File Transfer App

A desktop application that creates a local web server for transferring files wirelessly between your phone and computer in both directions.

Features

• Bidirectional Transfer: Send files from phone to computer AND from computer to phone
• Desktop GUI: Clean tkinter interface for easy server management
• Local Web Server: Flask-based server accessible from any device on your network
• Mobile-Optimized: Responsive web interface designed for all phone sizes
• Real-time Progress: Upload progress bars with percentage, file size, and time estimates
• Multiple Upload Modes: Single file or multiple file uploads
• File Sharing: Add files from your computer to share with your phone
• Auto File Management: Automatic folder creation and file organization
• Network Discovery: Automatically detects and displays your network IP address
• No Redirects: AJAX-based uploads keep you on the same page

Screenshots

Desktop Application

Mobile Web Interface

Installation

Option 1: Download Executable (Recommended)

1. Go to the Releases page
2. Download the appropriate version for your system:
   • Windows: FileTransferApp-Windows.exe
   • Linux: FileTransferApp-Linux
   • macOS: FileTransferApp-macOS
3. Run the executable (no installation required!)

Option 2: Run from Source

Prerequisites:

• Python 3.6 or higher
• Flask library

Setup:

# Install Flask
pip install flask

# Run the application
python file_transfer_app.py

Usage

Starting the Server

1. Launch the desktop application
2. Click "▶️ Start Server" in the desktop interface
3. The app will display two URLs:
   • Local: http://localhost:8080 (works only on your computer)
   • Network: http://192.168.x.x:8080 (use this on your phone)

Connecting from Your Phone

1. Ensure your phone is connected to the same WiFi network as your computer
2. Open your phone's web browser
3. Navigate to the Network URL shown in the desktop app
4. You should see the file transfer interface with two sections

File Transfer Modes

📤 Send to Computer (Phone → Computer)

Upload files from your phone to your computer.

Steps:

1. On your phone, scroll to the "📤 Send to Computer" section
2. Choose Single File or Multiple Files mode
3. Select your files
4. Tap "Upload File(s)"
5. Files are saved to the downloads/ folder on your computer

📥 Get from Computer (Computer → Phone)

Download files from your computer to your phone.

Steps:

1. On your computer, click "📤 Add Files to Share"
2. Select files you want to share with your phone
3. On your phone, scroll to the "📥 Get from Computer" section
4. Tap "🔄 Refresh File List" to see available files
5. Tap "⬇️ Download" next to any file you want

Upload Progress

During upload, you'll see:

• Visual progress bar with percentage
• Data transferred (e.g., "2.1 MB / 5.3 MB")
• Elapsed time
• Estimated time remaining

File Management

Folder Structure

The app creates two folders in the same directory as the application:

your_project_folder/
├── file_transfer_app.py (or .exe)
├── downloads/              # Files received FROM your phone
│   ├── photo1.jpg
│   ├── document.pdf
│   └── video.mp4
└── uploads/                # Files you share TO your phone
    ├── presentation.pptx
    ├── music.mp3
    └── ebook.pdf

File Organization

• downloads/: Automatically receives files uploaded from your phone
• uploads/: Contains files you've selected to share with your phone
• Files maintain their original names
• If a file with the same name exists, it will be overwritten
• All transfers appear in the desktop app's activity log

Troubleshooting

Phone Can't Connect

1. Check Network: Ensure both devices are on the same WiFi network
2. Use Correct IP: Use the Network URL (192.168.x.x), not localhost
3. Firewall: Allow Python/the app through your computer's firewall
4. Router Settings: Some routers block device-to-device communication

Files Not Showing in "Get from Computer"

1. Click "Add Files to Share" on the desktop app first
2. Tap "🔄 Refresh File List" on your phone
3. Make sure files were successfully copied to the uploads/ folder

Slow Performance on Old Phones

The interface is optimized for older devices:

• Minimal JavaScript and CSS
• Large touch targets
• Simple HTML forms
• Sequential file uploads
• Responsive design that adapts to screen size

Common Issues

Issue	Solution
"Connection refused"	Check if server is running and firewall allows connections
"Page not loading"	Verify you're using the Network IP, not localhost
"Upload fails"	Try smaller files first, check available disk space
"No files in download section"	Add files using "Add Files to Share" button on desktop
"Can't see uploaded files"	Check the downloads folder in the same directory as the app

Technical Details

System Requirements

• Desktop: Windows 7+, macOS 10.12+, or Linux with Python 3.6+
• Mobile: Any device with a web browser
• Network: WiFi network connecting both devices

Port Configuration

• Default port: 8080
• Customizable in the source code if needed
• Automatically finds available network interfaces

Supported File Types

• All file types supported
• No file size restrictions (limited by available disk space and network speed)
• Multiple files can be uploaded simultaneously

Security Notes

• Local Network Only: The server only accepts connections from your local network
• No Authentication: Anyone on your network can access the interface
• No Encryption: Files are transferred over HTTP (not HTTPS)
• Temporary Server: Server stops when you close the desktop application
• Privacy: All transfers stay on your local network - nothing goes to the internet

Building from Source

Windows

build.bat

Creates release/FileTransferApp-Windows.exe

Linux/Mac

chmod +x build.sh
./build.sh

Creates release/FileTransferApp-Linux or FileTransferApp-macOS

Requirements for Building

• Python 3.6+
• PyInstaller (automatically installed by build scripts)
• Flask

Development

Code Structure

file_transfer_app.py
├── Flask Web Server
│   ├── /upload (receive files from phone)
│   ├── /list_files (list files to share)
│   └── /download/<filename> (send files to phone)
├── Desktop GUI (tkinter)
│   ├── Server controls
│   ├── File sharing interface
│   └── Activity log
└── File Management
    ├── downloads/ folder handling
    └── uploads/ folder handling

Customization

You can modify:

• Upload/download directory paths
• Server port number
• Web interface styling
• File handling behavior
• Maximum file sizes

License

This project is open source. Feel free to modify and distribute as needed.

Contributing

Found a bug or want to add a feature? Contributions are welcome:

1. Fork the project
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes
4. Submit a pull request

Support

For issues or questions:

• Check the troubleshooting section above
• Review the error messages in the desktop application
• Ensure all prerequisites are installed correctly
• Check that both devices are on the same WiFi network

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Enjoy seamless bidirectional file transfers between your devices! 📱↔️💻