# RoomDisk

> RoomDisk (formerly SpareDisk) is a free browser app (https://roomdisk.com/app/) that turns any device you own (an old phone, a tablet, a laptop) into a "spare disk". Files move directly between your devices over an encrypted WebRTC connection, with no cloud upload, no account and nothing to install. Each file is verified with SHA-256 on both devices, so you know which originals are safe to delete.

Key facts:
- Pairing: the disk shows a QR code; the other device scans it (a phone's Camera app works) and shows its own reply code; the disk scans that reply with its camera (or the reply is shared to it as a link). The devices then connect by themselves. Codes last two minutes and work once; remembered devices are recognised by their certificate.
- Network: both devices on the same Wi-Fi or one device's hotspot. No internet needed after the first visit. RoomDisk Anywhere reaches the disk from other networks.
- Works in modern browsers on iPhone, iPad, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux and ChromeOS.
- Free: pairing, transfers, SHA-256 checks with receipts, resume after interruptions, duplicate detection, browsing and streaming from the disk.
- RoomDisk Pro: $14.99 once at launch (then $19), not a subscription: transfer queue, history and categories, storage insights.
- RoomDisk Anywhere: $29 a year, reach your disk from any network, still direct and encrypted, no cloud storage.
- Optional password protection: files encrypted on the disk (AES-256-GCM, key wrapped with PBKDF2-SHA256, 600,000 rounds); the disk and every connecting device, including over Anywhere, must enter the password to see files; a recovery key (shown once) opens it if the password is forgotten; auto-lock after 15 minutes idle.
- New devices must be allowed on the disk before they can see or change files; removing a device disconnects it at once. Bulk deletes, moves or renames from a connected device pause for the owner's approval.
- Pro-grade checks: only new files are sent (big files matched by name, size and first/last 256 KB), copies counted across your spare disks, 0-byte files flagged, a monthly automatic re-read of every file, and ASC MHL checksum lists with xxHash64 (Pro).
- It copies the files you choose; it is not an automatic background backup and does not back up app data.
- Contact: hello@roomdisk.com

## Main pages
- [Help guide](https://roomdisk.com/help/): how to pair, send, verify, resume, browse, stream, use an old phone, offline use.
- [Questions](https://roomdisk.com/faq/)
- [Pricing](https://roomdisk.com/pricing/)
- [Security](https://roomdisk.com/security/)
- [RoomDisk Anywhere](https://roomdisk.com/anywhere/)
- [Privacy policy](https://roomdisk.com/privacy/)
- [Terms](https://roomdisk.com/terms/)

## Guides
- [Back up your iPhone photos without iCloud](https://roomdisk.com/backup-iphone-without-icloud/): Copy your iPhone photos and videos to a spare phone, tablet or computer you own: no iCloud plan, cable or account, and proof every file arrived intact.
- [Transfer photos from iPhone to a PC without a cable](https://roomdisk.com/transfer-photos-iphone-to-pc-without-cable/): Move iPhone photos and videos to a Windows PC wirelessly in the browser: scan a QR code and send. No cable, no iTunes, no app install, originals checked.
- [iPhone storage full? Free space without paying monthly](https://roomdisk.com/iphone-storage-full-no-icloud/): Move photos and videos off a full iPhone to a device you own, check every copy, then delete safely. No iCloud subscription.
- [Reuse an old phone or tablet as extra storage](https://roomdisk.com/reuse-old-phone-as-extra-storage/): Turn the old phone or iPad in your drawer into a spare disk for photos, videos and files. Works in the browser on old iPhones, iPads and Android devices.
- [External storage for iPhone 14 and older](https://roomdisk.com/external-storage-for-iphone-14-and-older/): Lightning iPhones (iPhone 14 and older) can’t use most USB drives easily. Use a spare phone, tablet or computer as wireless storage instead.
- [A wireless hard drive alternative, with no hardware](https://roomdisk.com/sandisk-wireless-drive-alternative/): Wireless drives need their own app, charging and Wi-Fi, and often drop off or buffer. A laptop, tablet or old phone can be the wireless drive instead.
- [Transfer files without internet](https://roomdisk.com/transfer-files-without-internet/): No internet? Turn on a phone’s hotspot, join it with the other device, and move files directly with RoomDisk. Works on planes, hikes and shoots.
- [Move Android photos to a computer without a cable](https://roomdisk.com/android-photos-to-computer-without-cable/): Send photos and videos from an Android phone to a Windows PC or Mac over Wi-Fi in the browser. No cable, no app install, every file checked.
- [An AirDrop alternative that works across every device](https://roomdisk.com/airdrop-alternative-for-windows-and-android/): Send files between iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac in any direction, in the browser, with every file verified. How it compares with AirDrop.
- [How to verify a copy is identical before you delete the original](https://roomdisk.com/verify-file-copies-sha256/): Make sure a copied photo or video is byte-for-byte identical before deleting the original: what SHA-256 is and how RoomDisk checks every file.
- [Move your photos off before selling or trading in a phone](https://roomdisk.com/move-photos-before-selling-phone/): Before you sell, trade in or give away a phone, copy every photo and video to a device you keep, check each one, then erase with confidence.

## Fixes and alternatives (problems with flash drives, wireless drives, cables, cloud storage, AirDrop)
- [A phone flash drive alternative that doesn’t depend on an app](https://roomdisk.com/sandisk-ixpand-alternative/): Phone flash drives depend on their own app. If it crashes, renames files or backs up nothing, use a device you already own as the drive, with every file checked.
- [“Backed up 0 items”: why iPhone photo backups fail, and what to do](https://roomdisk.com/backed-up-0-items-iphone-flash-drive/): A phone backup app says it backed up 0 items or some items couldn’t be backed up? The usual causes on iPhone, how to fix them, and a backup you can verify.
- [“The device is unreachable” when importing iPhone photos to Windows](https://roomdisk.com/iphone-device-unreachable-windows/): Windows says “The device is unreachable” when importing photos from an iPhone? Why it happens, the fixes, and a way to move photos to a PC without the cable.
- [Google Photos storage full? Keep your photos on a device you own](https://roomdisk.com/google-photos-storage-full/): Google’s free 15 GB is shared by Photos, Gmail and Drive. When it fills up, move your photos and videos to a device you own instead of paying monthly.
- [AirDrop failing on big videos? Send them so they finish](https://roomdisk.com/airdrop-not-working-large-files/): Big AirDrop transfers can stall when a screen locks or devices drift apart, and AirDrop is Apple-only. Send big videos so they resume instead of restarting.
- [Send photos and videos without losing quality](https://roomdisk.com/send-photos-without-compression/): Messaging apps shrink photos and videos to send them fast. Move the original files between your own devices instead, byte for byte, checked with SHA-256.
- [Send large files and videos between your devices, without uploading](https://roomdisk.com/send-large-files-without-uploading/): Move 4K/8K videos and big files of any size between your own phone, laptop and computer directly over Wi-Fi: no upload, no size limit, resumed if cut off.
- [USB drive or flash drive not showing up on iPhone?](https://roomdisk.com/external-drive-not-showing-up-iphone/): iPhone not seeing your flash drive, USB drive or SSD in Files? Check format, power, USB 2 vs 3 and app support, remove it safely, or skip the cable entirely.
- [Protect your photos from drive failure](https://roomdisk.com/protect-photos-from-drive-failure/): Portable SSDs and hard drives disconnect, turn read-only or die, often within a few years. How to protect your photos: two copies, checked regularly.
- [iPhone photos (HEIC) won’t open on Windows?](https://roomdisk.com/heic-photos-wont-open-on-windows/): iPhone photos are HEIC by default and many Windows PCs can’t open them. Choose Most Compatible, convert when transferring, or keep originals and add HEIC support.

## Troubleshooting
- [Devices won’t connect, or a transfer is stuck? Fix it here](https://roomdisk.com/devices-wont-connect/): Two devices won’t pair, don’t show up on the same Wi-Fi, or a transfer stops halfway? The causes, and the fixes that work, simplest first.

## Comparisons
- [RoomDisk vs flash drive vs iCloud](https://roomdisk.com/compare/roomdisk-vs-flash-drive-vs-icloud/): A plain comparison of RoomDisk, a USB or wireless flash drive, and iCloud+ for keeping copies of photos and freeing phone space.
- [iCloud vs one-time cost calculator](https://roomdisk.com/tools/icloud-vs-one-time-cost/)

## Use cases
- [RoomDisk for photographers and videographers](https://roomdisk.com/for/photographers/): Offload photos, RAW files and 4K/8K video from phone, tablet or laptop to a spare device on set: no size limit, no internet, a SHA-256 receipt for every batch.
- [RoomDisk for families](https://roomdisk.com/for/families/): Turn an old iPad, phone or computer into the family’s photo storage. Everyone sends their photos to it from any phone, no subscriptions or accounts.
- [RoomDisk for travelers](https://roomdisk.com/for/travelers/): Back up trip photos from your phone to a tablet or laptop in the hotel room, on a plane or off-grid, using a phone hotspot. No roaming data or cloud.

## Optional
- [Full text of the help, FAQ and pricing pages](https://roomdisk.com/llms-full.txt)
- [Move iPhone photos to Windows, Mac or Android](https://roomdisk.com/guides/#transfer)