diff --git a/client/packages/api-client/src/schema/schema.ts b/client/packages/api-client/src/schema/schema.ts
index c617af63579..4d43cdad53a 100644
--- a/client/packages/api-client/src/schema/schema.ts
+++ b/client/packages/api-client/src/schema/schema.ts
@@ -983,6 +983,30 @@ export interface paths {
         patch?: never;
         trace?: never;
     };
+    "/api/datasets/{history_content_id}/download": {
+        parameters: {
+            query?: never;
+            header?: never;
+            path?: never;
+            cookie?: never;
+        };
+        /**
+         * Downloads the dataset, redirecting to the object store when possible.
+         * @description Downloads the whole dataset file. Clients must follow the 302 redirect this route may return.
+         */
+        get: operations["download_api_datasets__history_content_id__download_get"];
+        put?: never;
+        post?: never;
+        delete?: never;
+        options?: never;
+        /**
+         * Returns download metadata (size, filename) for the dataset.
+         * @description Downloads the whole dataset file. Clients must follow the 302 redirect this route may return.
+         */
+        head: operations["download_api_datasets__history_content_id__download_head"];
+        patch?: never;
+        trace?: never;
+    };
     "/api/datasets/{history_content_id}/metadata_file": {
         parameters: {
             query?: never;
@@ -2529,6 +2553,30 @@ export interface paths {
         patch?: never;
         trace?: never;
     };
+    "/api/histories/{history_id}/contents/{history_content_id}/download": {
+        parameters: {
+            query?: never;
+            header?: never;
+            path?: never;
+            cookie?: never;
+        };
+        /**
+         * Downloads the dataset, redirecting to the object store when possible.
+         * @description Downloads the whole dataset file. Clients must follow the 302 redirect this route may return.
+         */
+        get: operations["history_contents_download_api_histories__history_id__contents__history_content_id__download_get"];
+        put?: never;
+        post?: never;
+        delete?: never;
+        options?: never;
+        /**
+         * Returns download metadata (size, filename) for the dataset.
+         * @description Downloads the whole dataset file. Clients must follow the 302 redirect this route may return.
+         */
+        head: operations["history_contents_download_api_histories__history_id__contents__history_content_id__download_head"];
+        patch?: never;
+        trace?: never;
+    };
     "/api/histories/{history_id}/contents/{history_content_id}/extra_files": {
         parameters: {
             query?: never;
@@ -9126,6 +9174,8 @@ export interface components {
             description?: string | null;
             /** Device */
             device?: string | null;
+            /** Enable Direct Download */
+            enable_direct_download?: boolean | null;
             /** Name */
             name?: string | null;
             /** Object Expires After Days */
@@ -25301,6 +25351,8 @@ export interface components {
             description?: string | null;
             /** Device */
             device?: string | null;
+            /** Enable Direct Download */
+            enable_direct_download?: boolean | null;
             /** Hidden */
             hidden: boolean;
             /** Name */
@@ -33827,6 +33879,105 @@ export interface operations {
             };
         };
     };
+    download_api_datasets__history_content_id__download_get: {
+        parameters: {
+            query?: {
+                /** @description The file extension when downloading the display data. Use the value `data` to let the server infer it from the data type. */
+                to_ext?: string | null;
+            };
+            header?: {
+                /** @description The user ID that will be used to effectively make this API call. Only admins and designated users can make API calls on behalf of other users. */
+                "run-as"?: string | null;
+            };
+            path: {
+                /** @description The ID of the History Dataset. */
+                history_content_id: string;
+            };
+            cookie?: never;
+        };
+        requestBody?: never;
+        responses: {
+            /** @description Successful Response */
+            200: {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content?: never;
+            };
+            /** @description Redirect to a URL serving the dataset directly from the backing object store. Only returned for whole-file downloads when the dataset's object store has `enable_direct_download` set. */
+            302: {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content?: never;
+            };
+            /** @description Request Error */
+            "4XX": {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["MessageExceptionModel"];
+                };
+            };
+            /** @description Server Error */
+            "5XX": {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["MessageExceptionModel"];
+                };
+            };
+        };
+    };
+    download_api_datasets__history_content_id__download_head: {
+        parameters: {
+            query?: {
+                /** @description The file extension when downloading the display data. Use the value `data` to let the server infer it from the data type. */
+                to_ext?: string | null;
+            };
+            header?: {
+                /** @description The user ID that will be used to effectively make this API call. Only admins and designated users can make API calls on behalf of other users. */
+                "run-as"?: string | null;
+            };
+            path: {
+                /** @description The ID of the History Dataset. */
+                history_content_id: string;
+            };
+            cookie?: never;
+        };
+        requestBody?: never;
+        responses: {
+            /** @description Successful Response */
+            200: {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": unknown;
+                };
+            };
+            /** @description Request Error */
+            "4XX": {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["MessageExceptionModel"];
+                };
+            };
+            /** @description Server Error */
+            "5XX": {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["MessageExceptionModel"];
+                };
+            };
+        };
+    };
     datasets__get_metadata_file: {
         parameters: {
             query: {
@@ -38973,6 +39124,107 @@ export interface operations {
             };
         };
     };
+    history_contents_download_api_histories__history_id__contents__history_content_id__download_get: {
+        parameters: {
+            query?: {
+                /** @description The file extension when downloading the display data. Use the value `data` to let the server infer it from the data type. */
+                to_ext?: string | null;
+            };
+            header?: {
+                /** @description The user ID that will be used to effectively make this API call. Only admins and designated users can make API calls on behalf of other users. */
+                "run-as"?: string | null;
+            };
+            path: {
+                /** @description The ID of the History Dataset. */
+                history_content_id: string;
+                history_id: string | null;
+            };
+            cookie?: never;
+        };
+        requestBody?: never;
+        responses: {
+            /** @description Successful Response */
+            200: {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content?: never;
+            };
+            /** @description Redirect to a URL serving the dataset directly from the backing object store. Only returned for whole-file downloads when the dataset's object store has `enable_direct_download` set. */
+            302: {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content?: never;
+            };
+            /** @description Request Error */
+            "4XX": {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["MessageExceptionModel"];
+                };
+            };
+            /** @description Server Error */
+            "5XX": {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["MessageExceptionModel"];
+                };
+            };
+        };
+    };
+    history_contents_download_api_histories__history_id__contents__history_content_id__download_head: {
+        parameters: {
+            query?: {
+                /** @description The file extension when downloading the display data. Use the value `data` to let the server infer it from the data type. */
+                to_ext?: string | null;
+            };
+            header?: {
+                /** @description The user ID that will be used to effectively make this API call. Only admins and designated users can make API calls on behalf of other users. */
+                "run-as"?: string | null;
+            };
+            path: {
+                /** @description The ID of the History Dataset. */
+                history_content_id: string;
+                history_id: string | null;
+            };
+            cookie?: never;
+        };
+        requestBody?: never;
+        responses: {
+            /** @description Successful Response */
+            200: {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": unknown;
+                };
+            };
+            /** @description Request Error */
+            "4XX": {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["MessageExceptionModel"];
+                };
+            };
+            /** @description Server Error */
+            "5XX": {
+                headers: {
+                    [name: string]: unknown;
+                };
+                content: {
+                    "application/json": components["schemas"]["MessageExceptionModel"];
+                };
+            };
+        };
+    };
     extra_files_history_api_histories__history_id__contents__history_content_id__extra_files_get: {
         parameters: {
             query?: never;
diff --git a/client/src/components/Dataset/DatasetDisplay.vue b/client/src/components/Dataset/DatasetDisplay.vue
index 566b2562459..b153420dcf8 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Dataset/DatasetDisplay.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/Dataset/DatasetDisplay.vue
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ const { isAdmin } = storeToRefs(useUserStore());
 
 const dataset = computed(() => getDataset(props.datasetId));
 const datasetUrl = computed(() => `/datasets/${props.datasetId}/display/`);
-const downloadUrl = computed(() => withPrefix(`${datasetUrl.value}?to_ext=${dataset.value?.file_ext}`));
+const downloadUrl = computed(() =>
+    withPrefix(`/api/datasets/${props.datasetId}/download?to_ext=${dataset.value?.file_ext}`),
+);
 const isLoading = computed(() => isLoadingDataset(props.datasetId));
 const previewUrl = computed(() => `${datasetUrl.value}?preview=True`);
 
diff --git a/client/src/components/Dataset/DatasetView.vue b/client/src/components/Dataset/DatasetView.vue
index ae640df68ef..624cc973d21 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Dataset/DatasetView.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/Dataset/DatasetView.vue
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ const iframeLoading = ref(true);
 
 const dataset = computed(() => datasetStore.getDataset(props.datasetId));
 const loadError = computed(() => datasetStore.getDatasetError(props.datasetId));
-const downloadUrl = computed(() => withPrefix(`/datasets/${props.datasetId}/display`));
+const downloadUrl = computed(() => withPrefix(`/api/datasets/${props.datasetId}/download`));
 const headerState = computed(() => (headerCollapsed.value ? "closed" : "open"));
 
 // Track datatype loading state
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/Content/Dataset/DatasetActions.vue b/client/src/components/History/Content/Dataset/DatasetActions.vue
index 5316771f614..b5526b8387b 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/Content/Dataset/DatasetActions.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/History/Content/Dataset/DatasetActions.vue
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ const rerunUrl = computed(() => {
     return prependPath(props.itemUrls.rerun!);
 });
 const downloadUrl = computed(() => {
-    return prependPath(`api/datasets/${props.item.id}/display?to_ext=${props.item.extension}`);
+    return prependPath(`api/datasets/${props.item.id}/download?to_ext=${props.item.extension}`);
 });
 
 function onCopyLink() {
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/Content/Dataset/DatasetDownload.test.ts b/client/src/components/History/Content/Dataset/DatasetDownload.test.ts
index 4b2ad4bd579..ad01e545215 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/Content/Dataset/DatasetDownload.test.ts
+++ b/client/src/components/History/Content/Dataset/DatasetDownload.test.ts
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ describe("DatasetDownload", () => {
         expect(foundItems).toBe(false);
         await wrapper.trigger("click");
         const emitted = wrapper.emitted()["on-download"];
-        expect(emitted?.[0]?.[0]).toBe(`/api/datasets/item_id/display?to_ext=ext`);
+        expect(emitted?.[0]?.[0]).toBe(`/api/datasets/item_id/download?to_ext=ext`);
         expect(emitted?.[1]?.[0]).toBe(`/api/datasets/item_id/metadata_file?metadata_file=a`);
         expect(emitted?.[2]?.[0]).toBe(`/api/datasets/item_id/metadata_file?metadata_file=b`);
-        expect(emitted?.[3]?.[0]).toBe(`/api/datasets/item_id/display?to_ext=ext`);
+        expect(emitted?.[3]?.[0]).toBe(`/api/datasets/item_id/download?to_ext=ext`);
     });
 });
diff --git a/client/src/components/History/Content/Dataset/DatasetDownload.vue b/client/src/components/History/Content/Dataset/DatasetDownload.vue
index ffa4cdaf132..4ae94776374 100644
--- a/client/src/components/History/Content/Dataset/DatasetDownload.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/History/Content/Dataset/DatasetDownload.vue
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ const metaDownloadUrl = computed(() => {
     return prependPath(`api/datasets/${props.item.id}/metadata_file?metadata_file=`);
 });
 const downloadUrl = computed(() => {
-    return prependPath(`api/datasets/${props.item.id}/display?to_ext=${props.item.extension}`);
+    return prependPath(`api/datasets/${props.item.id}/download?to_ext=${props.item.extension}`);
 });
 const downloadTitle = computed(() => {
     const size = props.item.file_size;
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/config/sample/object_store_conf.sample.yml b/lib/galaxy/config/sample/object_store_conf.sample.yml
index 2b0fba0c128..cc973d3f6ed 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/config/sample/object_store_conf.sample.yml
+++ b/lib/galaxy/config/sample/object_store_conf.sample.yml
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ backends:
     name: Scratch Storage
     description: >
       This data storage is fast and meant for exploratory analysis and methods development. Data stored here is not backed up
-      and automatically purged after a month. 
+      and automatically purged after a month.
     badges:
         - type: faster
         - type: less_stable
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ backends:
 # suitable just for AWS services (aws_s3 & cloud), one is
 # more suited for non-AWS S3 compatible services (generic_s3),
 # and finally boto3 gracefully handles either scenario.
-# 
+#
 # boto3 is built on the newest and most widely used Python client
 # outside of Galaxy. It has advanced transfer options and is likely
 # the client you should use for new setup. generic_s3 and aws_s3
@@ -181,6 +181,12 @@ auth:
   secret_key: ...
 bucket:
   name: unique_bucket_name_all_lowercase
+# When true, dataset downloads are served by redirecting the client to a short-lived presigned URL
+# generated by this bucket, instead of streaming the bytes through Galaxy's cache. This removes Galaxy
+# from the download path entirely (avoiding cache pull-through timeouts for large objects), but the
+# bucket endpoint must be reachable by clients, and anyone with the URL can fetch the object until it
+# expires (~1 hour). Defaults to false.
+# enable_direct_download: true
 connection:  # not strictly needed but more of the API works with this.
   region: us-east-1
 transfer:
@@ -221,6 +227,9 @@ bucket:
   name: unique_bucket_name_all_lowercase
   use_reduced_redundancy: false
   max_chunk_size: 250
+# Redirect dataset downloads to a short-lived presigned URL served by the bucket instead of streaming
+# through Galaxy's cache. See the boto3 example above for the tradeoffs. Defaults to false.
+# enable_direct_download: true
 connection:  # not strictly needed but more of the API works with this.
   region: us-east-1
 cache:
@@ -246,7 +255,7 @@ connection:
   # The domain of the Onezone service (e.g. datahub.egi.eu), or its IP address for
   # devel instances (see above). The minimal supported Onezone version is 21.02.4.
   onezone_domain: datahub.egi.eu
-  # Allows connection to Onedata servers that do not present trusted SSL certificates. 
+  # Allows connection to Onedata servers that do not present trusted SSL certificates.
   # SHOULD NOT be used unless you really know what you are doing.
   disable_tls_certificate_validation: false
 space:
@@ -343,6 +352,9 @@ bucket:
   name: unique_bucket_name_all_lowercase
   use_reduced_redundancy: false
   max_chunk_size: 250
+# Redirect dataset downloads to a short-lived presigned URL served by the bucket instead of streaming
+# through Galaxy's cache. See the boto3 example above for the tradeoffs. Defaults to false.
+# enable_direct_download: true
 connection:
   host: swift.example.org
   port: 6000
@@ -367,6 +379,9 @@ auth:
 container:
   name: unique_container_name
   max_chunk_size: 250
+# Redirect dataset downloads to a short-lived SAS URL served by the container instead of streaming
+# through Galaxy's cache. See the boto3 example above for the tradeoffs. Defaults to false.
+# enable_direct_download: true
 cache:
   path: database/object_store_cache_azure
   size: 1000
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/datatypes/data.py b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/data.py
index 96a2c5deff3..da8a1c4432f 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/datatypes/data.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/data.py
@@ -481,29 +481,43 @@ class Data(metaclass=DataMeta):
             file_paths.append(dataset.get_file_name())
         return zip(file_paths, rel_paths)
 
-    def _serve_file_download(self, headers, data, trans, to_ext, file_size, **kwd):
-        composite_extensions = trans.app.datatypes_registry.get_composite_extensions()
+    def is_archive_download(self, datatypes_registry, extension) -> bool:
+        """Whether downloading a dataset of this `extension` is served as a multi-file archive (zip).
+
+        Composite/bundled datatypes are zipped on the fly rather than served as the single stored
+        object, so such downloads cannot be satisfied by a direct link to the backing store.
+        """
+        composite_extensions = datatypes_registry.get_composite_extensions()
         composite_extensions.append("html")  # for archiving composite datatypes
         composite_extensions.append("tool_markdown")  # basically should act as an HTML datatype in this capacity
         composite_extensions.append("data_manager_json")  # for downloading bundles if bundled.
         composite_extensions.append("directory")  # for downloading directories.
         composite_extensions.append("zarr")  # for downloading zarr directories.
+        return extension in composite_extensions
 
-        if data.extension in composite_extensions:
+    def download_content_disposition(self, dataset, to_ext, **kwd) -> str:
+        """Build the Content-Disposition header value used when downloading `dataset`.
+
+        Shared so direct (e.g. presigned URL) downloads receive the same filename as streamed ones.
+        """
+        filename = self._download_filename(
+            dataset,
+            to_ext,
+            hdca=kwd.get("hdca"),
+            element_identifier=kwd.get("element_identifier"),
+            filename_pattern=kwd.get("filename_pattern"),
+        )
+        return to_content_disposition(filename)
+
+    def _serve_file_download(self, headers, data, trans, to_ext, file_size, **kwd):
+        if self.is_archive_download(trans.app.datatypes_registry, data.extension):
             return self._archive_composite_dataset(trans, data, headers, do_action=kwd.get("do_action", "zip"))
         else:
             headers["Content-Length"] = str(file_size)
-            filename = self._download_filename(
-                data,
-                to_ext,
-                hdca=kwd.get("hdca"),
-                element_identifier=kwd.get("element_identifier"),
-                filename_pattern=kwd.get("filename_pattern"),
-            )
             headers["content-type"] = (
                 "application/octet-stream"  # force octet-stream so Safari doesn't append mime extensions to filename
             )
-            headers["Content-Disposition"] = to_content_disposition(filename)
+            headers["Content-Disposition"] = self.download_content_disposition(data, to_ext, **kwd)
             return open(data.get_file_name(), "rb"), headers
 
     def _serve_binary_file_contents_as_text(self, trans, data, headers, file_size, max_peek_size):
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/managers/hdas.py b/lib/galaxy/managers/hdas.py
index deb52357270..44189e6d487 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/managers/hdas.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/managers/hdas.py
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ class HDASerializer(  # datasets._UnflattenedMetadataDatasetAssociationSerialize
             ),
             # TODO: backwards compat: need to go away
             "download_url": lambda item, key, **context: self.url_for(
-                "history_contents_display",
+                "history_contents_download",
                 history_id=self.app.security.encode_id(item.history.id),
                 history_content_id=self.app.security.encode_id(item.id),
                 context=context,
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/__init__.py b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/__init__.py
index 3e9a56ec216..e3cdce0293c 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/__init__.py
@@ -319,6 +319,19 @@ class ObjectStore(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         """
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def get_direct_download_url(
+        self, obj, content_disposition: str | None = None, content_type: str | None = None
+    ) -> str | None:
+        """Return a URL a client can be redirected to in order to download `obj` directly from the backing store.
+
+        Returns None unless the concrete store supports direct access *and* the admin has opted in via the
+        ``enable_direct_download`` configuration flag. ``content_disposition`` and ``content_type``, when
+        supported by the backend, are baked into the URL so the client receives the right download filename
+        and content type.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError()
+
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def get_concrete_store_name(self, obj):
         """Return a display name or title of the objectstore corresponding to obj.
@@ -673,6 +686,17 @@ class BaseObjectStore(ObjectStore):
             obj_dir=obj_dir,
         )
 
+    def get_direct_download_url(
+        self, obj, content_disposition: str | None = None, content_type: str | None = None
+    ) -> str | None:
+        return self._invoke(
+            "get_direct_download_url", obj, content_disposition=content_disposition, content_type=content_type
+        )
+
+    def _get_direct_download_url(self, obj, content_disposition=None, content_type=None) -> str | None:
+        # Stores that don't support direct download (or haven't opted in) get this no-op default.
+        return None
+
     def get_concrete_store_name(self, obj):
         return self._invoke("get_concrete_store_name", obj)
 
@@ -701,6 +725,13 @@ class BaseObjectStore(ObjectStore):
             private = asbool(config_xml.attrib.get("private", DEFAULT_PRIVATE))
         return private
 
+    @classmethod
+    def parse_enable_direct_download_from_config_xml(clazz, config_xml):
+        enable_direct_download = False
+        if config_xml is not None:
+            enable_direct_download = asbool(config_xml.attrib.get("enable_direct_download", False))
+        return enable_direct_download
+
     @classmethod
     def parse_badges_from_config_xml(clazz, badges_xml):
         badges = []
@@ -758,6 +789,10 @@ class ConcreteObjectStore(BaseObjectStore):
         self.quota_source = quota_config.get("source", DEFAULT_QUOTA_SOURCE)
         self.quota_enabled = quota_config.get("enabled", DEFAULT_QUOTA_ENABLED)
         self.device_id = config_dict.get("device", None)
+        # Allow clients to download this store's datasets directly from the backing store (e.g. via a
+        # presigned URL) instead of streaming through Galaxy. Opt-in; only meaningful for stores whose
+        # _get_object_url returns a usable URL.
+        self.enable_direct_download = asbool(config_dict.get("enable_direct_download", False))
         self.badges = read_badges(config_dict)
 
     def to_dict(self):
@@ -772,6 +807,7 @@ class ConcreteObjectStore(BaseObjectStore):
         }
         rval["badges"] = self._get_concrete_store_badges(None)
         rval["device"] = self.device_id
+        rval["enable_direct_download"] = self.enable_direct_download
         rval["object_expires_after_days"] = self.object_expires_after_days
         return rval
 
@@ -784,9 +820,19 @@ class ConcreteObjectStore(BaseObjectStore):
             quota=QuotaModel(source=self.quota_source, enabled=self.quota_enabled),
             badges=self._get_concrete_store_badges(None),
             device=self.device_id,
+            enable_direct_download=self.enable_direct_download,
             object_expires_after_days=self.object_expires_after_days,
         )
 
+    def _get_direct_download_url(self, obj, content_disposition=None, content_type=None) -> str | None:
+        if not self.enable_direct_download:
+            return None
+        # _get_object_url is resolved via dynamic dispatch on each concrete backend; it is not
+        # declared on ConcreteObjectStore so static analysis can't see it here.
+        return self._get_object_url(  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+            obj, content_disposition=content_disposition, content_type=content_type
+        )
+
     def _get_concrete_store_badges(self, obj) -> list[BadgeDict]:
         return serialize_badges(
             self.badges,
@@ -1255,6 +1301,17 @@ class NestedObjectStore(BaseObjectStore):
         """For the first backend that has this `obj`, get its URL."""
         return self._call_method("_get_object_url", obj, None, False, **kwargs)
 
+    def _get_direct_download_url(self, obj, content_disposition=None, content_type=None) -> str | None:
+        """For the first backend that has this `obj`, get its direct download URL."""
+        return self._call_method(
+            "_get_direct_download_url",
+            obj,
+            None,
+            False,
+            content_disposition=content_disposition,
+            content_type=content_type,
+        )
+
     def _get_concrete_store_name(self, obj):
         return self._call_method("_get_concrete_store_name", obj, None, False)
 
@@ -1779,6 +1836,7 @@ class ConcreteObjectStoreModel(BaseModel):
     quota: QuotaModel
     badges: list[BadgeDict]
     device: str | None = None
+    enable_direct_download: bool | None = None
     object_expires_after_days: int | None = None
 
 
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/azure_blob.py b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/azure_blob.py
index 30b61b0249f..eb16ea82877 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/azure_blob.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/azure_blob.py
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ def parse_config_xml(config_xml):
             "transfer": transfer_dict,
             "extra_dirs": extra_dirs,
             "private": CachingConcreteObjectStore.parse_private_from_config_xml(config_xml),
+            "enable_direct_download": CachingConcreteObjectStore.parse_enable_direct_download_from_config_xml(
+                config_xml
+            ),
         }
         name = config_xml.attrib.get("name", None)
         if name is not None:
@@ -311,7 +314,7 @@ class AzureBlobObjectStore(CachingConcreteObjectStore):
             log.exception("Could not delete blob '%s' from Azure", rel_path)
             return False
 
-    def _get_object_url(self, obj, **kwargs):
+    def _get_object_url(self, obj, content_disposition=None, content_type=None, **kwargs):
         if self._exists(obj, **kwargs):
             rel_path = self._construct_path(obj, **kwargs)
             try:
@@ -324,6 +327,8 @@ class AzureBlobObjectStore(CachingConcreteObjectStore):
                     blob_name=rel_path,
                     permission=BlobSasPermissions(read=True),
                     expiry=now() + timedelta(hours=1),
+                    content_disposition=content_disposition,
+                    content_type=content_type,
                 )
                 return f"{url}?{token}"
             except AzureHttpError:
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/cloud.py b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/cloud.py
index b1baf80dc7a..f37fba51128 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/cloud.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/cloud.py
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ class Cloud(CachingConcreteObjectStore, UsesAxel):
             log.exception("Could not delete key '%s' from cloud", rel_path)
             return False
 
-    def _get_object_url(self, obj, **kwargs):
+    def _get_object_url(self, obj, content_disposition=None, content_type=None, **kwargs):
         if self._exists(obj, **kwargs):
             rel_path = self._construct_path(obj, **kwargs)
             try:
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/examples/boto3_direct_download.xml b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/examples/boto3_direct_download.xml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..12f5d7adb07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/examples/boto3_direct_download.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+<object_store type="boto3" enable_direct_download="true">
+     <auth access_key="access_moo" secret_key="secret_cow" />
+     <bucket name="unique_bucket_name_all_lowercase" />
+     <cache path="database/object_store_cache" size="1000" />
+     <extra_dir type="job_work" path="database/job_working_directory_s3"/>
+     <extra_dir type="temp" path="database/tmp_s3"/>
+</object_store>
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/examples/boto3_direct_download.yml b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/examples/boto3_direct_download.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..117b8eb0635
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/examples/boto3_direct_download.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+type: boto3
+enable_direct_download: true
+auth:
+  access_key: access_moo
+  secret_key: secret_cow
+
+bucket:
+  name: unique_bucket_name_all_lowercase
+
+cache:
+  path: database/object_store_cache
+  size: 1000
+
+extra_dirs:
+- type: job_work
+  path: database/job_working_directory_s3
+- type: temp
+  path: database/tmp_s3
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/irods.py b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/irods.py
index 7c0fe5d0150..5386c2be7ab 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/irods.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/irods.py
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ class IRODSObjectStore(CachingConcreteObjectStore):
         return False
 
     # Unlike S3, url is not really applicable to iRODS
-    def _get_object_url(self, obj, **kwargs):
+    def _get_object_url(self, obj, content_disposition=None, content_type=None, **kwargs):
         if self._exists(obj, **kwargs):
             rel_path = self._construct_path(obj, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/pithos.py b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/pithos.py
index 2e1bfba3862..26fe30501da 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/pithos.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/pithos.py
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ class PithosObjectStore(CachingConcreteObjectStore):
             log.exception(f"Could not delete path '{path}' from Pithos")
             return False
 
-    def _get_object_url(self, obj, **kwargs):
+    def _get_object_url(self, obj, content_disposition=None, content_type=None, **kwargs):
         """
         :returns: URL for direct access, None if no object
         """
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/rucio.py b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/rucio.py
index 0894ec65914..4a8a17bee17 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/rucio.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/rucio.py
@@ -598,7 +598,9 @@ class RucioObjectStore(CachingConcreteObjectStore):
         log.debug("rucio _get_store_usage_percent, not implemented yet")
         return 0.0
 
-    def _get_object_url(self, obj, extra_dir=None, extra_dir_at_root=False, alt_name=None):
+    def _get_object_url(
+        self, obj, extra_dir=None, extra_dir_at_root=False, alt_name=None, content_disposition=None, content_type=None
+    ):
         log.debug("rucio _get_object_url")
         return None
 
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/s3.py b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/s3.py
index e321ebdb324..ac42372053b 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/s3.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/s3.py
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@ def parse_config_xml(config_xml):
             "cache": cache_dict,
             "extra_dirs": extra_dirs,
             "private": CachingConcreteObjectStore.parse_private_from_config_xml(config_xml),
+            "enable_direct_download": CachingConcreteObjectStore.parse_enable_direct_download_from_config_xml(
+                config_xml
+            ),
         }
         name = config_xml.attrib.get("name", None)
         if name is not None:
@@ -408,12 +411,17 @@ class S3ObjectStore(CachingConcreteObjectStore, CloudConfigMixin, UsesAxel):
     def _download_directory_into_cache(self, rel_path, cache_path):
         download_directory(self._bucket, rel_path, cache_path)
 
-    def _get_object_url(self, obj, **kwargs):
+    def _get_object_url(self, obj, content_disposition=None, content_type=None, **kwargs):
         if self._exists(obj, **kwargs):
             rel_path = self._construct_path(obj, **kwargs)
             try:
                 key = Key(self._bucket, rel_path)
-                return key.generate_url(expires_in=86400)  # 24hrs
+                response_headers = {}
+                if content_disposition is not None:
+                    response_headers["response-content-disposition"] = content_disposition
+                if content_type is not None:
+                    response_headers["response-content-type"] = content_type
+                return key.generate_url(expires_in=86400, response_headers=response_headers or None)  # 24hrs
             except S3ResponseError:
                 log.exception("Trouble generating URL for dataset '%s'", rel_path)
         return None
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/s3_boto3.py b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/s3_boto3.py
index 030fb0b6019..103cee1543a 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/objectstore/s3_boto3.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/objectstore/s3_boto3.py
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@ def parse_config_xml(config_xml):
             "cache": cache_dict,
             "extra_dirs": extra_dirs,
             "private": CachingConcreteObjectStore.parse_private_from_config_xml(config_xml),
+            "enable_direct_download": CachingConcreteObjectStore.parse_enable_direct_download_from_config_xml(
+                config_xml
+            ),
         }
         name = config_xml.attrib.get("name", None)
         if name is not None:
@@ -386,16 +389,21 @@ class S3ObjectStore(CachingConcreteObjectStore):
             with self._atomic_download(local_file_path) as tmp:
                 self._client.download_file(self.bucket, key, tmp)
 
-    def _get_object_url(self, obj, **kwargs):
+    def _get_object_url(self, obj, content_disposition=None, content_type=None, **kwargs):
         try:
             if self._exists(obj, **kwargs):
                 rel_path = self._construct_path(obj, **kwargs)
+                params = {
+                    "Bucket": self.bucket,
+                    "Key": rel_path,
+                }
+                if content_disposition is not None:
+                    params["ResponseContentDisposition"] = content_disposition
+                if content_type is not None:
+                    params["ResponseContentType"] = content_type
                 url = self._client.generate_presigned_url(
                     ClientMethod="get_object",
-                    Params={
-                        "Bucket": self.bucket,
-                        "Key": rel_path,
-                    },
+                    Params=params,
                     ExpiresIn=3600,
                     HttpMethod="GET",
                 )
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/datasets.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/datasets.py
index c68d1ec45ae..74dc747c8b6 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/datasets.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/datasets.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from fastapi import (
     Request,
 )
 from starlette.responses import (
+    RedirectResponse,
     Response,
     StreamingResponse,
 )
@@ -77,6 +78,14 @@ log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 router = Router(tags=["datasets"])
 
+DIRECT_DOWNLOAD_REDIRECT_RESPONSE = {
+    "description": (
+        "Redirect to a URL serving the dataset directly from the backing object store. "
+        "Only returned for whole-file downloads when the dataset's object store has "
+        "`enable_direct_download` set."
+    ),
+}
+
 DatasetIDPathParam = Annotated[
     DecodedDatabaseIdField, Path(..., description="The encoded database identifier of the dataset.")
 ]
@@ -347,6 +356,73 @@ class FastAPIDatasets:
         """Streams the dataset for download or the contents preview to be displayed in a browser."""
         return self._display(request, trans, history_content_id, preview, filename, to_ext, raw, offset, ck_size)
 
+    @router.get(
+        "/api/histories/{history_id}/contents/{history_content_id}/download",
+        name="history_contents_download",
+        summary="Downloads the dataset, redirecting to the object store when possible.",
+        tags=["histories"],
+        response_class=StreamingResponse,
+        responses={302: DIRECT_DOWNLOAD_REDIRECT_RESPONSE},
+    )
+    @router.head(
+        "/api/histories/{history_id}/contents/{history_content_id}/download",
+        name="history_contents_download",
+        summary="Returns download metadata (size, filename) for the dataset.",
+        tags=["histories"],
+    )
+    def download_history_content(
+        self,
+        request: Request,
+        history_content_id: HistoryDatasetIDPathParam,
+        history_id: HistoryIDPathParam | None = None,
+        trans=DependsOnTrans,
+        to_ext: str | None = ToExtQueryParam,
+    ):
+        """Downloads the whole dataset file. Clients must follow the 302 redirect this route may return."""
+        return self._download(request, trans, history_content_id, to_ext)
+
+    @router.get(
+        "/api/datasets/{history_content_id}/download",
+        summary="Downloads the dataset, redirecting to the object store when possible.",
+        response_class=StreamingResponse,
+        responses={302: DIRECT_DOWNLOAD_REDIRECT_RESPONSE},
+    )
+    @router.head(
+        "/api/datasets/{history_content_id}/download",
+        summary="Returns download metadata (size, filename) for the dataset.",
+    )
+    def download(
+        self,
+        request: Request,
+        history_content_id: HistoryDatasetIDPathParam,
+        trans=DependsOnTrans,
+        to_ext: str | None = ToExtQueryParam,
+    ):
+        """Downloads the whole dataset file. Clients must follow the 302 redirect this route may return."""
+        return self._download(request, trans, history_content_id, to_ext)
+
+    def _download(self, request: Request, trans, dataset_id: DecodedDatabaseIdField, to_ext: str | None):
+        # Default to_ext to "data" so the route always behaves as a whole-file download (server infers
+        # the extension from the datatype) rather than a preview.
+        to_ext = to_ext or "data"
+        if request.method == "HEAD":
+            # HEAD answers from object-store metadata without redirecting -- clients (e.g. requests) do
+            # not follow redirects on HEAD, so a 302 here would hide the size/filename from them.
+            headers = self.service.download_head_headers(trans, dataset_id, to_ext)
+            return Response(status_code=200, headers=headers)
+        url = self.service.direct_download_url(trans, dataset_id, to_ext)
+        if url is None:
+            # No object-store offload: redirect to the streaming display route. Every download is a 302
+            # so clients implement redirect-following uniformly, regardless of the backing object store.
+            # Auth (x-api-key header, session cookie) carries itself across this same-origin redirect.
+            url = trans.url_builder(
+                "display",
+                history_content_id=trans.security.encode_id(dataset_id),
+                qualified=True,
+                query_params={"to_ext": to_ext},
+            )
+        return RedirectResponse(url, status_code=302)
+
     def _display(
         self,
         request: Request,
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/services/datasets.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/services/datasets.py
index e304177aeec..d4b1da43ad0 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/services/datasets.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/services/datasets.py
@@ -94,6 +94,19 @@ log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 DEFAULT_LIMIT = 500
 
 
+def is_direct_download_candidate(filename, to_ext, raw, offset, ck_size, is_archive) -> bool:
+    """Whether a display request is a plain whole-file download eligible for a direct backing-store link.
+
+    Excludes extra-files access, chunked display, datatype-processed previews, and archived/composite
+    downloads -- only a request for the single stored object's bytes can be served directly.
+    """
+    if filename or offset is not None or ck_size is not None:
+        return False
+    if is_archive:
+        return False
+    return raw or to_ext is not None
+
+
 class RequestDataType(str, Enum):
     """Particular pieces of information that can be requested for a dataset."""
 
@@ -633,6 +646,62 @@ class DatasetsService(ServiceBase, UsesVisualizationMixin):
 
         return rval
 
+    def direct_download_url(
+        self,
+        trans: ProvidesHistoryContext,
+        dataset_id: DecodedDatabaseIdField,
+        to_ext: str | None = None,
+        hda_ldda: DatasetSourceType = DatasetSourceType.hda,
+    ) -> str | None:
+        """Return a backing-store URL a whole-file download can be redirected to, or None to stream.
+
+        Used by the dedicated download route; the regular display route never redirects.
+        """
+        dataset_manager = self.dataset_manager_by_type[hda_ldda]
+        dataset_instance = dataset_manager.get_accessible(dataset_id, trans.user)
+        dataset_manager.ensure_dataset_on_disk(trans, dataset_instance)
+        datatype = dataset_instance.datatype
+        is_archive = datatype.is_archive_download(trans.app.datatypes_registry, dataset_instance.extension)
+        if not is_direct_download_candidate(None, to_ext, False, None, None, is_archive):
+            return None
+        content_disposition = None
+        content_type = None
+        if to_ext is not None:
+            # Match the filename/content-type a streamed download would produce.
+            content_disposition = datatype.download_content_disposition(dataset_instance, to_ext)
+            content_type = "application/octet-stream"
+        return trans.app.object_store.get_direct_download_url(
+            dataset_instance.dataset, content_disposition=content_disposition, content_type=content_type
+        )
+
+    def download_head_headers(
+        self,
+        trans: ProvidesHistoryContext,
+        dataset_id: DecodedDatabaseIdField,
+        to_ext: str | None = None,
+        hda_ldda: DatasetSourceType = DatasetSourceType.hda,
+    ) -> dict[str, str]:
+        """Build response headers for a HEAD download request from object-store metadata.
+
+        Answers without redirecting or pulling the object into cache, so clients (which may not follow
+        redirects on HEAD) can learn the size and filename of a download.
+        """
+        dataset_manager = self.dataset_manager_by_type[hda_ldda]
+        dataset_instance = dataset_manager.get_accessible(dataset_id, trans.user)
+        dataset_manager.ensure_dataset_on_disk(trans, dataset_instance)
+        datatype = dataset_instance.datatype
+        headers = {
+            "content-type": "application/octet-stream",
+            "Content-Disposition": datatype.download_content_disposition(dataset_instance, to_ext),
+            "accept-ranges": "bytes",
+        }
+        # Composite/archived downloads are zipped on the fly, so their size is not known up front.
+        if not datatype.is_archive_download(trans.app.datatypes_registry, dataset_instance.extension):
+            size = trans.app.object_store.size(dataset_instance.dataset)
+            if size:
+                headers["Content-Length"] = str(size)
+        return headers
+
     def display(
         self,
         trans: ProvidesHistoryContext,
@@ -653,7 +722,7 @@ class DatasetsService(ServiceBase, UsesVisualizationMixin):
         some point in the future without warning. Generally, data should be processed by its
         datatype prior to display (the default if raw is unspecified or explicitly false.
         """
-        headers = {}
+        headers: dict[str, str] = {}
         rval: Any = ""
         try:
             dataset_manager = self.dataset_manager_by_type[hda_ldda]
diff --git a/lib/galaxy_test/api/test_datasets.py b/lib/galaxy_test/api/test_datasets.py
index 579361d9f45..124e14cfc3b 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy_test/api/test_datasets.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy_test/api/test_datasets.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import zipfile
 from io import BytesIO
 from urllib.parse import quote
 
+import requests
+
 from galaxy.model.unittest_utils.store_fixtures import (
     deferred_hda_model_store_dict,
     one_hda_model_store_dict,
@@ -342,6 +344,27 @@ class TestDatasetsApi(ApiTestCase):
         self._assert_status_code_is(display_response, 200)
         assert display_response.text == contents
 
+    def test_download_always_redirects(self, history_id):
+        content = "download-me\n"
+        hda = self.dataset_populator.new_dataset(history_id, content=content, wait=True)
+        # Authenticate via the x-api-key header (as bioblend does); it carries across the redirect.
+        download_url = self._api_url(f"datasets/{hda['id']}/download", {"to_ext": "txt"})
+        headers = {"x-api-key": self.galaxy_interactor.api_key}
+        # The /download route always returns a 302 so every client follows redirects uniformly; for a
+        # disk object store (no presigned URL) it points back at the streaming /display route.
+        no_follow = requests.get(download_url, headers=headers, allow_redirects=False)
+        assert no_follow.status_code == 302
+        location = no_follow.headers["location"]
+        assert "display" in location
+        # The to_ext query param is carried through to the streaming route by the redirect.
+        assert "to_ext=txt" in location
+        # The client resends the x-api-key header on this same-origin redirect, so /display
+        # authenticates and serves the data. A 200 here (with only the header, no cookie) is the
+        # proof that auth survived the redirect -- /display would return 401 otherwise.
+        followed = requests.get(download_url, headers=headers)
+        assert followed.status_code == 200
+        assert "download-me" in followed.text
+
     def test_display_preview_binary_as_text_uses_text_plain(self, history_id):
         # Regression test for https://github.com/galaxyproject/galaxy/issues/22395
         # When previewing an unknown / binary dataset as text the response must use
diff --git a/test/integration/objectstore/test_direct_download_redirect.py b/test/integration/objectstore/test_direct_download_redirect.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f09229b6a00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/objectstore/test_direct_download_redirect.py
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+"""Integration test for direct-download redirects (presigned URLs) from a remote object store.
+
+Whole-file downloads of datasets stored in a backing object store with ``enable_direct_download`` set
+are served from the dedicated ``/download`` route via a 302 redirect to a URL the client fetches
+directly from the store, instead of being pulled through Galaxy's cache. The ``/display`` route keeps
+streaming through Galaxy (no redirect). Uses a boto3 object store backed by a disposable minio container.
+"""
+
+import os
+import string
+
+import requests
+
+from galaxy_test.base.populators import DatasetPopulator
+from galaxy_test.driver import integration_util
+from galaxy_test.driver.integration_util import docker_rm
+from ._base import (
+    BaseObjectStoreIntegrationTestCase,
+    files_count,
+    OBJECT_STORE_ACCESS_KEY,
+    OBJECT_STORE_HOST,
+    OBJECT_STORE_PORT,
+    OBJECT_STORE_SECRET_KEY,
+    start_minio,
+)
+
+BOTO3_DIRECT_DOWNLOAD_CONFIG = string.Template("""
+<object_store type="boto3" enable_direct_download="true">
+    <auth access_key="${access_key}" secret_key="${secret_key}" />
+    <bucket name="galaxy" />
+    <connection endpoint_url="http://${host}:${port}" />
+    <cache path="${temp_directory}/object_store_cache" size="1000" />
+    <extra_dir type="job_work" path="${temp_directory}/job_working_directory_boto3"/>
+    <extra_dir type="temp" path="${temp_directory}/tmp_boto3"/>
+</object_store>
+""")
+
+
+@integration_util.skip_unless_docker()
+class TestDirectDownloadRedirectIntegration(BaseObjectStoreIntegrationTestCase):
+    container_name: str
+    object_store_cache_path: str
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        cls.container_name = f"{cls.__name__}_container"
+        start_minio(cls.container_name)
+        super().setUpClass()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def tearDownClass(cls):
+        docker_rm(cls.container_name)
+        super().tearDownClass()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def handle_galaxy_config_kwds(cls, config):
+        super().handle_galaxy_config_kwds(config)
+        temp_directory = cls._test_driver.mkdtemp()
+        cls.object_stores_parent = temp_directory
+        cls.object_store_cache_path = os.path.join(temp_directory, "object_store_cache")
+        config_path = os.path.join(temp_directory, "object_store_conf.xml")
+        config["object_store_store_by"] = "uuid"
+        with open(config_path, "w") as f:
+            f.write(
+                BOTO3_DIRECT_DOWNLOAD_CONFIG.safe_substitute(
+                    {
+                        "temp_directory": temp_directory,
+                        "host": OBJECT_STORE_HOST,
+                        "port": OBJECT_STORE_PORT,
+                        "access_key": OBJECT_STORE_ACCESS_KEY,
+                        "secret_key": OBJECT_STORE_SECRET_KEY,
+                    }
+                )
+            )
+        config["object_store_config_file"] = config_path
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+        self.dataset_populator = DatasetPopulator(self.galaxy_interactor)
+
+    def _download_url(self, hda_id, **params):
+        return self._api_url(f"datasets/{hda_id}/download", params=params, use_key=True)
+
+    def _display_url(self, hda_id, **params):
+        return self._api_url(f"datasets/{hda_id}/display", params=params, use_key=True)
+
+    def test_download_route_redirects_to_presigned_url(self):
+        history_id = self.dataset_populator.new_history()
+        hda = self.dataset_populator.new_dataset(history_id, content="123", wait=True)
+
+        # Clear the cache so we can prove the download is served without pulling the object back in.
+        self._reset_cache()
+        assert files_count(self.object_store_cache_path) == 0
+
+        url = self._download_url(hda["id"], to_ext="txt")
+        response = requests.get(url, allow_redirects=False)
+        assert response.status_code == 302
+        location = response.headers["Location"]
+        assert OBJECT_STORE_HOST in location
+        # The presigned URL carries the download filename so the client gets a sensible name.
+        assert "response-content-disposition" in location.lower()
+
+        # The redirect target is fetchable directly from the object store and holds the data.
+        direct_response = requests.get(location)
+        direct_response.raise_for_status()
+        assert direct_response.content == b"123\n"
+
+        # Galaxy served the download without pulling the object into its cache.
+        assert files_count(self.object_store_cache_path) == 0
+
+    def test_download_route_redirects_with_inferred_extension(self):
+        history_id = self.dataset_populator.new_history()
+        hda = self.dataset_populator.new_dataset(history_id, content="123", wait=True)
+
+        # No to_ext: the download route infers it and still redirects for a single-file dataset.
+        url = self._download_url(hda["id"])
+        response = requests.get(url, allow_redirects=False)
+        assert response.status_code == 302
+        assert OBJECT_STORE_HOST in response.headers["Location"]
+
+    def test_head_download_returns_metadata_without_redirect(self):
+        history_id = self.dataset_populator.new_history()
+        hda = self.dataset_populator.new_dataset(history_id, content="123", wait=True)
+
+        self._reset_cache()
+        url = self._download_url(hda["id"], to_ext="txt")
+        response = requests.head(url, allow_redirects=False)
+        # HEAD answers from object-store metadata: 200, real size, no redirect, no cache pull.
+        assert response.status_code == 200
+        assert "Location" not in response.headers
+        assert response.headers["Content-Length"] == str(len(b"123\n"))
+        assert files_count(self.object_store_cache_path) == 0
+
+    def test_display_does_not_redirect(self):
+        history_id = self.dataset_populator.new_history()
+        hda = self.dataset_populator.new_dataset(history_id, content="display-me", wait=True)
+
+        # The legacy /display route is unchanged: it streams through Galaxy, never redirects.
+        url = self._display_url(hda["id"], to_ext="txt")
+        response = requests.get(url, allow_redirects=False)
+        assert response.status_code == 200
+        assert "display-me" in response.text
+
+    def test_preview_is_not_redirected(self):
+        history_id = self.dataset_populator.new_history()
+        hda = self.dataset_populator.new_dataset(history_id, content="hello", wait=True)
+
+        # A preview (not a download) is processed by the datatype and streamed through Galaxy.
+        url = self._display_url(hda["id"], preview="True")
+        response = requests.get(url, allow_redirects=False)
+        assert response.status_code == 200
+        assert "hello" in response.text
+
+    def _reset_cache(self):
+        for root, _, files in os.walk(self.object_store_cache_path):
+            for file_ in files:
+                os.remove(os.path.join(root, file_))
diff --git a/test/unit/objectstore/test_objectstore.py b/test/unit/objectstore/test_objectstore.py
index 3704f967250..b047f2aa59f 100644
--- a/test/unit/objectstore/test_objectstore.py
+++ b/test/unit/objectstore/test_objectstore.py
@@ -676,6 +676,9 @@ def test_config_parse_boto3():
             # defaults to AWS
             assert object_store.endpoint_url is None
 
+            # direct download (presigned URL redirects) is opt-in
+            assert object_store.enable_direct_download is False
+
             cache_target = object_store.cache_target
             assert cache_target.size == 1000
             assert cache_target.path == "database/object_store_cache"
@@ -703,6 +706,62 @@ def test_config_parse_boto3():
             assert len(extra_dirs) == 2
 
 
+@patch_object_stores_to_skip_initialize
+def test_config_parse_enable_direct_download():
+    for config_str in [get_example("boto3_direct_download.xml"), get_example("boto3_direct_download.yml")]:
+        with TestConfig(config_str) as (directory, object_store):
+            assert object_store.enable_direct_download is True
+
+            as_dict = object_store.to_dict()
+            _assert_key_has_value(as_dict, "enable_direct_download", True)
+
+            model = object_store.to_model("the_object_store_id")
+            assert model.enable_direct_download is True
+
+
+@patch_object_stores_to_skip_initialize
+def test_get_direct_download_url_returns_presigned_url_when_enabled():
+    with TestConfig(get_example("boto3_direct_download.yml")) as (directory, object_store):
+        object_store._client = MagicMock()
+        object_store._client.generate_presigned_url.return_value = "https://s3.example.org/signed"
+        with patch.object(object_store, "_exists", return_value=True):
+            url = object_store.get_direct_download_url(MockDataset(1))
+        assert url == "https://s3.example.org/signed"
+
+
+@patch_object_stores_to_skip_initialize
+def test_get_direct_download_url_returns_none_when_disabled():
+    with TestConfig(get_example("boto3_simple.yml")) as (directory, object_store):
+        object_store._client = MagicMock()
+        with patch.object(object_store, "_exists", return_value=True):
+            url = object_store.get_direct_download_url(MockDataset(1))
+        assert url is None
+        object_store._client.generate_presigned_url.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@patch_object_stores_to_skip_initialize
+def test_get_direct_download_url_forwards_content_disposition():
+    with TestConfig(get_example("boto3_direct_download.yml")) as (directory, object_store):
+        object_store._client = MagicMock()
+        object_store._client.generate_presigned_url.return_value = "https://s3.example.org/signed"
+        with patch.object(object_store, "_exists", return_value=True):
+            object_store.get_direct_download_url(
+                MockDataset(1),
+                content_disposition='attachment; filename="Galaxy1-[data].txt"',
+                content_type="application/octet-stream",
+            )
+        _, call_kwargs = object_store._client.generate_presigned_url.call_args
+        params = call_kwargs["Params"]
+        assert params["ResponseContentDisposition"] == 'attachment; filename="Galaxy1-[data].txt"'
+        assert params["ResponseContentType"] == "application/octet-stream"
+
+
+def test_get_direct_download_url_disk_store_returns_none():
+    with TestConfig(DISK_TEST_CONFIG) as (directory, object_store):
+        url = object_store.get_direct_download_url(MockDataset(1))
+        assert url is None
+
+
 @patch_object_stores_to_skip_initialize
 def test_config_parse_boto3_custom_connection():
     for config_str in [get_example("boto3_custom_connection.xml"), get_example("boto3_custom_connection.yml")]:
diff --git a/test/unit/webapps/galaxy/services/test_datasets_service.py b/test/unit/webapps/galaxy/services/test_datasets_service.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a03f289f3cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/webapps/galaxy/services/test_datasets_service.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import pytest
+
+from galaxy.webapps.galaxy.services.datasets import is_direct_download_candidate
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("filename", "to_ext", "raw", "offset", "ck_size", "is_archive", "expected"),
+    [
+        # plain download (floppy disk / bioblend) -> candidate
+        (None, "data", False, None, None, False, True),
+        # raw byte access of the main file -> candidate
+        (None, None, True, None, None, False, True),
+        # preview / display (no to_ext, not raw) -> not a candidate
+        (None, None, False, None, None, False, False),
+        # extra-files access -> not a candidate
+        ("index.html", None, True, None, None, False, False),
+        ("subfile", "data", False, None, None, False, False),
+        # chunked display -> not a candidate
+        (None, "data", False, 0, None, False, False),
+        (None, "data", False, None, 1024, False, False),
+        # composite/archived datatypes are zipped through Galaxy -> not a candidate
+        (None, "data", False, None, None, True, False),
+        (None, None, True, None, None, True, False),
+    ],
+)
+def test_is_direct_download_candidate(filename, to_ext, raw, offset, ck_size, is_archive, expected):
+    assert is_direct_download_candidate(filename, to_ext, raw, offset, ck_size, is_archive) is expected