Transfer files, folders, and clipboard content between computers

Last updated on Oct 04, 2023

SetMe's data transfer feature allows you to securely and easily send files, folders, and any clipboard content to/from the remote computer. This feature can also be used to transfer data between remote desktop windows when you're running multiple remote connections simultaneously. SetMe's peer-to-peer communication technology ensures that all data transfers are secure, fast, direct, and reliable. 

SetMe's data transfer feature can be used between all supported Windows and Mac operating systems.

In this article: 

File and clipboard transfer are available only during a Remote Control operation. This feature cannot be used during a Remote View operation. See Work with the remote desktop article for more information on the available connection operations. 

Sending files and folders using drag and drop

  1. Connect to the remote computer and Start Control. The remote desktop window will open. 
  2. The drag and drop method works in the same way as on your local computer. Drag objects from the remote desktop window and drop them in a target location on your computer, or drag objects from your local computer into the remote desktop window.  
  3. A progress bar will appear on the remote desktop toolbar showing the status of the pending file transfer.

Once the file transfer is completed, the transferred object(s) will appear in the target location. 

Sending files and folders using Copy/Paste

  1. Connect to the remote computer and Start Control. The remote desktop window will open. 
  2. The copy-paste method works in the same way as on your local computer. Copy objects on the remote computer to its clipboard and paste in a target location on your computer, or copy objects on your local computer and paste them in a target location on the remote computer. 
  3. A progress bar will appear on the remote desktop toolbar showing the status of the pending file transfer. 

Once the file transfer is completed, the transferred object(s) will appear in the target location. 

There is no size limit for transferring data using the copy-paste method.

Sending clipboard content

You may also send any other clipboard content such as text, graphics, images, and Excel sheet data to/from the remote computer using the standard copy-paste method described above. 

Sending clipboard as keystrokes

With the Send clipboard as keystrokes feature, you can easily copy and paste passwords on the remote computer’s login screen or in any other situation where copying and pasting text is restricted.

There is a size limit for transferring clipboard text using this feature. You can send up to 4KB of text (4096 characters) to the remote computer.

To copy and paste a password on the remote computer's login screen:

  1. Copy the password to be entered.
  2. Click the password field on the remote computer's login screen.
  3. Click the Send clipboard as keystrokes option on the remote desktop toolbar.

Sending data between multiple remote desktop windows

You may send any data between multiple computers when working with multiple remote desktop windows simultaneously:

  1. Select the object(s) within one of the remote desktop windows or your local computer.
  2. Use the drag and drop or copy-paste method to transfer the object(s) to another remote desktop window or your local computer.

For security purposes, SetMe allows you to share clipboard content with only one remote computer at a time. When working with multiple remote desktop windows, you need to select (i.e. set focus to) a specific window before you transfer data to that computer using the copy-paste method. This ensures that you cannot switch to another remote desktop window and unintentionally paste the same content without copying it again. For more information on managing multiple remote desktop windows, see our Manage multiple remote desktops simultaneously article.

Canceling data transfer

A pending data transfer can be canceled at any point using the Cancel button located on the data transfer progress bar.

Managing shared clipboard settings

You can manage clipboard sharing settings for an active remote connection using the Clipboard Sharing Mode menu located within the remote desktop toolbar.

  • Bidirectional: enable two-way clipboard sharing between the local and remote computer.
  • Local to remote: enable one-way clipboard sharing from the local to remote computer.
  • Remote to local: enable one-way clipboard sharing from the remote to local computer.
  • Disabled: disable clipboard sharing.

You can also select a clipboard sharing mode within the Default settings of your Expert console. In this case, the selected mode will be applied at the start of each remote connection and can be changed manually within the toolbar menu during the active connection. 

Data transfer security

SetMe was built using WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) technology, which includes DTLS-SRTP protocols that provide secure end-to-end encryption. This technology ensures that all transferred data is exchanged directly between the connection participants. 

See our Security section for detailed information on SetMe's security standards and technology.

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