The fast track to setup your encrypted data exchange network

The following quickstart guides help to get started with PowerFolder.
Please click on a subsection to open the guide.

Download and installation

Download PowerFolder and start the installation by opening the installation file.

Select your language and press Ok.

Accept the terms of the License Agreement and press next.

If you are interested in the latest release notes you can read them otherwise just click next.

Select the components you want to install or just click next for standard installation.

Select a location for the installation and click install.

Finish the installation.

Activate PowerFolder

PowerFolder Pro needs to be activated before it can be used.

After the first program start an activation wizard shows up asking for your account data.

Two options are possible here: Online or File activation.

Online Activation

(Internet connection required)

Enter your email and a desired password. In case you purchased PowerFolder Pro please use the username and password provided in the purchase email.

Press next and confirm the activation data.

You can now use PowerFolder Pro.

File Activation

In case of an absent Internet connection or in LAN/Intranets it is possible to activate PowerFolder Pro by file.

Simply copy the license key file from the purchase or registration email onto the target computer (e.g. with a USB Stick).

Start PowerFolder and check "I'm already registered".

Select the file in the activation wizard and press next.

Confirm the activation data.

You can now use PowerFolder Pro.

If you need to register for the trial version in a LAN/VPN environment, please register here and register with the file, which will be send to you.

Adding a computer or friend

Click “Find Friends” on the main program toolbar.
Enter the name of the computer you search for and press “Search”.
Select the computer from the list and add him to your friend list by right click on him/her.

This step is required to establish the connection between computers.

Setup the synced folder at the first computer

1. Click the "Setup/New" icon in the main toolbar.

2. Select "Synchronize Computers".

3. Select the directory you want to synchronize.

4. Select "Send invitation afterwards" to invite others to sync files with this computer.

5. Press next. The synced folder is now getting created.

6. To let other computers or users share the same synced folder send an invitation now (next article). Make sure PowerFolder is installed at the target computer.

Invite computers to sync the folder

To grant other computers or users access to a synchronized folder send an invitation. Navigate to the desired folder and press "Send invitation" or check "Send invitation afterwards" while setting up a new synced folder.

Now select how to send the invitation:

By Email:

Enter the email you want to send the invitation to.

Save as file:

Choose a location where you want to save the invitation, e.g. on a usb-stick. It is possible to load the invitation later in the setup by clicking "Open invitation file".

Online:

You need to have other computers on your friend list or on LAN to use this feature (See Quickstart: Add a Friend). Simply select a computer from the list and press next to send the invitation.

Both computers must be online at the same time until the invitation can be delivered.

Repeat the steps above for every computer or friend you want to sync files with.

Accepting the invitation at other computer(s)

By Email:

Open the email and double click (Windows only) the attached invitation file. Then follow the steps under "Invitation Popup".

By File:

If you got an invitation file double click (Windows only) on it and follow the steps under "Invitation Popup". On other operating systems go to "Setup/New", press "Open invitation file" and select the invitation file.

Online:

If you received an invitation online the same dialog pops up as on opening the invitation file:

Invitation Popup:

Select a transfer mode from the drop down menu (optional).
Select the directory where the PowerFolder should be stored on your computer.
Click "next".
The computer now synchronizes the files of this synced folder with all other computers.

Using the Online Storage

If you want to add another folder to the Online Storage just:

1. Go to the Online Storage in the navigation tree and press "Mirror Folder".

2. Select the folder you want to mirror.

How to share your folder with others via the Online Storage?

1. Invite the other users to your local folder, they will begin to exchange data with the Online Storage.

All files that get backed up by the Online Storage and are accessible via its web interface.

Access files via web

1. Click the Online Storage icon in the program and press "Open Browser" (Alternatively your can point your browser directly to access.powerfolder.com)

2. Login with your email and password.

3. Choose a folder from the list on the left side.

4. Pick a file you would like download from the right side.

General advice

You can do a lot of things in PowerFolder by click on items with the right mouse button.

Take a few minutes to check out the diffrent transfer modes, they are the key to make PowerFolder work in the way you need it.

For more documentation please visit our Wiki.