Aanabuggy
Send files between your devices instantly. No accounts, no cloud, no setup.
Works on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
How It Works
Aanabuggy sends files directly between two devices on the same Wi-Fi. Nothing is uploaded to the internet.
Auto-Discovery
No need to type IP addresses. Aanabuggy finds nearby devices automatically.
Secure by Default
A simple 4-word code ensures only the right person can receive your files.
Full LAN Speed
Files go directly between devices at your network's maximum speed.
Installation
Download Aanabuggy for your platform and you're ready to go.
Download
Download the aanabuggy binary for macOS.
Move to your PATH
Open Terminal and run:
$ sudo mv ~/Downloads/aanabuggy /usr/local/bin/aanabuggy
$ chmod +x /usr/local/bin/aanabuggyVerify
$ aanabuggy --versionIf macOS shows "cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified", go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Allow Anyway.
Download
Download aanabuggy.exe for Windows.
Place it somewhere convenient
Move aanabuggy.exe to a folder like C:\Tools\ and add that folder to your system PATH:
Settings → System → About → Advanced system settings → Environment Variables → edit Path → add C:\Tools\
Verify
Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and run:
> aanabuggy --versionDon't want to set up PATH? Just open a terminal in the folder where aanabuggy.exe is and run .\aanabuggy.exe instead.
Download
Download the aanabuggy binary for Linux.
Install
$ sudo mv ~/Downloads/aanabuggy /usr/local/bin/aanabuggy
$ chmod +x /usr/local/bin/aanabuggyVerify
$ aanabuggy --versionQuick Start
Sending a file is this simple:
The receiver gets ready
On the device that should receive the files, open a terminal and run:
$ aanabuggy receive
Aanabuggy ready! Waiting for files...
Your code: tiger-lamp-ocean-five
Device: MacBook (LAN: 192.168.1.42:50987)
Saving to: /Users/you/Downloads/aanabuggy
Press Ctrl+C to stopTell the sender your 4-word code — read it aloud, text it, whatever works.
The sender sends
On the device that has the files, run:
$ aanabuggy send photo.jpg document.pdf
Sending 2 file(s) (4.2 MB)
Discovering peers...
· Found: MacBook (192.168.1.42)
Enter their pairing code: tiger-lamp-ocean-five
██████████████████████████████ 100% 4.2/4.2 MB 52 MB/s
✓ photo.jpg
✓ document.pdf
Done!That's it
Files land in the receiver's ~/Downloads/aanabuggy/ folder. Fast, encrypted, and never touched the internet.
Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network (or plugged into the same router).
All Commands
aanabuggy receive
Start waiting for incoming files.
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
-o, --output <FOLDER> | Save files somewhere other than ~/Downloads/aanabuggy/ |
-a, --accept-all | Accept all incoming files automatically (no prompts) |
-v, --verbose | Show detailed logs (useful for troubleshooting) |
# Save files to your Desktop instead
$ aanabuggy receive -o ~/Desktop
# Accept everything without asking
$ aanabuggy receive --accept-allaanabuggy send
Send one or more files to another device.
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
-c, --code <CODE> | Provide the pairing code upfront (skip the prompt) |
--to <IP:PORT> | Connect directly to an address (skip auto-discovery) |
-v, --verbose | Show detailed logs |
# Send one file
$ aanabuggy send report.pdf
# Send multiple files at once
$ aanabuggy send vacation.jpg budget.xlsx notes.txt
# Provide the code on the command line
$ aanabuggy send photo.jpg -c tiger-lamp-ocean-five
# Connect directly to an IP (if discovery doesn't work)
$ aanabuggy send data.zip --to 192.168.1.42:50987aanabuggy peers
See what other Aanabuggy devices are on your network.
$ aanabuggy peersDirect Connection
If auto-discovery can't find the other device, you can connect using the IP address directly.
The receiver starts normally
Run aanabuggy receive and note two things from the output:
- The LAN address (e.g.,
192.168.1.42:50987) - The pairing code (e.g.,
tiger-lamp-ocean-five)
The sender connects directly
$ aanabuggy send myfile.zip --to 192.168.1.42:50987 -c tiger-lamp-ocean-fiveDirect connection always works as long as both devices can reach each other on the network.
Privacy & Security
Aanabuggy was designed with privacy as a core principle.
Secure Pairing
The 4-word code creates an encrypted connection. No one can intercept your files.
End-to-End Encrypted
All file data is encrypted. Only the sender and receiver can read the contents.
No Cloud, No Servers
Files go directly between devices. Nothing is ever uploaded or routed through the internet.
Troubleshooting
- Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- On Windows, when the firewall prompt appears, click Allow.
- On Mac, allow the connection in System Settings → Privacy & Security if prompted.
- Some public networks (hotels, airports, offices) block device-to-device traffic. Try a personal hotspot instead.
- As a fallback, use direct connection with the
--toflag.
- Check that
aanabuggy receiveis still running on the other device. - Try direct mode:
aanabuggy send file.txt --to <IP:PORT> - Run with
-vfor detailed logs to see what's happening.
- The code is always 4 words separated by dashes, like
tiger-lamp-ocean-five. - The code is shown by the receiver. The sender must type that exact code.
- Codes are case-sensitive — use all lowercase.
- If you haven't added
aanabuggy.exeto your PATH, run it from the folder it's in:.\aanabuggy.exe receive - Or add the folder to your system PATH (see Installation above).
- Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security.
- Scroll down and click Allow Anyway next to the Aanabuggy message.
- Run the command again. Click Open in the dialog.
By default, files are saved to ~/Downloads/aanabuggy/. Change it with:
aanabuggy receive -o ~/DesktopWhen you run Aanabuggy for the first time, your OS may ask to allow network access. You must click Allow for it to work.