <div class="grow relative text-left h-full">
-                    {#if show_filename_view}
-                        <div in:fade={{ duration: 250 }} out:fade={{ duration: 250 }} class="flex items-center h-full">
-                            <span class="truncate">
-                                {ae_util.shorten_filename({
-                                    filename: filename ?? hosted_file_obj?.filename,
-                                    max_length: max_length
-                                })}
-                            </span>
-                        </div>
-                    {:else}
-                        <div in:fade={{ duration: 250 }} out:fade={{ duration: 250 }} class="absolute inset-0 flex items-center h-full">
-                            <span class="font-bold whitespace-nowrap">
-                                Downloading:
-                                {#if $ae_sess.api_download_kv[file_id]}
-                                    {$ae_sess.api_download_kv[file_id].percent_completed}%
-                                {:else}
-                                    ...
-                                {/if}
-                            </span>
-                        </div>
-                    {/if}
-                </div>
-            </div>
-        {:then}
-            {#if label}
-                {@render label()}
-            {:else}
-                {@const IconComp = ae_util.file_extension_icon_lucide(hosted_file_obj?.extension)}
-                <div class="flex items-center w-full">
-                    <div 
-                        class="flex items-center pr-2 shrink-0 {show_divider ? 'border-r border-surface-500/30 mr-2' : ''}" 
-                    >
-                        <IconComp size={18} />
-                    </div>
-                    <span class="grow truncate text-left">
-                        {ae_util.shorten_filename({
-                            filename: filename ?? hosted_file_obj?.filename,
-                            max_length: max_length
-                        })}
+                <span class="grow truncate text-left">
+                    {shortened_filename}
+                </span>
+                {#if hosted_file_obj?.file_purpose || hosted_file_obj?.group}
+                    <span class="badge preset-tonal-success ml-2 text-[10px] uppercase font-bold shrink-0">
+                        {hosted_file_obj.file_purpose || hosted_file_obj.group}
                     </span>
-                    {#if hosted_file_obj?.file_purpose || hosted_file_obj?.group}
-                        <span class="badge preset-tonal-success ml-2 text-[10px] uppercase font-bold shrink-0">
-                            {hosted_file_obj.file_purpose || hosted_file_obj.group}
-                        </span>
-                    {/if}
-                </div>
-            {/if}
-        {/await}
-
-        {#if download_complete === null}
-            <span class="text-red-800 dark:text-red-200 ml-2 whitespace-nowrap">File not found</span>
-        {:else if download_complete === false}
-            <span class="text-red-800 dark:text-red-200 ml-2 whitespace-nowrap text-xs">Failed!</span>
+                {/if}
+            </div>
         {/if}
-    </button>
+    {/await}
+
+    {#if download_complete === null}
+        <span class="text-red-800 dark:text-red-200 ml-2 whitespace-nowrap">File not found</span>
+    {:else if download_complete === false}
+        <span class="text-red-800 dark:text-red-200 ml-2 whitespace-nowrap text-xs">Failed!</span>
+    {/if}
+{/snippet}
+
+{#if hosted_file_id && hosted_file_obj}
+    {@const file_id = hosted_file_obj.id || hosted_file_obj.hosted_file_id || hosted_file_id}
+    
+    {#if show_direct_download}
+        <a
+            href={direct_download_url}
+            class={variant_classes}
+            title={`Direct download (V3 Action):\n${final_filename}\n[API] SHA256: ${hosted_file_obj?.hash_sha256?.slice(0, 10)}...\nHosted ID: ${file_id}`}
+        >
+            {@render content()}
+        </a>
+    {:else}
+        <button
+            type="button"
+            disabled={!$ae_loc.trusted_access}
+            class={variant_classes}
+            onclick={() => {
+                download_complete = undefined;
+                download_status_msg = 'Downloading...';
+                ae_promises[file_id] = download_ae_obj_id__hosted_file({
+                        api_cfg: $ae_api,
+                        hosted_file_id: file_id,
+                        return_file: true,
+                        filename: final_filename,
+                        auto_download: auto_download,
+                        log_lvl: log_lvl
+                    })
+                    .then((result) => {
+                        if (result === null) {
+                            console.log('File not found (404)');
+                            download_complete = null;
+                            download_status_msg = 'File not found';
+                        } else if (result === false) {
+                            console.log(
+                                'Possible error with API server (check network and server status)'
+                            );
+                            download_complete = false;
+                            download_status_msg = 'Failed to download';
+                        } else {
+                            // console.log('File found and downloaded');
+                            download_complete = true;
+                            download_status_msg = 'File downloaded';
+                        }
+                        return result;
+                    });
+            }}
+            title={`Download this file:\n${final_filename}\n[API] SHA256: ${hosted_file_obj?.hash_sha256?.slice(0, 10)}...\nHosted ID: ${file_id}\n Linked to: ${linked_to_type} ID: ${linked_to_id}`}
+        >
+            {@render content()}
+        </button>
+    {/if}
 {:else}
     <button type="button" disabled class={variant_classes} title="No file selected">
         <div class="flex items-center w-full">
@@ -265,4 +292,4 @@
             <span class="grow text-left"> No file info </span>
         </div>
     </button>
-{/if}
+{/if}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/lib/types/ae_types.ts b/src/lib/types/ae_types.ts
index d9aa7707..d00dced9 100644
--- a/src/lib/types/ae_types.ts
+++ b/src/lib/types/ae_types.ts
@@ -674,6 +674,8 @@ export interface ae_HostedFile extends ae_BaseObj {
     hash_sha256?: string;
     subdirectory_path?: string;
     filename?: string;
+    filename_no_ext?: string;
+    filename_w_ext?: string;
     extension?: string;
     mimetype?: string;
     size?: number;
diff --git a/src/routes/events/ae_comp__event_file_obj_tbl.svelte b/src/routes/events/ae_comp__event_file_obj_tbl.svelte
index 720d1263..a000d08a 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/ae_comp__event_file_obj_tbl.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/ae_comp__event_file_obj_tbl.svelte
@@ -375,24 +375,11 @@
                                 <AE_Comp_Hosted_Files_Download_Button
                                     hosted_file_id={event_file_obj?.hosted_file_id}
                                     hosted_file_obj={event_file_obj}
+                                    show_divider={true}
+                                    show_direct_download={show_direct_download}
+                                    max_filename={50}
                                     classes="btn btn-sm preset-tonal-primary hover:preset-filled-primary-500 min-w-72"
-                                >
-                                    {#snippet label()}
-                                        <span class="grow">
-                                            {ae_util.shorten_filename({
-                                                filename: event_file_obj?.filename,
-                                                max_length: 30
-                                            })}
-                                        </span>
-
-                                        <span
-                                            class="badge preset-filled-success-600-400 hover:preset-filled-success-700-300 text-xs"
-                                            class:hidden={!event_file_obj?.file_purpose}
-                                        >
-                                            {event_file_obj?.file_purpose}
-                                        </span>
-                                    {/snippet}
-                                </AE_Comp_Hosted_Files_Download_Button>
+                                />
                                 <!-- {event_file_obj?.filename} -->
                             </td>
                             <td
diff --git a/src/routes/testing/hosted_files/+page.svelte b/src/routes/testing/hosted_files/+page.svelte
index fec4738b..926b6ff3 100644
--- a/src/routes/testing/hosted_files/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/testing/hosted_files/+page.svelte
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
     let large_file_obj: any = $state(null);
     let loading = $state(true);
 
+    // Testing Toggles
+    let test_direct_download = $state(false);
+
     const LARGE_FILE_ID = 'sPw1he_RGCW';
     const test_ids = [
         'QpyZNtEb2LQBmNJPQU_aOA', // small.mp4
@@ -64,13 +67,32 @@
 <!-- Outer wrapper to enable scrolling if parent is overflow-hidden -->
 <div class="h-full w-full overflow-y-auto overflow-x-hidden bg-transparent">
     <div class="container mx-auto p-4 space-y-8 pb-20">
-        <header class="flex justify-between items-center bg-surface-50-900-token p-6 rounded-container shadow-xl border border-gray-500">
+        <header class="flex flex-col md:flex-row justify-between items-start md:items-center bg-surface-50-900-token p-6 rounded-container shadow-xl border border-gray-500 gap-4">
             <div class="space-y-1">
                 <h1 class="h1 flex items-center gap-3">
                     <Lucide.Download class="text-primary-500" /> Hosted Files Testing
                 </h1>
                 <p class="opacity-60 text-sm">Testing the AE_Comp_Hosted_Files_Download_Button component</p>
             </div>
+
+            <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-3 items-center bg-black/20 p-3 rounded-lg border border-white/10">
+                <div class="flex items-center gap-2 pr-3 border-r border-white/10">
+                    <span class="text-[10px] font-bold uppercase opacity-50">Edit Mode</span>
+                    <span class="badge {$ae_loc.edit_mode ? 'variant-filled-success' : 'variant-filled-surface'}">
+                        {$ae_loc.edit_mode ? 'ON' : 'OFF'}
+                    </span>
+                </div>
+
+                <div class="flex items-center gap-3">
+                    <span class="text-[10px] font-bold uppercase opacity-50">Direct Download</span>
+                    <button 
+                        class="btn btn-sm {test_direct_download ? 'variant-filled-primary' : 'variant-soft-surface'}"
+                        onclick={() => test_direct_download = !test_direct_download}
+                    >
+                        {test_direct_download ? 'Anchor Mode (<a>)' : 'Action Mode (<button>)'}
+                    </button>
+                </div>
+            </div>
         </header>
 
         <!-- Dedicated Large File Section -->
@@ -79,7 +101,12 @@
                 <h2 class="h2 flex items-center gap-2">
                     <Lucide.Zap class="text-warning-500" /> Large File Progress Test
                 </h2>
-                <span class="badge variant-filled-warning animate-pulse">Testing Percentage</span>
+                <div class="flex gap-2">
+                    <span class="badge variant-filled-warning animate-pulse">Testing Percentage</span>
+                    {#if test_direct_download}
+                        <span class="badge variant-filled-secondary">Direct Link</span>
+                    {/if}
+                </div>
             </header>
             
             <p class="text-sm opacity-80 italic">
@@ -103,6 +130,7 @@
                         <AE_Comp_Hosted_Files_Download_Button 
                             hosted_file_id={LARGE_FILE_ID}
                             hosted_file_obj={large_file_obj}
+                            show_direct_download={test_direct_download}
                             variant="filled"
                             color="primary"
                             classes="w-full md:min-w-64 py-4"
@@ -138,6 +166,7 @@
                                     <AE_Comp_Hosted_Files_Download_Button 
                                         hosted_file_id={file.id}
                                         hosted_file_obj={file}
+                                        show_direct_download={test_direct_download}
                                         variant="tonal"
                                         color="primary"
                                         classes="w-full"
@@ -149,6 +178,7 @@
                                     <AE_Comp_Hosted_Files_Download_Button 
                                         hosted_file_id={file.id}
                                         hosted_file_obj={file}
+                                        show_direct_download={test_direct_download}
                                         variant="filled"
                                         color="secondary"
                                         classes="w-full"
@@ -160,6 +190,7 @@
                                     <AE_Comp_Hosted_Files_Download_Button 
                                         hosted_file_id={file.id}
                                         hosted_file_obj={file}
+                                        show_direct_download={test_direct_download}
                                         variant="outline"
                                         color="tertiary"
                                         classes="w-full"
@@ -171,6 +202,7 @@
                                     <AE_Comp_Hosted_Files_Download_Button 
                                         hosted_file_id={file.id}
                                         hosted_file_obj={file}
+                                        show_direct_download={test_direct_download}
                                         variant="ghost"
                                         color="surface"
                                         classes="w-full"
@@ -183,6 +215,7 @@
                                 <AE_Comp_Hosted_Files_Download_Button 
                                     hosted_file_id={file.id}
                                     hosted_file_obj={file}
+                                    show_direct_download={test_direct_download}
                                     variant="tonal"
                                     color="success"
                                     classes="w-full mt-1"