Skip to content

Getting Started

This page walks you through your first transfers. You need a computer and a phone on the same Wi-Fi or LAN. The phone's camera doubles as the scanner.

1. Install

Requires Python 3.9 or newer and pip:

pip install qrtransfer-lite

This installs the qrtransfer command. See installation for extras and source installs.

2. Send a file

qrtransfer myphoto.jpg

You will see output like this:

Scan this QR code to download:
[   QR CODE PRINTED HERE   ]
URL: http://192.168.1.5:41234/f9aX23_qY8M
Press Enter or Ctrl+C to stop transfer...

Point your phone's camera at the QR code. The browser opens and the download starts. After the first successful download the session ends automatically.

3. Send a folder

qrtransfer builds/

Directories are zipped automatically. Multiple files are zipped too:

qrtransfer a.pdf b.pdf c.pdf

4. Send text

qrtransfer --text "Meeting at 3pm in room 4"

The snippet is saved as a temporary .txt file and shared like any other file.

5. Receive files

Send files from your phone to your computer:

qrtransfer receive

Files land in ~/Downloads (or the current directory if that doesn't exist). To choose a destination:

qrtransfer receive ~/incoming

Scan the QR code, then use the file picker or drag-and-drop on the receive page. Multiple files upload in parallel.

What happens next?

  • Password protection, expiration, keep-alive, and more: usage.
  • Full command reference: cli.
  • Persisted interface/port settings: configuration.

Back to README