---
id: bridge-devices.do-my-files-go-through-a-server-with-bridge
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/do-my-files-go-through-a-server-with-bridge
category: "Bridge & your devices"
subcategory: "Privacy & security"
question: "Do my files go through a server when I use Bridge?"
alt_questions:
  - "Does Bridge upload my files?"
  - "Is Bridge peer-to-peer?"
  - "Are Bridge files stored online?"
  - "Does Storage Studio keep a copy of what I send?"
  - "Bridge without a server"
  - "Where do Bridge transfers go?"
short_answer: "No. Bridge sends files and clipboard straight between your devices, end-to-end encrypted, and never stores them on a server. Only the brief step of finding each other may use public internet infrastructure."
tags: ["bridge", "privacy", "server", "peer to peer"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/is-bridge-private", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/what-does-use-local-network-only-do", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/what-does-find-each-other-automatically-do"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Do my files go through a server when I use Bridge?

No. Your files and clipboard travel directly between your two devices and are never stored on a server or in the cloud.

When two devices that are far apart first find each other, that brief step may use public internet infrastructure — and **Find each other automatically** can help with it — but that's only about locating each other. Your actual files and clipboard stay end-to-end encrypted the whole way and are never readable by anyone else.

If you want Bridge never to touch the internet at all, turn on **Use local network only**.

- [Is Bridge private?](https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/is-bridge-private)
- [Local network only](https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/what-does-use-local-network-only-do)