Sending Files

AirShare makes sending files incredibly simple. This guide covers all the different ways you can send files to other devices on your network.

Prerequisites

Before sending files, make sure:

• ✅ AirShare is running on both devices
• ✅ Both devices are on the same local network
• ✅ You can see the recipient in the Radar tab
• ✅ You've accepted the EULA

Method 1: Drag and Drop (Recommended)

The easiest and fastest way to send files:

Single File

1. Open the Radar tab
2. Open your file explorer (Finder/File Explorer)
3. Drag a file onto the recipient's card in Radar
4. A confirmation dialog appears showing:
   • File name and size
   • Recipient name
   • Transfer details
5. Click "Send"
6. Wait for the recipient to accept

Multiple Files

You can send multiple files at once:

1. Select multiple files in your file explorer
2. Drag all files together onto the recipient's card
3. The confirmation shows all files and total size
4. Click "Send"

Folders

You can also send entire folders:

1. Drag a folder onto the recipient's card
2. AirShare will include all files and subfolders
3. Review the total size in the confirmation
4. Click "Send"

Method 2: Click to Send

If you prefer clicking instead of dragging:

1. Click on a recipient's card in the Radar
2. A send dialog appears
3. Click "Select Files" or "Select Folder"
4. Choose files/folder from the file picker
5. Click "Send"

Method 3: System Tray/Menu Bar

Quick sending from the tray icon:

1. Right-click the AirShare tray icon
2. Select "Send Files..."
3. Choose the recipient from the list
4. Select files to send
5. Confirm and send

Understanding the Send Confirmation

When you initiate a transfer, you'll see a confirmation dialog:

Information Displayed

• Recipient name: Who will receive the files
• File list: Names and sizes of all files
• Total size: Combined size of all files
• Estimated time: Based on typical network speed

Actions Available

• Send: Proceed with the transfer
• Cancel: Abort the transfer
• Add more files: Add additional files before sending

Transfer Process

Step 1: Waiting for Acceptance

After clicking Send:

1. The recipient receives a notification
2. They see a receive confirmation dialog
3. They can Accept or Decline
4. You'll see "Waiting for recipient to accept..."

Step 2: Transfer in Progress

Once accepted:

• Progress bar: Shows percentage completed
• Transfer speed: Real-time speed in MB/s
• Time remaining: Estimated time to completion
• Files transferred: Shows which files are being sent

Step 3: Transfer Complete

When finished:

• ✅ Success notification appears
• Transfer is logged in History
• You can send more files immediately

Advanced Sending Options

Sending to Multiple Recipients

Currently, you need to send to recipients one at a time:

1. Send to first recipient
2. Wait for transfer to complete
3. Send to next recipient

Batch Transfers

For sending many files to the same recipient:

1. Group files into folders before transferring
2. Send the entire folder at once
3. This is faster than sending files individually

Large File Optimization

For very large files (1 GB+):

• ✅ Use Ethernet if possible (much faster than Wi-Fi)
• ✅ Connect to 5 GHz Wi-Fi if wireless (faster than 2.4 GHz)
• ✅ Close other network-intensive apps
• ✅ Don't let your computer sleep during transfer

Transfer Speeds

Expected speeds based on your connection:

Cancelling a Transfer

You can cancel a transfer at any time:

During Send

1. Click the "Cancel" button in the progress dialog
2. Confirm cancellation
3. The transfer stops immediately
4. The recipient is notified

Effect of Cancellation

• ❌ No files are transferred (even partially)
• 📝 Transfer is logged as "Cancelled" in History
• ✅ You can start a new transfer immediately

Common Sending Scenarios

Scenario 1: Quick Photo Share

Goal: Share photos from your phone to your computer

1. Install AirShare on both devices
2. Connect to same Wi-Fi network
3. Open AirShare on both
4. On phone: Select photos and drag to computer in Radar
5. On computer: Accept the transfer
6. Photos appear in Downloads folder

Scenario 2: Large Video File

Goal: Transfer a 5 GB video file

1. Use Ethernet on both devices if possible
2. Drag the video file to recipient
3. Click Send
4. Wait for acceptance
5. Monitor progress (should take ~40-80 seconds on Gigabit)
6. ✅ Transfer complete

Scenario 3: Work Documents

Goal: Send project files to colleague

1. Put all files in a folder named "Project Files"
2. Drag the folder to colleague's device in Radar
3. Colleague accepts
4. Entire folder structure transfers intact

Troubleshooting Sending Issues

"Recipient not found"

Problem: Can't see the recipient in Radar

Solutions:

• Ensure both devices are on same network
• Check firewalls allow AirShare
• Wait 10-15 seconds for discovery
• Try restarting AirShare on both devices

"Transfer failed"

Problem: Transfer starts but fails midway

Solutions:

• Check network connection is stable
• Ensure both devices stay powered on
• Check recipient has enough disk space
• Try sending smaller batches

"Transfer timed out"

Problem: Recipient didn't accept in time

Solutions:

• Notify recipient before sending
• Ask recipient to keep AirShare open
• Try sending again

"File size exceeds limit"

Problem: File is too large for Free tier

Solutions:

• Upgrade to Pro for unlimited file sizes
• Split large files into smaller parts
• Compress files before sending

Best Practices

Next Steps

Now that you know how to send files, learn about receiving: