How to Share Files While Video Calling

Switching to email or a separate messaging app just to send someone a file mid-call breaks the flow of a conversation. Videocall skips that step — file sharing happens right inside the call, in the same chat panel you're already using.

How file sharing works during a call

Once you're on a video call in Videocall, a chat panel sits alongside the video. To send a file, drag it from your desktop or file explorer and drop it directly into that chat panel. There's no separate upload button, no file-size form to fill out, and no switching to another window — you drop the file, and it's sent.

Step by step

  1. Start or join a call. Open Videocall, call a contact, and wait for them to pick up.
  2. Open the chat panel. The chat panel is available during the call alongside the video.
  3. Drag the file in. Locate the file on your computer and drag it into the chat panel, then drop it.
  4. The other person downloads it. The file appears in their chat, and they can download it right away — no separate app or link needed.

What kinds of files work

You can drop essentially any file into the chat panel — documents, photos, PDFs, spreadsheets, and similar everyday file types. If you're sharing something during a call, whether it's a contract to review together or a photo you want a second opinion on, dragging it into the chat is the fastest way to get it across. There's no need to compress the file first or convert it to a different format — you drag what you have and send it as-is.

Why this beats emailing a file mid-call

Sending a file over email or a separate messenger during a call means pausing the conversation, switching windows, finding the right thread, and attaching the file there instead. Dragging it into the Videocall chat panel keeps everything in one place — you never leave the call window, and the other person doesn't have to go check a different app to find what you sent.

Who can see the file

File sharing in Videocall happens inside the call itself, between the two people on it. Only the two of you in the call can see and download a file you share — it isn't posted anywhere public or visible to anyone outside the conversation. Nothing lingers in a shared server folder or a group chat that other people might stumble across later.

A couple of practical notes

  • Have the file ready on your desktop before the call if you know you'll need to send it, so you're not searching for it mid-conversation.
  • File sharing is built for 1:1 calls — Videocall doesn't currently support group calls, so file drops are always just between you and the person you're talking to.
  • This is separate from screen sharing, which Videocall doesn't offer yet — file sharing lets you hand over a specific file rather than showing your whole screen.

File sharing is one of several things worth knowing before your first call — see the full step-by-step guide to making a free video call in your browser if you haven't set up Videocall yet.

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