File Share
No signup. No server. Files go directly between browsers.
About File Share
Most file sharing methods route your data through a third-party server — Dropbox, WeTransfer, Google Drive — which means uploading your file, waiting for the upload to complete, then having the recipient download it from the cloud. For large files, this means uploading twice the file size over your connection and trusting that server with potentially sensitive data.
File Share uses WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) to establish a direct peer-to-peer connection between two browsers. Once the connection is established, your file transfers directly from sender to receiver — no server stores or sees the file contents. The sender generates a 6-digit code and QR code that the receiver enters on their end to initiate the connection, and the transfer begins immediately.
This approach has practical advantages: there is no file size limit imposed by a cloud service (though large files are constrained by available browser memory and connection speed), files are never stored anywhere, and the transfer is encrypted using DTLS — the security layer that WebRTC mandates. It works best on the same local network (LAN), where speeds can match or exceed wired connections, but also functions over the internet through STUN/TURN relay servers when direct peer-to-peer is not possible.
How to Use File Share
- 1Open File Share in the sender's browser and click "Share a File".
- 2Select the file you want to send from your device.
- 3A 6-digit code and QR code appear — share them with the intended recipient.
- 4The recipient opens File Share, clicks "Receive a File", and enters the 6-digit code.
- 5Once the connection is established, the transfer begins automatically.
- 6Keep both browser tabs open until the transfer completes — closing either tab cancels it.
Use Cases
- →Send large files that exceed email attachment size limits without cloud storage
- →Transfer files privately between devices without uploading to any third-party server
- →Share files between your laptop and phone on the same Wi-Fi network instantly
- →Send a colleague a file without creating a shared drive folder or cloud storage link
- →Transfer sensitive documents (contracts, medical records) without server involvement
- →Share large design files, video footage, or archive packages between nearby devices
Tips
- ✓Keep both browser tabs open for the entire transfer — closing either tab stops it immediately
- ✓The 6-digit connection code expires in 10 minutes — share it and connect quickly
- ✓Transfers on the same local network (LAN/Wi-Fi) are fastest and most reliable
- ✓Corporate networks with strict firewall rules may block WebRTC peer connections
- ✓Large file transfers over internet (not LAN) depend entirely on both parties' upload/download speeds
- ✓For very large files, a USB drive or local network share may be faster depending on network conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
File Share uses WebRTC DataChannels to create a direct connection between two browsers. The file travels directly from sender to receiver without touching any server. A free PeerJS signaling server is used only to establish the initial connection.
There is no hard limit — files of any size can be transferred. Speed depends on your network connection. Very large files (1GB+) work but may take time depending on upload bandwidth.
The connection code expires after 10 minutes if no receiver connects. After that, the sender needs to start over and generate a new code.
No. The file goes directly from the sender's browser to the receiver's browser via WebRTC. No server stores your file at any point.
WebRTC may fail on corporate networks with strict firewalls or where WebRTC is blocked. In that case, both parties should try from a different network (e.g., mobile hotspot).
Currently one file per transfer session. For multiple files, compress them into a ZIP first (use the Archive Converter tool), then send the single ZIP.