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Find answers to common questions or reach out to our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I share files with someone?
Create a share by selecting a local folder, then add members by their email with Admin, Editor, or Viewer roles. The recipient needs to add you as a contact to discover and access the shares you've given them access to. This two-step process ensures no unwanted content is pushed to anyone.
Why doesn't my share appear for the recipient immediately?
Handrive uses an asymmetric sharing model for privacy. When you add someone as a member, they must add you as a contact before they can see your shares. This prevents unwanted content from being pushed to anyone's app.
Do my files get uploaded to the cloud?
No. Handrive is privacy-first — your files stay on your devices. When you share with others, files transfer directly between devices using peer-to-peer technology. We never store your files on our servers.
What happens if the other person is offline?
Both devices need to be online to transfer files. For always-available access, you can run Handrive in headless mode on an always-on device like a NAS or home server.
Is my data encrypted?
Yes. All file transfers are end-to-end encrypted. Only you and the people you share with can access your files.
How do I add another device to my account?
Download Handrive on your new device and sign in with the same account. Your shares will be available once you open them.
What are the different permission levels?
When adding members, you can assign: Admin (can manage members, settings, and delete the share), Editor (can add, edit, and delete files), or Viewer (read-only access). The person who created the share is the Owner with full control.
Why can't I connect to transfer files?
Handrive uses UDP hole punching with STUN/ICE for P2P connections. If your network has a restrictive firewall (e.g., symmetric NAT or strict corporate firewall), connections may fail. Relay is available for enterprise users - contact enterprise@handrive.app for details.
What if my app data gets corrupted?
It's completely safe to delete your local database and start fresh. Your files are untouched (shares are just pointers to folders). Recreate shares, re-add members, and re-add contacts - there's no server data to get out of sync with. All your shares, members, and contacts are stored locally for total privacy.
Why do some filenames look different on Windows?
Windows doesn't allow certain characters in filenames (: < > " | ? *) that are valid on macOS and Linux. When syncing files with these characters, Handrive automatically encodes them (e.g., file:name.txt becomes file%3Aname.txt on disk). The original name displays correctly inside the Handrive app — the encoding only affects how the file appears in Windows Explorer.
How do I delete my account?
You can delete your account from the app settings. This will remove your account data from our servers. Files on your local devices will remain unless you delete them manually.
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