Help & frequently asked questions

The devices won't connect

Benoxy needs a direct connection between the two devices. When a network blocks it, the second device shows “Could not reach the other device”. Try these steps in order:

1. Use the same Wi-Fi on both devices. This is the most reliable setup.
2. Turn off VPNs and privacy proxies on both devices while transferring.
3. Keep both pages open and in the foreground until the devices show “Connected”.
4. Avoid restricted networks. Company, school, hotel and some public Wi-Fi networks, as well as some mobile carriers, block direct connections between devices. A personal hotspot or home Wi-Fi usually works.
5. Start over: reload the page on the computer to get a new QR code, and scan it again.

The QR code doesn't open anything

Point the phone's regular camera app at the code and tap the link that appears (on some Android phones, use Google Lens or the QR option of the camera). If scanning isn't possible, open “Can't scan? Copy the link” under the code and send the link to your other device yourself.

A transfer stopped halfway

Phones pause pages when the screen locks or you switch apps, which cuts the connection. Come back to Benoxy: the devices reconnect by themselves (within 10 minutes of their last contact) and the interrupted file is sent again from the beginning. To avoid that restart on a large file, keep the screen on until it shows Delivered ✓. If a file still fails, send it again with Retry.

How long does a session last?

As long as Benoxy stays open on both devices. If one of them drops out — locked screen, another app, a network change, a reload — it gets back in automatically for 10 minutes after the devices were last in contact. You can even add files or text while it reconnects: they are sent as soon as the connection is back. After 10 minutes without contact, scan the QR code again.

How do I end a session?

Press End session on the device showing the QR code, or Leave on the device that scanned it. The other device is told immediately, and the reconnection details stored in the browser are deleted.

Where are received files saved?

A received file stays in the browser until you press Save. It then goes to your browser's download location:

• Windows and macOS: usually the Downloads folder.
• iPhone and iPad (Safari): the Files app, in the Downloads folder.
• Android (Chrome): the Downloads folder, also reachable from the Files app.

Save files before closing or reloading the page: unsaved files are lost when the page closes, and Benoxy asks for confirmation before you leave with unsaved files.

Is there a size limit?

Each file can be up to 500 MB, and you can send several files at once. They are sent one after the other. Large files transfer fastest when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi.

Who can join my session?

Anyone who has the link or the QR code can ask to join. The first device is connected automatically; every additional device must be allowed on the device that shows the QR code — even while the first device is temporarily away. Don't post the link publicly, and press End session if you think someone else has it.

Does Benoxy keep my files?

No. Files and text go directly from one device to the other and are end-to-end encrypted. They are never uploaded to or stored on a Benoxy server. Read how it works for details.

What happens if I reload the page?

The session continues: after a reload, the devices reconnect automatically, as long as they were in contact less than 10 minutes earlier. On the device that scanned the code, this also works if the phone closed the browser in the background — reopen the link, or open benoxy.com and choose Reconnect. Files that were received but not yet saved are lost when a page reloads, so save them first.

Which browsers work?

Recent versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari on desktop and mobile. Very old browsers and some in-app browsers (inside social media apps) may not support the required WebRTC features — if the page says your browser isn't supported, open the link in your regular browser.

Do both devices need internet access?

Yes, to pair: the devices find each other through a signaling server on the internet. The files themselves then travel directly between the devices.

Is Benoxy free?

Yes. If it's useful to you, you can support it with a donation.