Snowball
Add a device to a Snowball network
Someone started adding a device from Snowball on another device, and this link carries the invitation.
Scan this with the device you're adding.
On the device you're adding
- Run this command (the Snowball app will open these links directly once it's released):
- Check that the fingerprint it prints matches the one shown on the device that invited it, then approve there.
An invitation only works for a few minutes, and only for one device. If you didn't just start adding a device yourself, don't use it.
Someone offers you storage through Snowball
Their network will keep an extra, encrypted copy of your files, away from home. They can't read any of it, and losing it never loses anything of yours. Snowball opens this link.
Getting Snowball copies this link first, and Snowball offers to open it when it first starts. If it doesn't, open this link again once it's installed.
Already have Snowball on a computer? and open it from Storage, then Loaned storage.
With Snowball's command line
An offer is for one network. Whoever lent it confirms who accepted, so it's no use to anyone else.
Your files, on every device you own. No cloud.
Snowball joins your phone, laptop and computers into one private network that looks after your files. Lose a device and you lose nothing. No company sits in the middle, and nobody else can look inside.
How it works
You don't need to understand any of this to use Snowball. It all happens on its own.
Locked and cut into pieces
Each file is locked with a key only your devices have, then cut into pieces, with a couple of spares.
Spread across your devices
The pieces go to different devices, so no single one holds everything, and every one has a part to play.
Any one can go
If a phone is lost or a drive dies, the pieces left on your other devices are enough to rebuild every file.
What you get
Everything a cloud service gives you, on devices you already own.
Nothing lost with a device
Broken, stolen or just old: replace it, and Snowball fills the new one in.
Only you can look inside
Files are locked before they leave your device. There's no company account, no password to leak, and nothing for anyone to scan.
Undo mistakes
Deleted files wait in a trash, and older versions are kept. If something starts changing lots of files at once, as ransomware does, Snowball holds those changes back until you've had a look.
At home and away
At home, your devices talk to each other directly. Away, they find each other over the internet. Offline, you keep working, and they catch up later.
Photos and videos everywhere
Every device shows a preview of every photo, even ones it doesn't keep. Videos play while they download.
Share with people
Send someone a link to a file or a folder, for as long as you choose. You can take it back later.
Swap space with a friend
Keep a copy at a friend's place in case of fire or flood. It stays locked: they can't see a thing.
Just a folder
On a computer, your Snowball files can appear as an ordinary folder, so any app can open them.
Use the space you have
No subscription and no quota. Mark what matters most, and Snowball keeps extra spares of it.
A copy away from home
Your devices are probably all under one roof. A friend who also uses Snowball can offer you some of their space, and you can offer them some of yours.
What they keep for you is locked pieces. They can't open them, and losing them never loses anything of yours.
Try the alpha
Snowball is early. It works, and it's already keeping real files, but expect rough edges. Keep your usual copies of anything you can't afford to lose while you try it.
Getting started
- Install Snowball on a computer that's usually on.
- Install it on your phone too.
- On the computer, choose Add a device, and scan the code it shows with your phone.
- Add your files. Snowball does the rest.
Install Snowball
Choose where you're installing it. Windows is on the way.
On your Android phone
Snowball isn't in the Play Store yet. Obtainium, a free app, installs it and tells you when there's an update.
- Install Obtainium (version 1.6.16 or later).
- In Obtainium, tap Add app, and for the app source URL, enter:
https://git.tricauda.com/snowball/releases
- Set Override source to Forgejo (Codeberg), then tap the + beside the address.
- Tap Install. If your phone asks, allow Obtainium to install apps.
When there's a new version, Obtainium offers it. Tap Update, and your files and settings stay as they are.
All downloads
Every release of Snowball, for every platform, with notes on what changed in each.
Feedback
When something goes wrong or seems odd, please tell us at snowball@temporary.nz. That's what the alpha is for.
This link isn't a working invitation
It may have been cut short when it was copied. Start adding the device again to get a fresh one.