SharingCastHow to Sync Files Between Your PC and Phone Without the Cloud
Keep a folder of files on one device and pick up only the new ones on your others, with no upload and no storage limit
In this guide
Why skip the cloud for everyday syncing
Cloud storage is the usual answer when you want the same files on your computer and your phone. It works, but it comes with a detour: every file is uploaded to a company’s servers first and then downloaded again, even when both devices are sitting on the same desk. Large videos take a long time to upload, free plans fill up quickly (Google’s free 15 GB, for example, is shared between Gmail, Drive and Photos), and private documents end up stored somewhere you do not control.
For many everyday jobs you do not need a permanent copy online at all. You just want the phone to pick up the latest scans, exports or documents from your PC, quickly and privately. That is what a SharingCast room is for.
How syncing works in SharingCast
SharingCast sends files directly from one device to another over an encrypted connection. A Persistent Room builds on that:
- One device hosts the room. You open it in the Room tab under My room, add files, and give the room a code that never changes, such as SC-DESKA.
- Your other devices join the room once, under Join a room. After that they only need to tap Sync.
- Sync lists only the files that device has not saved before, and you choose which of them to download. Each device keeps its own short list, so a phone and a laptop can both join the same room and each gets exactly what it is missing.
- Files go straight from the host to the device that syncs. Nothing is stored on a SharingCast server.
Sync is one way, from the host to the devices that join, and it runs when you tap Sync rather than constantly in the background. For “keep my phone up to date with the files on my PC”, that is usually all you need.
Step 1: Open a room on your PC
- On your PC, open sharingcast.com or the SharingCast Windows app.
- Tap the Room tab, then My room.
- Add the files you want on your phone. Drag and drop them, including whole folders, or tap the box to choose them.
- Pick a room code. The box already shows SC-, so type five letters or numbers you will remember.
- Set a password. The room remembers it, so you only type it once.
- Tap Start room. Copy the room link or show the QR code for the next step.
Your room stays open while SharingCast is open on the PC. If you close it and open it again later, the room comes back by itself with the same code and files. The Send tab stays free the whole time, so you can still send a one-off file to someone else.
Open your room →Step 2: Join the room on your phone
- Open the room link on your phone, or scan the QR code. It opens SharingCast in the Room tab, under Join a room, with the code filled in. You can also go there yourself and type the five characters after SC-.
- Enter the password and tap Join room.
- The button shows how many files are new, for example Sync (12 new), and the new files are listed with a tick next to each. Untick what you don’t need and tap Download selected.
- When the files arrive, tap Download next to each one, or Download all · ZIP to save them together. Saved files are marked Saved ✓.
Next time, open SharingCast on the phone. The room reconnects on its own, and the Room tab shows a number when there is something new. The new files are listed for you, and only the ones you tick are downloaded. On Android, the SharingCast app works the same way as the browser.
A daily routine that works
- Scans and paperwork. Save scanned documents into your room on the office PC during the day. Before leaving, open SharingCast on your phone and tap Sync.
- Exports and drafts. Add finished exports, PDFs or presentations to the room as you make them. Your laptop at home syncs them in the evening.
- Several devices, one source. A family PC can keep holiday photos in a room, and every phone and tablet in the house syncs what it does not have yet.
- Keep the room tidy. Once everyone has synced older files, remove them from My room with the × button. Devices only ever download what is in the room now.
Want the opposite direction, from phone to PC? Open My room on the phone instead, and join it from the PC. The Android app is the best choice for a phone that hosts, because it keeps running in the background better than a browser tab.
Cloud sync vs sync tools vs a SharingCast room
There is no single right tool. This comparison shows where each one fits.
| Cloud sync (Drive, OneDrive) | Sync apps you install | SharingCast room | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where files go | Uploaded to the provider’s servers | Directly between your devices | Directly between your devices |
| Install needed | Optional (web works) | Yes, on every device | No, any browser (apps optional) |
| Storage limit | Your plan’s quota | Your own disks | No limit |
| When it syncs | Automatically, in the background | Automatically, while devices are on | When you tap Sync |
| Devices online together | No | Yes | Yes, the host must be on |
| Best for | Backups and access from anywhere | Mirroring whole folders all the time | Quick, private pickup of new files |
Many people combine them: cloud storage for long-term backups, and a SharingCast room for moving today’s files between devices quickly without filling up a storage plan.
Tips for reliable syncing
- Use the app for the host. A browser tab stops when it is closed. The Windows app keeps your room available while it runs in the background.
- Keep the host awake while syncing. If the PC goes to sleep, the room closes until it wakes up again.
- Same Wi-Fi is fastest. When both devices are on the same network, files stay inside it and large transfers finish quickly. Syncing over mobile data works too.
- Always set a password. A code that never changes is predictable. A password makes sure only your devices can join.
- Save after you sync. A file only counts as saved on a device after you tap Download or Download all. If you skip that step, the next Sync offers it again, so nothing is lost by accident.
What to keep in mind
- The host has to be online. There is no copy in the cloud, so Sync only works while the host device is on and its room is open.
- It is not a backup. If the host device is lost or its browser data is cleared, the room’s list of files goes with it. Keep important files backed up separately.
- Sync is one way. Changes on the phone are not sent back to the PC. For that, open a room on the phone, or use the normal Send tab.
- One room per device. Each device hosts one room. Any number of devices can join it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account?
No. You choose a room code and a password. There is nothing to sign up for.
Is there a file size limit?
No. Large videos and big folders sync the same way as small files; they just take longer.
Can two phones sync from the same PC at the same time?
Yes. Each device that joins gets its own transfer, and each one downloads only what it is missing.
Does it work between Windows and iPhone?
Yes. SharingCast runs in any modern browser, so an iPhone can join a room hosted on a Windows PC using Safari.
What happens if the connection drops during a Sync?
SharingCast reconnects automatically and continues with the files that had not finished. Files that did not complete stay “new” until they do.