Receiving Files

This guide covers everything you need to know about receiving files with AirShare.

Receiving Your First File

Step-by-Step Process

1. Keep AirShare running (can be minimized to tray)
2. Wait for sender to initiate transfer
3. Notification appears when transfer request arrives:
   • In-app notification
   • System notification (if enabled)
   • Optional sound alert
4. Review the transfer request:
   • Who is sending
   • What files are being sent
   • Total size
5. Click "Accept" or "Decline"

The Receive Confirmation Dialog

When someone sends you files, you'll see a dialog showing:

Information Displayed

• Sender name: Who is sending the files
• Device type: Sender's operating system icon
• File list: Names and sizes of all files
• Total size: Combined size of transfer
• File types: Icons showing what type of files

Actions Available

• Accept: Start receiving the files
• Decline: Reject the transfer
• View Details: See more information about each file

Download Location

Default Location

Files are saved to:

• Windows: C:\Users\YourName\Downloads\
• macOS: ~/Downloads/
• Linux: ~/Downloads/

Changing Download Location

1. Go to Settings → General → Downloads
2. Click "Change Download Folder"
3. Select your preferred location
4. Click "Select Folder"

Per-Transfer Location

You can choose a different location for each transfer:

1. When the receive confirmation appears
2. Click "Change Location" (if available)
3. Select where to save this specific transfer
4. Click "Accept"

Transfer Progress

During Receive

While receiving files, you'll see:

• Progress bar: Percentage completed
• Current speed: Real-time download speed (MB/s)
• Time remaining: Estimated completion time
• Files received: Which files are being downloaded
• Cancel button: Option to stop the transfer

Notifications

You can configure receive notifications:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications
2. Enable/disable:
   • Incoming transfer requests: When someone wants to send
   • Transfer started: When download begins
   • Transfer complete: When finished
   • Transfer failed: If errors occur

Auto-Accept Settings

Configure how AirShare handles incoming transfers automatically.

Enable Auto-Accept

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Transfers
2. Choose auto-accept mode:
   • Ask every time (Default): Manual approval required
   • Auto-accept from known devices: Trusted senders only
   • Auto-accept all: Accept all incoming (not recommended)
   • Block all: Reject all incoming transfers

Managing Known Devices

Add devices to your trusted list:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Known Devices
2. View all devices that have sent you files
3. Click "Trust" next to devices you want to auto-accept from
4. Or click "Block" to always reject from specific devices

Removing Known Devices

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Known Devices
2. Find the device to remove
3. Click "Remove"
4. Confirm deletion

File Type Restrictions

Protect yourself by restricting file types you'll receive.

Block Executable Files

Prevent potentially dangerous files:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → File Types
2. Enable "Block executable files"
3. This blocks: .exe, .bat, .sh, .app, .dmg, .deb, etc.

Custom File Type Filter

Allow only specific file types:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → File Types
2. Select "Custom filter"
3. Enter allowed extensions (e.g., .jpg, .png, .pdf, .docx)
4. Any other file types will be automatically rejected

Storage Management

Check Available Space

Before accepting large transfers:

1. AirShare automatically checks available disk space
2. Warns you if space is insufficient
3. You can choose a different location with more space

Automatic Cleanup

Configure automatic cleanup of old files:

1. Go to Settings → Storage
2. Enable "Auto-cleanup"
3. Set cleanup rules:
   • Delete files older than X days
   • Keep only X GB of received files
   • Clean up on low disk space

Receiving During Sleep/Screen Off

Keep Receiving While Away

To receive files when you're not at your computer:

1. Keep AirShare running (minimize to tray)
2. Prevent computer from sleeping:
   • Windows: Settings → System → Power → Never
   • macOS: System Settings → Energy → Prevent sleeping
   • Linux: Power settings in your DE
3. Enable auto-accept for trusted devices (optional)

Wake on LAN (Advanced)

Some routers support waking computers for transfers:

1. Enable Wake on LAN in BIOS/UEFI
2. Configure router for WOL
3. Keep computer connected to power
4. Network adapter must support WOL

Cancelling a Receive

Before Accepting

Simply click "Decline" on the receive confirmation.

During Transfer

1. Click "Cancel" in the progress dialog
2. Confirm cancellation
3. Partial files are automatically deleted
4. Sender is notified

Multiple Simultaneous Receives

AirShare can handle multiple transfers:

• Queue mode: Transfers process one at a time
• Parallel mode (Pro): Multiple transfers simultaneously

To configure:

1. Go to Settings → Transfers → Concurrent
2. Set maximum simultaneous transfers (1-5)

After Receiving Files

Viewing Received Files

Once transfer completes:

1. Click "Open Folder" in completion notification
2. Or go to History tab
3. Click on the transfer
4. Click "Show in Folder"

Organizing Received Files

Best practices for file organization:

• Create subfolders in Downloads for different sources
• Move important files out of Downloads to permanent locations
• Delete unwanted files regularly to free up space

Common Receiving Scenarios

Scenario 1: Receiving Photos from Phone

1. Friend sends photos from their phone
2. Notification appears on your computer
3. Review photos in confirmation dialog
4. Click "Accept"
5. Photos download to Downloads folder
6. Click "Open Folder" to view

Scenario 2: Auto-Accept from Family

1. Add family devices to Known Devices
2. Enable "Auto-accept from known devices"
3. When family sends files, they're accepted automatically
4. You receive notification when complete
5. Files ready in Downloads

Scenario 3: Large Work Files

1. Colleague sends 2 GB project folder
2. Check you have enough disk space
3. Optionally change download location to external drive
4. Accept transfer
5. Wait for completion (~20-80 seconds depending on network)
6. Files ready to use

Troubleshooting Receiving Issues

"Not enough disk space"

Problem: Insufficient space for incoming files

Solutions:

• Delete unnecessary files to free up space
• Change download location to different drive
• Ask sender to send smaller batches

"Transfer request not appearing"

Problem: Sender says they sent, but you don't see it

Solutions:

• Check AirShare is running (check tray icon)
• Verify system notifications are enabled
• Check you're not in "Block all" mode
• Restart AirShare

"Transfer keeps failing"

Problem: Transfer starts but fails repeatedly

Solutions:

• Check network connection stability
• Ensure computer doesn't sleep during transfer
• Try accepting to a different drive
• Check antivirus isn't blocking

"Files corrupt after transfer"

Problem: Received files won't open or are corrupted

Solutions:

• AirShare uses SHA-256 hash verification (this is very rare)
• Ask sender to resend
• Check disk health (may indicate hardware issues)
• Try different download location

Privacy & Security

What Information is Shared

When receiving files, the sender can see:

• Your device name
• Your operating system type
• When you accept/decline
• Transfer progress

The sender cannot see:

• Your IP address (beyond local network)
• Your file system
• Other files on your computer
• Personal information

Encrypted Transfers

All transfers use:

• TLS 1.3 encryption
• SHA-256 hash verification
• Certificate validation

Your files are secure during transfer.

Best Practices

Next Steps