Encrypted on your device · relayed, then deleted
Northlane Transfer
Move text, links, GUIDs, JSON and small files between your computer and your phone with a temporary code — no app, no account.
Privacy and security, briefly
Encrypted before it leaves
Your browser turns the 12-character code into keys (PBKDF2-SHA-256, 600,000 rounds, then HKDF) and encrypts everything — including file names — with a fresh random AES-256-GCM key. Only ciphertext is uploaded. The code is never sent to the server; links carry it after the #, which browsers don't send, and the page removes it from the address bar.
A relay, not a store
This tool does need a server to pass data between devices. It keeps the ciphertext in an expiring datastore, found by a token derived from the code, for at most the time you choose. The first Receive claims it; the copy is deleted once it arrives, when you revoke it, or when it expires. There are no ads, analytics or third-party scripts on this page.
What it can't do
It can't tell who is receiving — the code is the only key. It can't stop a receiver from keeping a copy. Codes have 60 bits of randomness and guessing is rate-limited, but this hasn't been independently reviewed, so treat it as convenient and private rather than a vault. See the privacy policy.
Share links, text and files between devices
Send text from PC to phone without emailing yourself or logging into a chat app: an address, a long URL, a tracking number or a paragraph you're writing. Formatting, line breaks and emoji arrive exactly as sent.
Share links between devices — paste several and each one becomes a tappable link on the other side (only ordinary http and https links; anything else stays plain text). Nothing opens automatically.
Secure temporary text sharing for GUIDs, JSON snippets, config values and one-off notes: pick 5 minutes, 15 minutes or an hour, and revoke early if plans change.
Send files with a code — screenshots, PDFs or small exports up to 10 MB in total. They're downloaded on the other device, never opened in the page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I send text from my PC to my phone?+
Open transfer.northlane.live on your PC, paste the text and press Create transfer. On your phone, point the camera at the QR code (or open the same site and type the 12-character code), then press Receive. The text appears on your phone, ready to copy.
How do I send something from my phone to my PC?+
The same way in reverse: create the transfer on your phone, then on your PC open transfer.northlane.live, type the code and press Receive. Typing a code is usually easier than scanning on a computer.
Who can receive my transfer?+
Anyone who has the code or the link. The code is a temporary secret, not proof of who someone is — share it only with the person or device you mean, and don't post it publicly.
Can the transfer be opened more than once?+
No. The first device that presses Receive claims it, and the relay deletes the encrypted copy once that device confirms it arrived (or a few minutes later if it doesn't). This is one-time retrieval — it can't stop the receiver from copying, saving or screenshotting what they got.
What happens when it expires or I revoke it?+
It immediately becomes unavailable to anyone who hasn't received it yet, and the encrypted copy is deleted. Expiry and revocation can't remove anything a receiver has already copied or downloaded.
Can Northlane read what I send?+
No. Your browser encrypts everything — text, files and file names — with AES-256-GCM before upload, using a key derived from the code. The code and key never leave your devices; our server only stores ciphertext under an opaque lookup token, and deletes it within an hour at most.
What can I send, and how much?+
Any text — links, GUIDs, JSON, code, Unicode and emoji, with formatting preserved — and files, up to 10 MB in total. Everything is held in your browser's memory while it's encrypted or decrypted, so very old phones may struggle near the limit.
Is it safe for passwords and API keys?+
It's designed to protect contents in transit and at rest on the relay, but it hasn't had an independent security review. For high-value credentials, use a dedicated password manager's sharing feature.
Why does opening a link not use up the transfer?+
Link previews in chat apps, QR scanners and simply loading the page never receive anything. A transfer is only claimed when someone presses the Receive button.