Help & guides
Step-by-step help in plain words. Pick what you want to do. “Show me” opens the right screen and points at each button.
Connect your phone for the first time
You only need your phone's camera. Nothing to install.
- Step 1: On your computer, open Portal. A square black-and-white code (a QR code) appears.
- Step 2: On your phone, open the Camera app — the same one you use for photos.
- Step 3: Point the camera at the code on the computer screen. Hold still for a second.
- Step 4: A small link or yellow button appears on the phone. Tap it.
- Step 5: Your phone asks “Connect to computer?”. Tap Allow.
- Step 6: Done! Both screens say Connected.
iPhone: the link appears at the bottom of the camera screen. Android: it may appear at the bottom, or you may need to open Google Lens from the camera. The code works once and changes every two minutes — that's normal and keeps you safe.
Show meCopy photos from your phone to your computer
The easiest way to get your photos onto the computer.
- Step 1: Connect your phone (see the guide above).
- Step 2: On the phone, tap Photos and choose the photos you want. They now appear on the computer.
- Step 3: On the computer, click Photos in the left menu.
- Step 4: Choose Last 7 days, Last 30 days or All photos.
- Step 5: Click Import. Your photos are copied to the computer's Downloads (or a folder you choose).
Photos you already copied are marked “Imported”, so you won't get the same photo twice.
Show meGet a file from your phone
For documents, videos or anything else on your phone.
- Step 1: On the phone, tap Files or Folder and choose what to share.
- Step 2: On the computer, click a folder in the left menu, for example Documents.
- Step 3: Double-click a file to look at it.
- Step 4: Click Download. The file is saved in your computer's Downloads folder.
Tip: right-click a file for all the options.
Show meSend a file to your phone
Put a document, song or photo from the computer onto your phone.
- Step 1: On the computer, click Received in the left menu.
- Step 2: Click Upload and choose the file. (Or drag the file onto the Portal window.)
- Step 3: On the phone, the file appears under “Received from …”.
- Step 4: Tap Save.
Where does it go? iPhone: open the Files app → Downloads. Android: open Files or My Files → Downloads.
Find a file when you don't know where it is
Type what you remember, the way you'd say it.
- Step 1: Click the search bar at the top of the screen.
- Step 2: Type something like “invoice from September”, “photos from last week” or “videos larger than 1GB”.
- Step 3: Press Enter. Portal shows the files and explains why each one matched.
You can search your phone or this computer — use the switch at the top of the results.
Show meOpen this computer's folders (and let your phone see them)
Works in Chrome, Edge or Chromium.
- Step 1: In the left menu, under This computer, click Add folder.
- Step 2: Choose a folder, for example Documents, and confirm.
- Step 3: Click the folder in the left menu to open it here in Portal.
- Step 4: To send something to your phone: right-click the file → Send to phone.
- Step 5: On the phone, the folder also appears under “On [your computer]”. Tap a file to save it on the phone.
Untick “Phone can browse these” to hide the folders from the phone at once. The phone can only look — it can never change or delete anything on your computer.
Show meMove files between two phones
Works the same way — one phone shows the code, the other scans it.
- Step 1: On the first phone, open Portal in the browser (Chrome or Safari). A code appears.
- Step 2: On the second phone, open the Camera and scan that code. Tap Allow.
- Step 3: On the second phone, tap Photos, Files or Folder to share. The first phone can now open them.
- Step 4: To share from the first phone too: open the menu (☰) → This device → Share files. The second phone sees them under “On …”.
Keep Portal open on both phones while you move files.
Share with a class or group (several devices at once)
One computer can be connected to up to 3 devices at the same time for free — 15 with Pro (coming soon).
- Step 1: On the computer, open Portal and connect the first device as usual (scan the code, tap Allow).
- Step 2: In the left menu, click Add another device. A new code appears — the next person scans it.
- Step 3: Repeat for each device. The menu shows who is connected, for example 2/3.
- Step 4: Share what everyone should get: drag a folder onto the Portal window, or use Share files / Add folder under This computer.
- Step 5: On each phone, the folder appears under “On [the computer]”. Tap a file to save it.
Click a device's name in the left menu to see its files; Disconnect ends only that device. Each code works once, so every device scans its own.
Send a link or text between phone and computer
No more emailing links to yourself.
- Step 1: On the computer, go to Home and paste the text or link into the Clipboard box. Click Send.
- Step 2: On the phone, it appears under Clipboard. Tap Copy.
- Step 3: The other way round: paste on the phone and tap Send. On the computer it's copied automatically — just paste.
Put Portal on your phone's home screen
So next time it's one tap away, like an app.
- Step 1: iPhone (Safari): open Portal, tap the Share button (square with an arrow), then Add to Home Screen.
- Step 2: Android (Chrome): open Portal, tap ⋮ (top right), then Add to Home screen or Install app.
- Step 3: Next time, open Portal from the home screen and tap Scan code.
Something isn't working
Tap a problem to see how to fix it.
Nothing happens when I point my phone at the code
Make sure the whole code fits on the phone screen and hold still. Clean the camera lens. Still nothing? On the computer, click “Can't scan? Copy the link” and send the link to your phone another way (for example by message), then open it on the phone.
The code disappeared or changed
That's normal: for your safety each code works once and changes every two minutes. Just scan the new one.
My phone is stuck on “Checking the code…”
Your phone's browser may be too old. Update the phone (iPhone: Settings → General → Software Update; Android: Settings → System update) and update Chrome. Portal works on iPhone 7 or newer with the latest update available. Then scan a new code.
It says “We couldn't connect”
Check that both the phone and the computer are online. The most reliable way is to connect both to the same Wi‑Fi. Some mobile data networks block direct connections. Then click Try again.
The connection keeps dropping
Keep Portal open and on screen on the phone while you use it — phones pause web pages when you lock the screen or switch apps. If it does drop, Portal reconnects by itself and carries on with your transfers.
I can't see my phone's files on the computer
For your privacy, the phone's browser only shares what you choose. On the phone, tap Photos, Files or Folder and pick what you want to share. (The upcoming Portal apps will show much more.)
I sent a file to my phone but can't find it
On the phone, tap Save next to it under “Received from …”. Then look in Files → Downloads (iPhone) or Files / My Files → Downloads (Android).
There's no “Add folder” button
Add folder appears in Chrome, Edge or Chromium. In Firefox or Safari, use Share files / Share a folder — or simply drag a folder onto the Portal window.
A folder says “Allow”
After the browser restarts it asks you to confirm again. Click the folder, then click Allow / View files in the window that opens.
Is it safe?
Yes. Your files go straight from one device to the other, encrypted — they don't pass through Portal's servers. Each code works once, the phone always asks before connecting, and you can disconnect at any time.
Words you'll see
- QR code
- The black-and-white square on the computer. Your phone's camera reads it to connect.
- Connect / pair
- Link your phone and computer so they can see each other's files.
- Download
- Copy a file onto the device you're using.
- Upload / Send
- Copy a file to the other device.
- Folder
- A container for files, like a drawer.
- Browser
- The app you use to visit websites: Chrome, Safari, Edge…
Your files go directly between your devices. Portal never stores them.