Transfer files between your phone and computer with Thumbdesk
Retrieve a file from your computer, upload a photo from your phone and check transfer progress in Thumbdesk, with agent and SSH setup explained.
Founder, Thumbdesk · 3 min read
Interactive example
Try the file browser
Browse sample folders and transfers. The example does not connect to your computer or upload file contents.
Open Downloads, inspect a file, or try a sample upload.
Long-press a file, or tap ⋯ for its actions
It uploads into ~ on mac-mini.
Your browser reads only the file's name and size. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Free moves files up to 5 MB each. Pro removes the per-file limit and adds host-to-host transfers.
- 1 Tap ⋯ on a file, then Copy.
- 2 Tap the host name under Files and pick the other machine.
- 3 Tap Paste: the file goes from one host to the other.
Sample data only. You can use the controls yourself; automatic playback pauses when you interact. The steps below also work as a text guide.
TL;DR: Open Files in Thumbdesk to retrieve a document from your computer or upload a photo or file from your phone. Choose the host and destination folder, start the transfer and check its completion before leaving the screen. The same file browser works with paired-agent hosts and reachable SSH servers. We build Thumbdesk; Free supports transfers up to 5 MB per file, and Pro removes that size limit.
Transfer files between your phone and computer#
Suppose you left a PDF in Downloads, or want a photo from your phone in a project folder. You can browse the actual host folders in Thumbdesk and transfer the file directly from that view.
For a paired host, keep its computer awake, online and running the agent. For an SSH host, the phone needs a network path to the server and working credentials. In either case, the host account must have permission to access the folder.
Retrieve a file from the computer#
- Open the host and choose Files.
- Browse to the folder containing the document. Use search or a starred folder when it helps.
- Open the file to inspect its preview where supported, or use its action menu.
- Choose Download and follow the phone's save or share flow.
- Check that the transfer completed, then open the saved copy on the phone.
The host's home folder and Downloads folder are different locations. If a document is missing, check which computer and account you are browsing before searching more widely.
The interactive example above contains a sample Mac filesystem. Open Downloads and try report-q3.pdf. Its simulated transfer shows the workflow without connecting to your machine.
Upload a photo or document#
Open the destination folder in Files and choose Upload File. Select the item using the phone's picker and check the destination and resulting name before starting the upload. You can also use the phone's share sheet with Share to Thumbdesk, then choose the host and folder.
For example, send a screenshot into a project's reference folder, then attach or refer to that file in an agent conversation. Keeping a meaningful filename makes it easier to find from both the phone and the computer.
Check the transfer status before assuming the file is available. If a destination already contains that name, read the overwrite prompt and choose deliberately. The editor's Save action changes a file on the host; downloading a copy and editing that copy are separate operations.
Size limits and host-to-host copies#
Free allows files up to 5 MB each. Larger transfers and host-to-host transfer are Pro features. The pricing page lists the current limits.
Host-to-host transfer is available for supported agent hosts. Copying between hosts is different from downloading to the phone and uploading the saved copy later. Choose the appropriate hosts and destinations, and confirm the result at the destination.
In the browser demo, Free/Pro controls let you explore the size gate. Selecting a real local file there only supplies sample name and size information; its contents are not uploaded by the demo.
When a transfer needs attention#
| Issue | What to check |
|---|---|
| Host is unavailable | Confirm its connection before retrying |
| Permission denied | Choose a folder writable by the host account, or fix permissions on the computer |
| Size limit reached | Check the individual file size and your plan |
| Connection interrupted | Inspect the transfer's current status and retry or resume where offered |
| Saved file is hard to find | Check the destination selected in the phone's save/share flow |
Start with one small file and verify it on the receiving device. For a development workflow around those files, see project workspaces and the Git guide.