Transfer files between apps

Gather the files for this task

For a project delivery email, prepare the report, illustrations, and attachments, then add them to the shelf:

1. Select files in Finder. You can select several files or folders at once.
2. Drag them near Hangrail's line, onto an empty hanging point, or onto an existing card. Release when you see the drop indicator.
3. Check the new file cards. Files you drag in have a “Transfer” (中转) label to distinguish them from clipboard and screenshot history.
4. If dragging is inconvenient, choose files through the add menu and place them on the transfer shelf.

Transfer works the same way in Balloons and Bottom Cards themes; the shelf opens from the bottom. After you add content, Hangrail returns to the All Items view, so you do not need to switch to “File Transfer” (文件中转) first.

When dragging a file out of a chat app, the source app may first need to create a file it can hand over. Wait for the file card to appear before continuing. If prompted for read access, grant it and retry. A transfer still in progress does not mean the file has been saved.

Preview before sending

Click a file card and press Space to open macOS Quick Look. Previews for images, PDFs, videos, and other formats depend on system support. If a format cannot be previewed, you can still try opening it in the appropriate app.

In a preview, use the left and right arrow keys to move between cards in the current set. Press Space or Esc to close. For multiple attachments, hold ⌘ and click to select individual cards, or use ⇧ for a range, then press Space to browse the selection.

Use this step to check file versions, image content, and whether you selected the right video. For example, if you collected both “Proposal draft.pdf” and “Proposal final.pdf,” check their contents before choosing which one to send.

Deliver attachments to the destination app

1. Open an email draft, chat window, or destination folder in Finder.
2. Open Hangrail and select the prepared cards.
3. Start dragging from the card's preview area and drop it where the destination app accepts attachments.
4. Check attachment names and counts in the destination app. Send the email or message yourself when ready.

You can drag multiple selected items together. The destination app determines how it receives files. Some apps accept only certain formats or require you to drop them in a dedicated attachment area.

By default, an unpinned transfer card is removed from the shelf after you successfully drag its file out; the original stays in place. Cards remain if dragging is canceled, receipt fails, or the file is dropped back on the shelf. Automatically collected screenshots, clipboard history, and files received through Nearby Sharing do not follow this transfer removal rule.

To deliver the same attachments to several apps, pin the cards first or turn off “Automatically remove transfer files after successful drag-out” (中转文件成功拖出后自动取下) in “Settings → Collection & Transfer → File Transfer” (设置 → 收集与中转 → 文件中转). Removing cards and collapsing the shelf are separate settings.

Three common uses

Prepare email attachments. Collect materials from different folders, preview them, then drag them into an email together. The transfer shelf holds the files for this task without changing your original folder structure.

Save chat attachments to a project folder. Put files that your chat app allows you to drag out on the shelf, switch to the project folder, then drag them out. For files in protected folders, Hangrail saves a local copy when readable so it can deliver them later.

Temporarily collect screenshots and recordings. Drag in the images or videos you need to submit, then check and deliver them with your documents. Images and videos you drag in are transfer files. Automatically collected screenshots and recordings continue to follow their own history rules.

If a card is missing or a file won't drag out

Clear search, group, and source filters first, then check that the original file still exists. Ordinary files usually retain references to their original locations. If an original is deleted or moved, its transfer card may be temporarily unavailable. Select the file again in Finder or drag it from the source app again to update its access location and permissions.

Putting a file on Hangrail does not mean it has an independent backup. Before moving originals, cleaning up a source app, or changing computers, finish saving them to their destination and back up important materials separately.