File Upload Server

A simple file upload server that accepts files and text shares from any device on your local network.

Features

• 📁 Upload multiple file types (images, documents, videos, PDFs)
• 📝 Share text content directly
• 🌐 Access from any device on the same network
• 🔒 File type validation for security
• ✅ Simple HTTP endpoint for easy integration
• 📱 iOS Shortcuts integration for quick sharing

Supported File Types

• Documents: txt, pdf, doc, docx
• Images: png, jpg, jpeg, gif
• Videos: mp4, mov

Installation

1. Install Python 3.x Download from python.org if not already installed.

2. Install Flask:

pip install flask

3. Download the script and save it as server.py

Usage

Starting the Server

Run the server from your terminal:

python server.py

The server will start on http://0.0.0.0:5000 and be accessible from any device on your network.

Finding Your Server Address

1. Find your computer's local IP address:

   • Windows: ipconfig (look for IPv4 Address)
   • Mac/Linux: ifconfig or ip addr (look for inet address)

2. Access the server at: http://YOUR_IP_ADDRESS:5000/upload

Uploading Files

Using cURL:

curl -F "file=@/path/to/your/file.jpg" http://YOUR_IP:5000/upload

Using Python:

import requests

files = {'file': open('document.pdf', 'rb')}
response = requests.post('http://YOUR_IP:5000/upload', files=files)
print(response.text)

Using JavaScript/Fetch:

const formData = new FormData();
formData.append('file', fileInput.files[0]);

fetch('http://YOUR_IP:5000/upload', {
    method: 'POST',
    body: formData
})
.then(response => response.text())
.then(data => console.log(data));

Sharing Text

curl -X POST -d "Your text content here" http://YOUR_IP:5000/upload

Text will be saved as shared_text.txt in the server directory.

iOS Shortcuts Setup

Shortcut for Files or Photos

1. Open Shortcuts app → Tap "+" to create a new shortcut
2. Add action: Search for "Get Contents of URL"
3. Configure:
   • Method: POST
   • URL: http://YOUR_LAPTOP_IP:5000/upload (replace with your actual IP)
   • Request Body:
     • Tap the "File" label (or circle next to it) and change type to Form
     • Once set to Form, tap "Add New Field" (or + icon)
     • Choose field type: File
     • Set Key: file (exactly, lowercase)
     • Set Value: Tap "Choose Variable" → Select Shortcut Input (this takes the shared photo/file from the share sheet)
     • (Optional) Add more fields as "Text" type for additional data
   • Note: No need to add Content-Type header – Shortcuts sets "multipart/form-data" automatically for Form with File fields
4. (Optional) Add a "Show Notification" action at the end with text like "File sent!" to confirm success
5. Name it something like "Share File to Laptop"

To use: In Photos app (for photos) or Files app (for files), select the item → Share → More → Run your shortcut. It will send the file to your laptop's server.

Shortcut for Text

1. Create a new shortcut
2. Add action: "Get Contents of URL"
3. Configure:
   • Method: POST
   • URL: http://YOUR_LAPTOP_IP:5000/upload
   • Request Body:
     • Tap "Add New Field" → Choose "Text"
     • Key: (leave blank or use 'text')
     • Value: Shortcut Input (or use "Get Clipboard" if sharing copied text)
4. (Optional) Add confirmation notification
5. Name it "Share Text to Laptop"

To use: Copy text → Open Shortcuts → Run it. Or add to share sheet for notes/apps.

Images

Configuration

Change Upload Directory

Edit this line in the code:

app.config['UPLOAD_FOLDER'] = os.getcwd()  # Change to your desired path

Add More File Types

Edit the ALLOWED_EXTENSIONS set:

ALLOWED_EXTENSIONS = {'txt', 'pdf', 'png', 'jpg', 'zip', 'mp3'}  # Add your types

Change Port

Modify the last line:

app.run(host='0.0.0.0', port=8080, debug=True)  # Change port number

Security Notes

⚠️ Important: This server is designed for local network use only.

• Change app.secret_key to a random string before production use
• Files are saved to the current directory by default
• Set debug=False in production environments
• Consider adding authentication for sensitive use cases
• Only use on trusted networks

Troubleshooting

Port already in use:

# Use a different port
python app.py --port 5001

Cannot access from other devices:

• Check firewall settings
• Ensure devices are on the same network
• Verify the correct IP address is being used

File not saving:

• Check write permissions in the upload directory
• Ensure sufficient disk space

iOS Shortcut not working:

• Verify your laptop's IP address is correct
• Ensure the server is running
• Check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network
• Make sure the Request Body is set to "Form" type, not "File" or "JSON"

Example Use Cases

• Quick file transfers between devices
• Mobile photo uploads to PC
• Simple document sharing in local networks
• Text snippet sharing between devices
• One-tap photo backup from iPhone to laptop

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Contributing

Fork the repo, make changes, and submit a pull request. Issues welcome at github.com/nadikaprabhath/file-sharing-server-python.

License

MIT License. Copyright (c) 2025 Nadika Prabhath. See script header for details.