PearOffice
Frequently asked questions
How do I get PearOffice?
The desktop app for Mac, Windows and Linux is on GitHub: the .dmg for Mac (Apple silicon or Intel), PearOffice-Setup for Windows and the AppImage or .deb for Linux. The Android app is on Zapstore and on GitHub; Google Play and the iPhone app are on the way.
Windows says the app is from an unknown publisher
The Windows installer is not signed, so Windows warns before running it. Choose More info, then Run anyway.
How do I share a file?
Open the file and choose Share. Pick Invite to edit or Invite to view and send the link, or let the other person scan the QR code with PearOffice on their phone. Each link works once and lasts 24 hours, so make one per person.
How do I join a file someone shared?
Open the invite link, or choose Join with a link in PearOffice and paste it. The file appears once one of its members' devices is online.
Can I remove someone from a file?
Yes, if you own the file. Open Share and choose Remove next to their name. PearOffice moves the file to new keys: they keep what they already had and see nothing new.
How do I use PearOffice on my phone and my computer?
On the device you already use, open Settings, then Devices, and choose Add a device. On the new device choose This is the new device and use the link. Both then have the same identity and the same files.
What is the recovery phrase?
Twelve words that bring your identity back on a new device if you lose your others. Find it in Settings under Devices, then Recovery phrase, and keep it somewhere safe. With a seeder, the phrase brings your files back too.
What is a seeder and do I need one?
No, it is optional. Files sync while the people in them are online. A seeder is a device you leave running that keeps an encrypted copy, so everyone catches up even when nobody else is online. It cannot read your files. Run it from the desktop app (Settings, then Seeder), on a Linux server with the download from GitHub or install PearOffice Seeder on Umbrel or StartOS.
Can I open Excel, Word and PowerPoint files?
Yes. Choose Import a file. Spreadsheets save back to Excel, CSV or JSON; documents to Word, Markdown, plain text or PDF; slides to PowerPoint or PDF. Some formatting can change on the way, and imports tell you what they left out.
How do I delete a file?
Remove from this device takes it off only this device. If you own the file, Delete for everyone removes it from every member's devices and any seeder.
Does PearOffice work offline?
Yes. You can open and edit your files with no connection. Your changes sync the next time you and the others in the file are online.
How do I contact support?
Email peerloomllc@proton.me or open a GitHub issue.