Transfer Files Using a QR Code
Bridge phones and computers in seconds. Scan a dynamic QR code with your mobile camera to initiate a direct, peer-to-peer transfer.
Why Use QR Codes for File Transfer?
Typing long URLs on mobile devices is tedious and prone to typos. Sending links through email or chat messaging introduces privacy risks and delays. A QR (Quick Response) code eliminates this friction by allowing a mobile phone camera to scan the computer screen and load the transfer session instantly.
What Information Does the QR Code Contain?
The QR code generated by ShareOnline contains a secure room URL (for example, https://shareonline.net/room/code) corresponding to the ephemeral session created in your browser. It does not embed the binary file data itself, keeping the QR code compact, fast to render, and easy for any standard smartphone camera to scan from across a desk.
How the Receiving Device Connects
When you point your smartphone camera at the QR code:
- Camera Scan: The native camera app recognizes the link and opens it in your default mobile browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge).
- Session Join: The mobile browser requests connection details from the signaling broker using the session identifier.
- WebRTC Handshake: Both browsers exchange connection profiles (SDP) and establish an encrypted peer-to-peer data channel directly.
- Direct Stream: The file streams directly from the desktop browser to the phone without passing through cloud storage.
Security Considerations for QR Transfers
QR code transfers are designed with practical physical security in mind:
- Visual Proximity: Because the QR code is displayed on your screen, anyone scanning it must typically be in visual proximity or have been sent a direct screen capture by you.
- One-Time Ephemeral Sessions: The session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity or immediately upon transfer completion and tab closure.
- Transport Encryption: Transferred bytes are protected by DTLS encryption across the WebRTC data channel.
No Mobile App Required
You do not need to install a third-party QR scanner or proprietary mobile file-sharing application. Modern iOS and Android camera apps support web link QR scanning natively, launching the transfer directly in the mobile browser.