Installing ZappFiles for iPhone
ZappFiles for iPhone gives you the same upload and download flow as the web app, with a few extras that only make sense on a phone like background uploads, the iOS share sheet, and full integration with Photos and Files. There's no account or sign-up step to get through. Install it and you can send your first file straight away.
What you need
ZappFiles requires iOS 17 or later. It runs on iPhone and iPad in iPhone-mode (a dedicated iPad layout is on the roadmap). If your device is on an older iOS version, update via Settings, then General, then Software Update before installing.
Install from the App Store
Open the App Store on your iPhone and search for ZappFiles, or open the install link from zappfiles.com. Tap Get and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID. The app is free to install. You can use it on the free tier with no upgrade required.
Start sending right away, no account needed
When you open ZappFiles, it goes straight to the Upload tab. You don't have to create an account or sign in to use it. Pick your files, set a title and expiry, and send. The core experience, uploading, sharing a link, downloading, and the iOS share sheet, all work fully without an account.
Signing in (optional)
Signing in is only needed for the extras: keeping an upload history across your devices, and Pro or Max features like larger transfers and longer link expiry. You can sign in any time from the Settings tab, there's no rush, and nothing about the basic flow changes if you never do.
When you do sign in, you'll see three options: Continue with Apple, Continue with Google, or email and password. All three use the same Auth0 backend that powers the web app, so any account you already have on zappfiles.com will log in here too. Continue with Apple is the fastest if you haven't signed up yet, and you can use Apple's Hide My Email if you'd rather not share your real address.
Allow notifications
The first time you open the Upload tab, iOS asks whether ZappFiles can send you notifications. We recommend allowing them. They tell you when an upload finishes while you were in another app, and they make the share extension flow much smoother. You can change this any time in Settings, then Notifications, then ZappFiles.
Same account everywhere
If you do sign in, your uploads, plan, and download history are tied to your account rather than a single device. Anything you upload from your iPhone while signed in shows up in the web app immediately, and vice versa. You can be logged in on as many devices as you want at the same time.