Getting Started With PeerFlow: Your First Ten Minutes
PeerFlow does seven things in one app. A good first ten minutes touches each of them. Here is a short tour that leaves you ready to use it for real.
PeerFlow does seven things in one app: peer-to-peer file sharing, peer-to-peer chat, audio calling, video calling, screen sharing, remote desktop and meetings. That is a lot to take in, so this tour does not try to explain everything. It walks through one small success in each area, in about ten minutes, so that by the end you know where things are and how they feel.
Minute 0 to 2: install and allow
Open the Download page. On Windows, get the app from the Microsoft Store. On Android, download and install the app. On any other device, you can use a browser for meetings and file sharing. Open the app and run the first-open checklist: press Allow all to give it notifications, microphone, camera and a folder. See permissions PeerFlow asks for and why.
Minute 2 to 3: take a look around
The sidebar (or the bottom bar on a phone) has five places: Chats, Meet, Files, Remote access and Settings. Without an account, you can use Files, Remote access and joining a meeting right away. Chats and hosting a meeting ask you to sign in, which takes a minute: enter your email, then the one-time code you receive.
Minute 3 to 4: send a file
Open Files and press Choose files. Pick a photo. A short code and a QR code appear. On a second device, open PeerFlow, choose Enter code, and type it, or scan the QR. The file arrives directly. See QR code file transfer explained and send files between two computers on the same network.
Minute 4 to 5: add a contact and send a message
In Chats, press Add a contact and type a friend's email or @username. When they accept, say hello. Messages are end-to-end encrypted and travel directly between your devices when you are both online. See private messaging without a phone number.
Minute 5 to 6: make a call
Open the chat and press the voice or video call button. The call rings on your friend's device, even if the app is closed on Android, provided their settings allow it. Answer, say hello, and try turning the camera on and off. If the sound is missing, see no sound in a video call.
Minute 6 to 7: share your screen
During a call, press the screen-share button, choose a window and show it. Try the pointer and drawing tools to circle something. Stop sharing when you finish. See present your screen like a pro.
Minute 7 to 8: start a meeting
Open Meet, keep the waiting room on, and press New meeting. Copy the link and open it in another browser to see the guest's view: a name box, a camera and microphone check and a join button. Admit yourself from the host side. Up to 15 people can join one meeting. See meeting links explained.
Minute 8 to 10: try remote access
If you have two of your own devices, open Remote access on one and press Share this device. A short code appears. On the other device, open Remote access, type the code and connect. You see the first device's screen. If you allowed control, try moving the mouse. A badge on the shared device shows the connection and has buttons to stop it. Read the remote desktop page for more, and remote desktop privacy to know what the other side can do.
What you have done
| Feature | You tried |
|---|---|
| P2P file sharing | Sent a file with a code |
| P2P chat | Added a contact and sent a message |
| Audio calling | Rang a friend |
| Video calling | Turned on the camera |
| Screen sharing | Showed a window |
| Meetings | Started one and opened it as a guest |
| Remote desktop | Connected between your devices |
What to do next
- Set up your folder backup, if you want an encrypted copy of your history. See chat history backup.
- Choose a username and a short line about yourself in Settings.
- Tell one friend, so you have someone to talk to.
- Read the security overview at how PeerFlow keeps connections secure.
- Bookmark the answers to common problems: notifications not arriving and camera not working.
If something does not work
Most problems are one of three things: a permission that was refused, a battery setting on Android, or a strict network. The permission list in Settings shows what is missing, and trying another network settles the third. See remote desktop through firewalls.
Ready for real use
The best way to learn is to use PeerFlow for something you were going to do anyway: send the photos from the weekend, call your sister, run next week's team meeting. Start there, and the seven features will become habits.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account to start?
No. You can send files, share or connect to a screen with a code and join meetings without one. Chat, calls and hosting use a free account.
What are the seven things PeerFlow does?
P2P file sharing, P2P chat, audio calling, video calling, screen sharing, remote desktop and meetings.
How long does the set-up take?
Installing and running the first-open checklist takes a few minutes, and each feature takes a minute or two to try.
Where do I get the apps?
From the Download page: the Microsoft Store for Windows and a direct download for Android. Meetings and files also work in a browser.