From your phone to your computer
- On your phone, open txtvanish.com and paste the text. On this page, Short code is already switched on.
- Tap Create link. You’ll see a six-character code such as
K7Q-M2X. - On your computer, go to txtvanish.com/code (or press / on any TxtVanish page) and type the code. The text opens, ready to copy.
From your computer to your phone
- Paste the text on your computer and create the link.
- Point your phone’s camera at the QR code on the result page.
- Tap the link your camera shows. The text opens in your phone’s browser, with a copy button.
Why a short code instead of the link
A link is easy to tap and hard to type. Reading a ten-character random address off a phone and typing it on a laptop invites mistakes, especially with look-alike characters. Short codes skip the characters people confuse: there’s no 0 or O, no 1, I or L. They aren’t case-sensitive, the dash is optional, and each one works for 10 minutes.
Works where clipboard sync doesn’t
If you only use Apple devices, Universal Clipboard already copies between iPhone and Mac. If you have a supported Android phone and Windows, Microsoft Phone Link can sync copy and paste. The gaps are everywhere else:
- An iPhone and a Windows PC, or an Android phone and a Mac.
- A work computer where you can’t install apps or sign in to personal accounts.
- A library, hotel or shared computer you’re using for ten minutes.
- A friend’s device: you want to hand them some text without swapping phone numbers.
A browser is the only thing TxtVanish needs on either side. We compared nine ways of doing this, including Phone Link, Universal Clipboard and emailing yourself, in how to send text from your phone to your computer.
Photos, PDFs and other files
Attach one file of up to 10 MB alongside the text: a screenshot, a boarding pass, a PDF you need to print from a computer. Files are deleted 7 days after upload, so treat this as a way to move files, not store them.
Keep it short-lived
This page defaults to a link that lasts 1 hour, which is plenty for moving something between your own devices. If you’re on a shared computer, pick 1 view instead. Then the address left in the browser history won’t open anything once you’re done.