Local file transfer and privacy: what to check
Files To Other Devices is designed to copy selected files between nearby Android devices using a local connection, rather than requiring you to first upload those files to a cloud-storage account. That distinction matters, but it does not mean every aspect of the app, device or Wi-Fi network is automatically private or secure.
Choose the intended recipient
Before approving a connection or sending documents, confirm which receiving device you selected. Avoid sending sensitive files while you are unsure whose device is shown.
Use a network you trust
Both phones must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and local device-to-device communication must be allowed. Public or guest networks may block this traffic. Do not disable security controls on networks that you do not administer just to make a transfer work.
Check the copied files
After the transfer, verify the received files and leave the originals in place until the copies are confirmed. Consider what information a file itself contains before sharing it, especially photographs and personal documents.
Understand the limits of this page
Local transfer does not by itself establish how application analytics, advertising SDKs or other software process data. Consult the current app privacy policy for those separate topics. This page does not claim end-to-end encryption or a security certification that has not been verified.