Peer Share

Share files between Obsidian vaults using WebRTC peer-to-peer connections, powered by PairDrop.

Features

• P2P File Sharing: Direct peer-to-peer file transfers using WebRTC
• PairDrop Compatible: Works with PairDrop web and mobile browser apps
• Device Pairing: Pair devices for cross-network file sharing
• Share Files & Folders: Share individual files or entire folders between vaults
• Transfer History: Track all sent and received files in a searchable sidebar view
• Cross-Platform: Works on desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) and mobile
• Auto-Discovery: Automatically discover peers on the same network
• Progress Tracking: Real-time transfer progress with detailed status
• Multilingual: Available in 8 languages (English, Spanish, German, French, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese)
• System Notifications: Optional OS-level notifications for incoming transfers (desktop only)
• Configurable: Custom signaling server, save location, and log levels

Installation

Install from community.obsidian.md

From Obsidian's settings or preferences:

1. Community Plugins > Browse
2. Search for "Peer Share"

Manually:

1. download the latest release archive
2. uncompress the downloaded archive
3. move the peer-share folder to /path/to/vault/.obsidian/plugins/
4. Settings > Community plugins > reload Installed plugins
5. enable plugin

or:

1. download main.js, manifest.json & styles.css from the latest release
2. create a new folder /path/to/vault/.obsidian/plugins/peer-share
3. move all 3 files to /path/to/vault/.obsidian/plugins/peer-share
4. Settings > Community plugins > reload Installed plugins
5. enable plugin

Usage

Sharing Files

1. Click the Peer Share icon in the ribbon (left sidebar)
2. Select a peer from the list of discovered devices
3. Choose files or folders to share
4. Monitor transfer progress

Alternative Methods

• Context Menu: Right-click any file/folder and select "Share via Peer Share"
• Command Palette: Use Ctrl/Cmd + P and search for "Peer Share"
  • Show available peers - Open peer selection
  • Share current file - Share the currently open file
  • Share files... - Open file picker
  • Open share history - View transfer history
  • Reconnect to server - Manually reconnect
  • Pair with device - Pair for cross-network sharing
  • Toggle connection - Connect or disconnect from server
• Status Bar: Click the status bar item for quick access to connect/disconnect, show peers, pair, and view your display name

Receiving Files

When someone sends you files:

1. An incoming transfer dialog will appear
2. Review the files being sent
3. Click "Accept" to receive or "Decline" to reject
4. Files are saved to your configured save location (default: Peer Share/)

Device Pairing

Pair devices to share files across different networks:

1. Run command Peer Share: Pair with device
2. Choose "Show pairing code" on one device
3. Enter the 6-digit code on the other device
4. Devices are now paired and can discover each other from anywhere

Manage paired devices in Settings > Peer Share > Paired Devices.

Share History

View all your sent and received file transfers in the Share History sidebar:

1. Open via command palette: "Peer Share: Open share history"
2. Or from Settings > Peer Share > Share History > "Open History"
3. Browse transfers grouped by time (Today, Yesterday, This Week, etc.)
4. Search by filename, peer name, OS, or browser
5. Filter by direction (sent/received) and status (completed/failed/cancelled)
6. Export/import history for backup
7. View statistics and reveal received files in vault

Settings

Setting	Description
Signaling Server URL	WebSocket URL for peer discovery (default: wss://pairdrop.net)
Save Location	Folder where received files are saved (default: Peer Share/)
Discovery Mode	Auto-discover (local network + paired devices) or Paired devices only
Log Level	Console logging verbosity (Silent, Error, Warning, Info, Debug)
Auto-connect on startup	Automatically connect to server when Obsidian loads (default: enabled)
System Notifications	Show OS-level notifications for incoming transfers (desktop only, default: disabled)
Paired Devices	View and manage paired devices (each can have auto-accept enabled)
Share History	Configure history tracking, retention period, and privacy settings

Self-Hosted Server

You can use your own PairDrop signaling server for privacy or reliability:

1. See DEPLOYMENT.md for detailed hosting options including:
   • Docker (recommended)
   • Fly.io, Railway, Render (free tiers)
   • VPS with Nginx reverse proxy
2. Update the "Signaling Server URL" in plugin settings to your server's WebSocket URL

The signaling server only handles peer discovery - actual file data transfers directly between peers via WebRTC.

How It Works

1. Signaling: Peers connect to a signaling server to discover each other
2. WebRTC: Once peers are found, a direct WebRTC connection is established
3. Transfer: Files are chunked into 64KB pieces and sent directly peer-to-peer
4. Storage: Received files are saved to your vault using Obsidian's API

Data flows directly between peers - the signaling server only facilitates the initial connection and never sees your file contents.

Security

Peer Share uses WebRTC's built-in encryption (DTLS + SRTP) for secure peer-to-peer file transfers:

• ✅ All file data is encrypted during transfer (same encryption as Zoom/Google Meet)
• ✅ Signaling uses WSS (WebSocket Secure) - encrypted with TLS like HTTPS
• ✅ Server never sees your files - only connection metadata for peer discovery
• ✅ No configuration needed - encryption is automatic

For detailed security information, see SECURITY.md.

Compatibility

• Obsidian: v1.13.0+
• Platforms: Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), Mobile (iOS, Android)
• Peers: Works with other Obsidian vaults and PairDrop web/mobile browser apps

Troubleshooting

Can't see peers

• Ensure both devices are connected to the same signaling server
• Check if you're behind a restrictive firewall (may need TURN server)
• Try the "Reconnect" button in settings

Transfers failing

• Large files may timeout on slow connections
• Check your internet connection
• Try sending fewer files at once

Connection issues

• WebRTC requires HTTPS for the signaling server
• Some corporate networks block WebRTC - try a different network

License

MIT License - See LICENSE for details.

Credits

• PairDrop
• Obsidian