How to Use ShareIt.onl Group Chat for Cross-Device File Sharing

If you need to move files between a phone, a work laptop, and a home desktop while keeping a running conversation about what you are sending, ShareIt Online Group Chat is a lightweight way to do it. It is a browser-based chat room where every member signs in with a Google account, and every message and attached file is encrypted in your browser before it reaches the server. This guide walks you through creating a private group, inviting the right people, and posting reusable file links from any device.

What Group Chat Does and Does Not Do

Group Chat is a plain-text messaging channel that lets you attach active ShareIt file links. It is not a full team workspace. There are no threads, no bots, no message editing, no push notifications, and no voice or video calls. What it gives you is a persistent, encrypted conversation around the files you are already sharing via ShareIt.onl.

The encryption matters here. Message text, filenames, and any new file you attach directly to a chat message are encrypted and decrypted in your browser using AES-256-GCM. ShareIt stores the ciphertext so other members can sync the conversation, but the company says it cannot read the content. This is different from the ordinary ShareIt file links you might paste into the chat. Those links point to files in your My Files storage, which use their own separate controls for expiry, passwords, and one-time downloads. The chat keeps the conversation private; the file links keep their own sharing rules.

Creating Your Private Group

You need a Google-connected account to join any Group Chat. There is no anonymous access.

1. Go to ShareIt.onl and sign in with Google.
2. Navigate to the Group Chat section. The interface will present you with an option to create a new group.
3. Give the group a name. This name is visible to all members.
4. Once created, you will see an invitation link or a join code. Copy this link.

The group is invitation-only. Share the invitation only with the people who should participate, and review the membership before discussing or attaching project files.

Inviting Members

Send the invitation link to the people you want in the group. Each recipient must sign in with their own Google-connected account to participate.

Because the chat relies on browser-based encryption, every member must use a modern browser on desktop or mobile. There is no dedicated app.

Posting Active File Links from Phone or Desktop

The core workflow is to share a file through the normal ShareIt.onl process and then paste the resulting link into the group chat.

From a Desktop Browser

1. On the ShareIt.onl homepage, upload your files. You can include up to 100 files with a total size of 3 GB.
2. When the upload finishes, you will receive a web link and a QR code. Before you copy the link, set the controls you want: choose a link expiry time, add a password, or make it a one-time link.
3. Copy the link.
4. Open your Group Chat, type any context you want, and paste the link. The link is now available for group members to open.

From a Phone Browser

The process is identical. Open ShareIt.onl in your mobile browser, upload the files, set your link controls, and copy the link. Switch to the Group Chat tab in the same browser or a different one, and paste the link into the conversation.

The key advantage here is that the link remains active until its expiry, regardless of whether you close the browser. If you have a free account with 20 GB of storage, the file stays in your My Files area even after the link expires. You can generate a fresh link for the same file without uploading it again.

Attaching Files Directly to a Chat Message

You can also attach a file directly to a chat message. When you do this, ShareIt creates a new encrypted copy of the file that is tied to the chat. This copy is separate from any file in your My Files storage. The original file in My Files retains its normal ShareIt controls, while the chat copy is governed by the group's encryption and synchronization.

This is useful for quick, context-specific files that you do not plan to reuse. For files you want to keep available and manage independently, use the link-pasting method instead.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake: Assuming the chat encrypts the original file link.

The end-to-end encryption protects the chat message text and any file you attach directly to the message. If you paste a link to a file in your My Files storage, that link uses its own security settings. Set a password and expiry on the link if you need those protections.

Mistake: Forgetting that every member needs a Google account.

Group Chat is not anonymous. Every participant must sign in with Google. If you are coordinating with someone who refuses to use a Google account, this tool will not work for them.

Mistake: Expecting notifications or message history search.

Group Chat has no push notifications. Members must open the chat to see new messages, so use another agreed channel for urgent alerts.

Mistake: Using the wrong link for a one-time share.

If you set a link to be a one-time link, reserve it for one intended download. If multiple people need the same file, use a different link setting.

When to Choose a Different Tool

Group Chat is a coordination channel, not a full team workspace. Google Drive documents viewer, commenter, and editor permissions for collaborative files. SwissTransfer handles transfers up to 50 GB without registration. LocalSend is an installed app for transfers over local Wi-Fi without internet, an account, or a server. Proton Drive documents end-to-end encryption for files and metadata and offers 5 GB free with password- and expiry-capable links.

Use Group Chat when your primary need is a private, encrypted conversation around files that you are actively moving between mixed devices. For anything more structured, pick a tool that matches the complexity of your workflow.