The Files.com Desktop App provides fast and efficient data transfers between your local system and Files.com. It supports two modes of operation: Fast Transfer Mode and Mounted Drive Mode, allowing users to choose between performance-focused transfers or seamless file system integration.

Fast Transfer Mode

Fast Transfer Mode delivers the highest performance for uploading and downloading large files. It is optimized for speed, reliability, and secure file exchange between users and systems.

The interface is simple and intuitive, featuring drag-and-drop functionality with the local file system displayed in the left pane and Files.com content in the right pane. Users can upload, download, create folders, rename, delete, move, and copy files directly from the interface. Transfers can be paused or canceled at any time, and progress is clearly displayed with success and failure tracking.

Automatic retries and overwrite options are also supported and can be configured in Settings or Preferences.

Mounted Drive Mode

Mounted Drive Mode allows users to access Files.com connections as mounted volumes directly from Windows and macOS. When the Desktop App is launched, any configured connections set for mounting are automatically mounted. Multiple connections can be mounted at once, and new connections are set to auto-mount by default when created.

This mode provides a convenient, native experience for browsing and editing Files.com content from the file system, similar to using a network drive. It enables users to open and save files directly from applications such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Suite.

However, performance in mounted drive mode is currently slower than Fast Transfer Mode, and some workflows may experience issues such as delayed file listing or file locking errors. These are known limitations that are actively being addressed for future improvements.

You can enable or disable this behavior using the Mount as Volume option available under Manage Files.com Connections. If any mounting-related settings are changed in a connection’s configuration, the volume will be remounted automatically to apply the updates.

On Windows, mounted connections appear as mapped drives in Windows Explorer under This PC. The highest available drive letter is used when mounting a volume, and if no drive letters are available, the mount will fail. You can configure a specific drive letter for each connection, but if that letter is already in use, the mounting process will not succeed.

On macOS, mounted connections appear as standard network volumes in Finder under Locations. macOS uses standard mount points rather than drive letters.

Mounted Drive Mode allows you to browse folders, open files, edit content, and save changes directly through your native file browser. Files are automatically transferred in the background by your operating system and internet connection, letting you work with them as if they were stored locally. When you open a file, it is downloaded if not already cached; when you save changes, the file is uploaded back to Files.com automatically.

When you use a Microsoft Office desktop editor to edit a file using a mounted volume, file locks automatically prevent issues with simultaneous editing.

This feature is currently available on Windows with the EXE installer and on macOS with the PKG and DMG installers. Mounting mapped drives is not currently supported when using the MSI installer.

Automatically Start on Login

The Files.com Desktop app includes an option to Launch application on login, which is enabled by default.

Enabling this setting means that any connections which mount as volumes will be automatically available on your computer without needing to manually start the Files.com Desktop app.

You can choose to disable the setting. If you do so, the Desktop app will not automatically start when you log into your computer, and any mounted volumes will not work until you run the Files.com Desktop app.

Authentication

When you connect to your site using the Desktop App, log in as you would in the Files.com web app, including your 2FA method. After login, the app securely generates and stores a dedicated API key. The Desktop App also supports SSO, allowing authentication through your organization’s Single Sign-On provider.

If you experience issues with login or 2FA, enable Use default browser for authentication under Preferences on macOS or Settings on Windows. This option can also be used when compliance or IT policies require authentication through a specific system browser.

You can connect to multiple Files.com accounts or manage profiles by opening the app menu and selecting New Tab or Manage Files.com Connections.

Expired Credentials

If an account has expired credentials, you will be required to sign in to that account (through the desktop app) again before reconnecting. Credentials may expire for a number of reasons, including the Desktop session was manually revoked by you or a site administrator via the web app, or the Desktop session lifetime that's set for your Files.com site has lapsed (defaults to 30 days, unless modified by a site admin). Credentials may expire if your site has Desktop Session IP Pinning enabled, requiring you to sign in again if your IP address changes while already signed in to the desktop app.