No. Files are transferred directly between your devices over your local network. There is no CoveSync server involved in the transfer — or in discovery, indexing, or anything else. Your files never leave your network.
The PC app (Linux, Windows, macOS) collects nothing. No analytics, no telemetry, no usage data.
The Android companion app can optionally send anonymous crash reports to help fix bugs. This is off by default. If enabled, reports contain only: app version, Android version, device model, and the crash stack trace. They never contain file names, file contents, folder paths, or any personal information. You can disable this at any time in the app's Settings.
Each device generates a unique self-signed TLS certificate on first launch. When you connect two devices, you verify the certificate fingerprint — a short code shown in both UIs — to confirm you're connecting to the right machine. Once trusted, the fingerprint is stored and re-verified automatically on every connection. A device without a trusted certificate cannot connect.
No. Even though CoveSync is discoverable on the local network, connecting requires mutual TLS authentication. An uninvited device on your WiFi can discover that CoveSync is running, but it cannot connect, read your files, or see your folder list without holding a certificate you've explicitly trusted.
See the Privacy Verification guide for step-by-step instructions using Wireshark, ss, and firewall rules.
Sync pauses. CoveSync only syncs when both devices are online and on the same network. Any changes made while a device is offline are synced automatically the next time it comes back online.
No. CoveSync is designed for local network sync only. Devices must be on the same LAN or WiFi to discover and communicate with each other. Syncing across the internet or between two different networks is not supported. If you need this, a VPN that bridges both networks would allow CoveSync to work, though this is an advanced setup.
Yes, if the NAS runs Linux. Install the Linux binary on your NAS and set it up as a systemd service. It will appear as a peer like any other device. Most modern NAS devices (Synology, QNAP, TrueNAS) run a Linux-based OS and can run arbitrary binaries.
Not directly. The Android app is a companion app — it can sync with a PC running CoveSync, but it does not run a server itself. Two Android devices need at least one PC on the network to act as the intermediary. This is intentional to avoid the battery drain of running a persistent server process on Android.
No. CoveSync only works when all devices are on the same local network. It will not sync over cellular data or across the internet.
All file types. CoveSync transfers files as raw bytes — it has no knowledge of file contents. Documents, photos, videos, databases, code — everything syncs equally.
CoveSync keeps both versions. The local copy is preserved and the incoming version is saved as filename.conflict.TIMESTAMP.ext in the same folder. You can then review both and decide which to keep. No data is silently lost.
CoveSync checks for changes on a short periodic cycle (typically under 30 seconds). On a local network, file transfers run at your LAN speed — gigabit ethernet is common for large files. There is no artificial throttling.
Yes. When you accept a share and point it to an existing folder, CoveSync compares the remote and local contents and only transfers what's missing or newer. Files already present locally are not re-downloaded.
Yes, deletions are propagated. When a file is deleted on one device, it will be removed from all peers that share the same folder on the next sync cycle. This matches the behaviour of most sync tools.
Yes. The Linux version is free with no time limit and no feature restrictions. It is the same daemon as the paid versions — Linux users get the full product.
No. It is a one-time purchase per platform. Pay once, use forever. Future updates to the same major version are included. There are no recurring charges.
Yes. A single purchase covers all your personal Windows (or macOS) machines. It is licensed per person, not per device — install it on your desktop, laptop, home server, or any combination.
No. After purchase you receive a license file by email. You paste it into the CoveSync web UI once and it is verified locally using a cryptographic signature — no internet connection, no activation server, nothing leaves your machine. Linux is always free and never requires a license.