Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about AirShare.

General Questions

What is AirShare?

AirShare is a cross-platform file sharing application that lets you transfer files between devices on your local network. Think of it as AirDrop for everyone - it works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Is AirShare free?

Yes! AirShare has a free tier that includes:

• All core features
• Transfer history (7 days retention)
• Automatic updates
• Community support

Pro licenses provide unlimited history retention and priority support.

Does AirShare require internet?

No! AirShare works entirely on your local network. You only need:

• WiFi or Ethernet connection
• Devices on the same network

Internet is only required for:

• Downloading the app
• Checking for updates
• Activating Pro licenses

Is my data safe?

Yes! Your files:

• ✅ Never leave your local network
• ✅ Are encrypted with TLS 1.3 during transfer
• ✅ Are verified with SHA-256 hashing
• ✅ Don't go through any cloud or servers

We also:

• ✅ Don't collect usage data
• ✅ Don't track your transfers
• ✅ Have open-source code you can audit

What platforms does AirShare support?

• Windows: Windows 10 and later
• macOS: macOS 10.15 (Catalina) and later (Intel and Apple Silicon)
• Linux: Most modern distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Arch, etc.)

Can I transfer files between different operating systems?

Yes! That's one of AirShare's key features. You can freely transfer:

• Windows ↔ macOS
• Windows ↔ Linux
• macOS ↔ Linux
• Any combination!

Features & Usage

What's the maximum file size?

No file size limits - AirShare can transfer files of any size, limited only by:

• Available disk space
• Network stability
• Time patience

How many files can I send at once?

One file at a time. AirShare currently supports:

• Single files only
• No folders (unless compressed into a ZIP file)
• No multiple file selection

Workaround for multiple files:

• Create a ZIP archive containing your files
• Send the ZIP file
• Recipient can extract it

How fast is AirShare?

Transfer speed depends on your network:

Can I transfer to multiple devices at once?

Currently, you transfer to one device at a time. However, you can:

• Queue multiple transfers
• Send the same files to different recipients sequentially

Multi-recipient transfers are planned for a future release.

Where do received files go?

By default:

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

You can change this in Settings → General → Downloads.

Can I receive files while my computer is asleep?

No, your computer must be awake and AirShare must be running to receive files.

To receive while away:

1. Prevent computer from sleeping
2. Keep AirShare running (can minimize to tray)
3. Optionally enable auto-accept for trusted devices

Does AirShare work on mobile devices?

Not currently. AirShare is desktop-only for now:

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux

Mobile support (iOS/Android) is being considered for future releases.

Discovery & Networking

Why can't I see other devices?

Most common reasons:

1. Different networks: Both devices must be on the exact same WiFi/network
2. Firewall blocking: Allow AirShare through your firewall
3. Router blocking multicast: Some routers block mDNS
4. VPN active: VPNs can hide local devices
5. Wait longer: Discovery takes 5-10 seconds

See Common Issues - Discovery for detailed solutions.

Do both devices need AirShare installed?

Yes! AirShare is peer-to-peer:

• Both sender and receiver must have AirShare installed
• Both must be running the app
• Both must be on the same local network

Can I use AirShare on a public network?

Technically yes, but not recommended:

• Anyone on the network can see your device
• Anyone can attempt to send you files
• Security risks on untrusted networks

Best practices:

• Use only on trusted networks (home, office)
• On public WiFi, enable "Block all transfers"
• Keep auto-accept disabled on public networks

What ports does AirShare use?

• QUIC transfers: Ports 59875-59925 (UDP)
• mDNS discovery: Port 5353 (UDP)

These must be allowed through your firewall for AirShare to work.

Licensing & Pro

What's included in the Free tier?

Free tier includes:

• ✅ Unlimited devices discovered
• ✅ All core features
• ✅ Cross-platform transfers
• ✅ Transfer history (7 days retention)
• ✅ All languages
• ✅ Automatic updates
• ✅ Community support

What's included in Pro?

Pro tier provides:

• ✅ Unlimited transfer history retention
• ✅ Priority email support
• ✅ Early access to new features

How much does Pro cost?

Visit our website for current pricing.

Options:

• Pro (1-Year): Annual subscription
• Pro (Lifetime): One-time purchase, lifetime access

Can I use one license on multiple devices?

No. Each license is valid for one device only.

If you need AirShare Pro on multiple devices:

• Purchase separate licenses
• Or deactivate on one device and reactivate on another

How do I activate my Pro license?

1. Settings → License
2. Click "Enter License Key"
3. Paste your license key
4. Click "Activate"

Features unlock immediately - no restart needed.

What happens when my 1-year Pro license expires?

When a 1-year license expires:

• You revert to Free tier
• All core features still work
• Transfer history retention becomes 7 days (instead of unlimited)

You must manually:

• Purchase a new 1-year license (repeat the purchase process)
• Upgrade to Lifetime license
• Continue using free tier

Can I upgrade from 1-Year to Lifetime?

Yes! Contact support@airshare.com with:

• Your license key
• Proof of purchase

We'll provide upgrade pricing (you'll get credit for your 1-year purchase).

Privacy & Security

What data does AirShare collect?

None! AirShare:

• ✅ Doesn't collect usage statistics
• ✅ Doesn't track your transfers
• ✅ Doesn't send telemetry
• ✅ Doesn't require an account

The only data stored is:

• Local transfer history (on your device only)
• Your settings (on your device only)
• Your license key (if Pro)

Can others see my files?

No! When you appear in someone's Radar, they can only see:

• Your device name
• Your operating system type
• Your online/offline status

They cannot see your files, folders, or any personal information.

How are files encrypted during transfer?

All transfers use:

• TLS 1.3 encryption (latest standard)
• QUIC protocol (secure by design)
• SHA-256 hashing for integrity verification

Your files are as secure as online banking.

Is the source code available?

Yes! AirShare is open source:

• View code on GitHub
• Audit security yourself
• Contribute improvements
• Report security issues

Can my employer see what I transfer?

On a corporate network:

• Network administrators can see that traffic is happening
• They cannot see what files you're transferring (encrypted)
• They can see device names and IP addresses
• Check your company's IT policies

Technical Questions

What protocol does AirShare use?

AirShare uses QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connections):

• Modern protocol by Google
• Built on UDP for speed
• Built-in TLS 1.3 encryption
• Better than TCP for file transfers
• Used by Chrome, YouTube, and major services

Why QUIC instead of WebRTC or HTTP?

QUIC advantages:

• ✅ Faster connection establishment
• ✅ Better handling of packet loss
• ✅ Built-in encryption
• ✅ Multiplexing support
• ✅ More reliable than WebRTC for files
• ✅ Faster than HTTP/TCP

How does device discovery work?

AirShare uses mDNS (Multicast DNS):

• Also called Bonjour (Apple) or Avahi (Linux)
• Industry-standard local discovery
• No central server required
• Automatic, zero-configuration
• Same technology as AirDrop, Chromecast, etc.

What happens if transfer is interrupted?

If transfer fails or is cancelled:

• ❌ No partial files are kept
• 🔄 You can restart the transfer
• 📝 Transfer is logged as "Failed" or "Cancelled"
• 🔒 No corrupted files on receiver's disk

AirShare doesn't support resume - transfers start from beginning if retried.

Can AirShare work over the internet?

No. AirShare is designed for local networks only:

• Requires devices on same network
• Uses local discovery (mDNS)
• Optimized for LAN speeds

Why not internet?

• Security: We don't run relay servers
• Privacy: Your files never touch our servers
• Speed: Local transfers are much faster
• Design: Peer-to-peer architecture

Updates & Support

How do I update AirShare?

AirShare has automatic updates:

1. Auto-check: Checks for updates on startup (enabled by default)
2. Tauri Updater: Connected to our update server for secure downloads
3. Notification: Alerts you when available
4. Download: Click to download update
5. Install: Install and restart

Or manually:

• Settings → Updates → "Check Now"

Are updates free?

Yes! All updates are free for both Free and Pro users:

• Security updates
• Bug fixes
• New features

How do I report a bug?

1. Enable debug logging (Settings → Advanced → Logging)
2. Reproduce the bug
3. Gather logs (Settings → Advanced → "View Logs")
4. Visit GitHub Issues
5. Create detailed bug report with:
   • AirShare version
   • Operating system
   • Steps to reproduce
   • Expected vs actual behavior
   • Debug logs

Where can I get help?

Free users:

• Documentation
• Troubleshooting
• GitHub Discussions

Pro users:

• All above, plus
• Priority email: support@airshare.com
• Faster response times

Can I request features?

Yes! We love feature requests:

1. Check existing requests
2. If new, create a discussion
3. Describe the feature and use case
4. Community can vote and discuss

Popular requests get prioritized!

Troubleshooting

AirShare won't start

Solutions:

1. Check system requirements:
   • Windows 10+, macOS 10.15+, or modern Linux
2. Reinstall:
   • Uninstall completely
   • Download latest version
   • Reinstall fresh
3. Check logs:
   • View logs for error messages
   • Share logs when reporting issue

Transfers keep failing

See Common Issues - Transfer Issues for detailed solutions.

Common fixes:

• Check network connection
• Ensure enough disk space
• Update to latest version
• Check firewall settings

High CPU or memory usage

Normal:

• During transfers: Encryption/hashing uses CPU
• Large files: Temporary memory usage for buffering

Not normal:

• High usage when idle
• Memory keeps growing

Fix: Restart AirShare, update to latest version, report bug if persists.

Uninstallation

How do I uninstall AirShare?

Windows:

1. Settings → Apps → AirShare → Uninstall
2. Or Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall

macOS:

1. Drag AirShare.app to Trash
2. Empty Trash

Linux:

# AppImage: Just delete the file
rm ~/Downloads/AirShare_*.AppImage

# .deb package:
sudo apt remove airshare

Will I lose my transfer history?

App data (including history) is in a separate folder:

Windows: %APPDATA%\io.github.jaksatomovic.airsharemacOS: ~/Library/Application Support/io.github.jaksatomovic.airshareLinux: ~/.config/io.github.jaksatomovic.airshare

This is not automatically deleted when you uninstall. To completely remove:

Windows:

rmdir /s "%APPDATA%\io.github.jaksatomovic.airshare"

macOS:

rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/io.github.jaksatomovic.airshare

Linux:

rm -rf ~/.config/io.github.jaksatomovic.airshare

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