How FileTransferFree works
FileTransferFree is a web app that opens a secure, direct connection between two browsers and streams files between them. Nothing about your files is uploaded, stored, scanned, or logged on our infrastructure. Below is a plain-English walk-through of what happens when you press Connect and drop a file onto the page.
1. Each device gets a code
When you open FileTransferFree, the page generates a short, human-friendly room code (six characters, easy to read aloud). Sharing that code with a second device is all that's needed to pair the two.
2. The two devices find each other
When the second device enters your code (or scans the QR), the two browsers complete a brief connection handshake and open a direct, encrypted channel between themselves. This pairing step uses public, decentralized internet infrastructure that we do not operate and do not log — it only helps the two browsers locate each other and never sees the contents of your files.
3. Files stream directly, browser to browser
When you drop a file, FileTransferFree sends a small description first (filename, size, type), then streams the file in small encrypted chunks over the direct channel. The receiver reassembles the chunks into a complete file and offers a one-click Save button.
4. End-to-end encryption
The direct channel between the two devices is encrypted end-to-end by your browser using modern, industry-standard transport encryption. Even if a chunk were intercepted on the network, it would be unreadable. The pairing layer cannot see the data either.
What the page never does
- It never uploads your files to FileTransferFree or to any cloud bucket.
- It never asks you to create an account.
- It never plants tracking cookies (we use no analytics by default).
- It never imposes a file-size limit — your link speed is the only ceiling.
- It never stores your IP address or any personally identifiable information.
Is it really secure?
Yes. The direct browser-to-browser channel is encrypted end-to-end by your browser itself — encryption cannot be disabled. Even if traffic were intercepted between the two devices, the content would be unreadable. Because no file bytes ever pass through our servers, there is nothing for us to lose, leak, or misuse.
How fast is it?
On a typical home broadband connection, you can expect 5–25 MB/s. On the same local Wi-Fi network, transfers regularly reach 50–100 MB/s. The speed is limited only by the slower of the two devices’ upload/download bandwidth — FileTransferFree itself adds no artificial cap.
Privacy by design
Because the file bytes never touch our servers, there is nothing for us to log, leak, or hand over. The only metadata involved is the random room code your two browsers use to find each other — and that is discarded the moment the connection closes. See the privacy policy for the full breakdown.