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PhotonFile - FAQ

Quick answers about Ephemeral File Transfer, File Passes, retries, limits, and why PhotonFile is built around a live, in-memory relay with ephemeral-by-default handling.

What is PhotonFile?

PhotonFile is a privacy-focused Ephemeral File Transfer service. Instead of depending on stored delivery, both peers connect to a live, in-memory relay that keeps bytes only while they're in flight.

Transfers always travel over encrypted connections, and you can optionally enable client-side encryption in your browser so that only someone with your key can decrypt the file. The default behavior is ephemeral: transfer data is handled in memory during the session and cleared when the session ends.

Do you store my files on your servers?

No. PhotonFile is built to forget, not to remember. By default, the relay holds file bytes in memory only long enough to move them from sender to receiver, then clears transient state when the session ends. PhotonFile does not provide a stored "inbox" or a browseable library of your uploaded files.

What's a File Pass?

A File Pass lets you send files larger than what's allowed in the free tier, using the same Ephemeral File Transfer relay. Each pass covers one file: no subscriptions, no bundles to manage, no surprise renewals.

Is there a max file size?

In practice, no. Tier 4 is designed for unlimited-size transfers and bills only for the portion above 500 GB. Your browser, disk, and network will be the real limiting factors, not an arbitrary server-side cap.

What if my transfer fails?

You don't lose your money. The server only consumes your File Pass once both sides have fully transmitted all required bytes through the relay and nothing remains in flight. If something breaks mid-transfer, your pass stays valid and you can try again.

How many retries do I get if there's a connection issue?

As many as you need. We log retry counts only to improve reliability, not to limit you. If a transfer ever fails, both peers see exactly what happened. No guessing, no hidden throttles, and no silent timeouts.

Do you support client-side encryption?

Yes. For supported browsers, PhotonFile can encrypt your file in the browser before it ever leaves your machine. The decryption key is encoded into the URL fragment (the part after #...), which never gets sent to the server.

That means the relay only sees encrypted chunks, and only someone you share the full link with can decrypt the content. If you want to understand the details, check the Technology page for diagrams and implementation notes.

What can I send?

Anything you're legally allowed to share. You are responsible for the content you transmit and for complying with local laws and our Terms of Service.

Why did you build this?

Because many "file transfer" services rely on stored delivery, throttle speeds, track users, or cap file sizes.

PhotonFile is built around an ephemeral-by-default model.
We built an Ephemeral File Transfer relay that keeps bytes in memory while they are moving, offers optional client-side encryption, and avoids analytics beacons or surveillance economics.

If it's free, am I the product?

No. The free tier is genuinely free: no in-product ads, no tracking pixels, no profiling, and no dark patterns. PhotonFile is funded by users who purchase File Passes for larger or heavier use, not by selling or mining your data. We may run Google Search ads to help people discover PhotonFile, and we record a single, aggregate event when an upload is initiated from an ad. This measurement does not track you across sites, build profiles, or inspect your files, it simply helps us understand whether our ads are working.

What are the limits of the free tier?

You can send files up to 10 GB.

Free transfers use our standard pool, running at up to 1 Gib/s. We tune and expand capacity to keep Ephemeral File Transfers fast while keeping transfer handling ephemeral by default.