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Sharing files on Android

Learn how to send and receive files securely and easily over Meshnet on Android.
This guide provides the information you need to start sharing files over Meshnet on Android.

Before you begin

Make sure that the device you want to share files with meets the following criteria:
Note
You can add devices to your Meshnet in two ways, depending on device ownership:

Send files

You can initiate a file transfer from the NordVPN app or using the Android sharing menu.
Tip
You can initiate file transfers even if the desired peer device is offline. As soon as the device becomes active, it will receive the transfer notification. If the Always accept transfers option is enabled, the transfer starts automatically without needing confirmation.

Send files from the NordVPN app

  1. 1.
    In your NordVPN app, select Meshnet
    and tap Share files.
    Clicking the 'Share files' button on the Meshnet tab in the NordVPN app.
  2. 2.
    In your device’s file manager that opens, select the file or group of files you want to share and confirm your choice.
    Five files selected in the file manager to be included in the Meshnet file transfer.
  3. 3.
    Select the Meshnet device you want to share the files with. You can choose more devices if needed.
    Selecting the recipient Meshnet peer device.
    You can also review the files before initiating the transfer by tapping the paperclip button.
    Tapping the paperclip button under 'Share files'.
  4. 4.
    Tap Send to 1 device. (If multiple devices are selected, the button is labeled with the number of selected devices).
Once you initiate a file transfer, you are automatically directed to the File transfers screen, where you can observe and manage your current and finished transfers.
The 'File transfers' screen of the NordVPN app showing the pending outgoing transfer.
You can tap the arrow icon to see individual files included in the transfer and their status.
Tapping the arrow icon to see a list of file included in the transfer.
The file transfer begins as soon as the recipient accepts your download request on their device. See how to Receive shared files on an Android device further in this article.
Additionally, you have the capability to launch multiple file transfers to various peer devices at the same time. You can monitor the progress and status of all these transfers through the File transfers screen.
Four simultaneous transfers listed on the 'File transfers' screen.

Send files using the Android sharing menu

  1. 1.
    On your device, select the file or group of files you want to share. This can be a photo, video, document, or any other type of file.
  2. 2.
    Tap your device’s Share button.
  3. 3.
    Do either of the following:
    • Select NordVPN from the list of apps, and then select the Meshnet device you want to share the file with.
    • Select the device from the list of available Meshnnet devices that have been most recently used.
The file transfer begins as soon as the recipient accepts your download request on their device.

Receive shared files

To receive files shared from your Meshnet peer’s device, do the following steps:
  1. 1.
    Have your sharer send the files.
  2. 2.
    Do any of the following:
    • Open the NordVPN app.
    • If NordVPN notifications are allowed on your device, locate the file transfer notification that appears in the notification tray at the top of the screen.
  3. 3.
    You can choose to preview the contents of the transfer. To do this:
    • In the NordVPN app, tap the file attachment indicated by the paperclip icon. You can choose to download all files included in the transfer or select specific ones for download.
      Tapping the paperclip button on the 'Accept file transfer?' dialog.
    • In the notification tray, tap the arrow button on the file transfer notification to expand it. If the transfer includes a single file, the notification will show the name of the file. Otherwise, the number of files will be shown.
      Tapping on the arrow button to expand the file transfer notification.
  4. 4.
    In the NordVPN app, optionally, select Always accept transfers from this device to automatically accept future file transfers from this sender.
  5. 5.
    Tap Accept to save the file to your device’s storage. If prompted, allow NordVPN to access photos, media, and files on your device.
To find files shared with you, check your device's default download folder or navigate to View file transfers > Completed, and then tap the three-dot menu next to the transfer and select Open files location.

Monitor and manage transfers

To monitor and handle all Meshnet transfers, go to Meshnet
, and under Share files, tap View file transfers.
Tapping 'View file transfers' on the Meshnet tab of the NordVPN app.
You can accept all pending transfers or decline them by choosing the respective options in the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Screenshot of the File Transfers screen. The three-dot menu is expanded, revealing two options: "Accept all pending transfers" and "Decline all pending transfers."

Canceling outgoing file transfers

  • To cancel a specific outgoing file transfer that is active or queued, tap the Cancel (x) button next to the transfer.
  • To cancel all active or queued outgoing transfers, tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner and select Cancel all sent transfers.

Canceling incoming transfers

  • To cancel a file download that is active or queued, tap the Cancel (x) button next to the transfer.
  • To cancel all active downloads, tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner and select Cancel all downloads.

Clearing your transfer history

  • To remove a completed file transfer from your history, under Completed, tap the three-dot menu next to the transfer, and select Remove from history.
  • To remove all completed file transfers, tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner and select Clear transfer history.

See also

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