DirectConnect

Support

Install, update and remove

Install the same DirectConnect app on both computers. There’s no separate free version: an unlicensed computer works whenever it’s connected to a licensed one.

Install

Download DirectConnect for each computer:

  • Mac: a disk image (.dmg), for macOS 26 or later on Apple silicon or Intel.
  • Windows: an installer (.exe) for Windows 11, in x64 and ARM64 versions. On PCs with ARM processors, such as Snapdragon, the other computer can open and copy this PC’s files, and you can send files to a computer set to Receive only. The other computer’s files can’t be opened on this PC yet.
  • Linux: an .rpm package for Fedora and openSUSE, a .deb package for Ubuntu and Debian, or an AppImage for other distributions, for x86-64 computers. The AppImage needs Ubuntu 24.04 or a distribution of the same age or newer, with FUSE 3 installed.

On a Mac, open the disk image, drag DirectConnect onto the Applications folder, then open it from Applications. If you open it from the disk image, it asks to move itself to Applications first.

On Linux, install the .deb or .rpm package in a terminal. It asks for your password. On Ubuntu and Debian:

sudo apt install ~/Downloads/directconnect-x86_64.deb

On Fedora:

sudo dnf install ~/Downloads/directconnect-x86_64.rpm

On openSUSE, first add DirectConnect’s signing key so zypper can check the package:

sudo rpm --import https://download.directconnect.app/linux/directconnect.asc
sudo zypper install ~/Downloads/directconnect-x86_64.rpm

Open DirectConnect after installing. Its background service keeps sharing going when its windows are closed.

What gets installed

  • Mac: the DirectConnect app. The other computer’s files appear as a network volume, using the file-sharing support built into macOS.
  • Windows: the DirectConnect app. It uses Dokany, an open-source file-system driver, to show the other computer’s files as a drive in File Explorer.
  • Linux: the DirectConnect app and its background service, which runs as your user. The other computer’s files appear through FUSE, which most distributions include.
  • Linux AppImage: nothing is installed. Make the file executable and open it. It copies its background service to ~/.local/share/directconnect/bin, because the service keeps running after you close the app.

Start when you sign in

Turn on Start DirectConnect when I sign in in the main window, and the computers connect whenever you plug in the cable. It’s off until you turn it on.

Keep both computers up to date

Both computers need compatible versions of DirectConnect. If they aren’t, DirectConnect says: “These computers use incompatible versions. Update DirectConnect on both computers.” Install the latest version on both, then reconnect the cable.

On a Mac, DirectConnect checks for updates once a day and asks before installing one. To check now, choose DirectConnect > Check for Updates….

The .deb and .rpm packages add DirectConnect’s update source to your system, so new versions arrive with your other software updates.

The Linux AppImage checks for updates once a day. When one is ready, the main window shows a banner with Update. DirectConnect downloads the update and restarts. Drives from other computers close for a moment and reconnect. To check now, open the main menu and choose Check for Updates.

Updates for the version you buy are included in your licence. See Licensing.