servepass 0.2.0

LAN file server with token auth. Like python -m http.server but with auth

servepass

Serve files on your LAN with a token. That's it.

pipx install servepass
servepass

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You know python -m http.server. It's great for quick file sharing on a local network. The problem is it has zero authentication, so anyone on the same network can grab whatever you're serving.

servepass fixes that. Same zero-config philosophy, but with a token-protected URL. Run it, get a link, share it. No accounts, no cloud, no telemetry.

Install

pipx install servepass

Or with pip:

pip install servepass

Requires Python 3.8+. No external dependencies.

Usage

# Serve current directory
servepass

# Serve a specific path
servepass ./downloads

# Custom port
servepass --port 9090

# Fixed token
servepass --token mytoken

# No authentication
servepass --no-auth

Every time you run servepass, a fresh token is generated. You get a URL and an optional QR code in the terminal:

  Serving:  /home/user/downloads
  Network:  http://192.168.1.42:8080/?token=a3f9b2c1
  Token:    a3f9b2c1

  Ctrl+C to stop

Open the URL in any browser on your network and you're in. Scan the QR code to open it directly on your phone.

What you can do

Download files on your phone without cables Serve a folder, scan the QR code on your iPhone or Android, and grab whatever you need directly from the browser. Works with any file type: PDFs, photos, videos, zip archives.

Send photos from your phone to your computer Open the URL on your phone, use the upload form at the top of the page, and the file lands directly in the served folder on your machine. No AirDrop, no cloud, no cable.

Share documents with someone on the same network Run servepass in a folder with the files you want to share. Send the link. They open it in any browser and download what they need.

QR code

The QR code is printed automatically if the qrcode package is installed:

pip install qrcode

Without it, servepass works normally and just shows the URL.

Known limitations

servepass uses a token in the URL over plain HTTP. The token is not encrypted in transit. This is fine for a trusted local network. It is not a substitute for HTTPS or VPN on public or untrusted networks.

If you're on public WiFi, use something else.

Who this is for

• You're on a trusted LAN (home, office, workshop) and want to share files quickly
• You want to transfer files to and from your phone without cables or cloud storage
• You don't want to expose an unauthenticated HTTP server to everyone on the network
• You want something lightweight with zero setup time

Comparison

	servepass	python -m http.server	filebrowser
Authentication	Token	No	Yes
Install	pipx install servepass	Built-in	Binary + config
Dependencies	None	None	None
LAN IP detection	Yes	No	Yes
File upload	Yes	No	Yes
QR code	Optional	No	No

Roadmap

• Serve with token auth
• Auto-detect LAN IP
• QR code in terminal (optional)
• --token flag for a fixed token
• File upload via browser
• Expiration flag (--expires 30m)

License

MIT