Choose by destination and retention
Use SCP or SFTP when you already trust and access the server and want to manage the file there. A temporary link is useful when you can paste text into the destination but do not want to configure a separate upload path. Both approaches need a recipient that can inspect images; neither makes a text-only agent see.
| Method | What you need | What the AI receives | Who removes the copy? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCP | SSH access and a local file | A path on the destination host | You manage the remote file |
| SFTP | An SFTP client and SSH access | A path on the destination host | You manage the remote file |
| Clipboard bridge | A compatible client or helper | Usually an uploaded file path | Depends on the helper |
| Share2AI | Subscription; recipient can fetch HTTPS images | A temporary URL, or a file downloaded from it | Share2AI removes its copy; you manage downloads |
Method: transfer a saved screenshot with SCP
Save the screenshot as PNG or JPEG on the sending device and run the example from a shell that can access that file. The destination must already accept your SSH login. Give the agent the resulting remote path. On iPad, this requires an app with shell/file access; Photos itself does not run scp. Remove the server copy when it is no longer needed.
scp ./screenshot.png user@devbox:~/screenshot.pngCommands are examples. Replace user, devbox, project paths and the example URL with your own values. Run file-transfer commands in a shell, not in the agent’s chat. Keep private links out of shared logs and shell history.
Method: upload through SFTP
Open your SSH client’s file-transfer view, connect to the correct host and upload the screenshot into a directory you control. Copy the destination path and ask the agent to inspect it. This is useful when you already use an SFTP browser. Check the host and permissions if the file appears locally but the agent cannot find it.
Method: use an image clipboard bridge
Some terminal clients or helper tools upload clipboard images and insert a remote path for you. Check support for your device, remote operating system and agent. A bridge can be convenient for one regular server, but may require configuration. Ordinary text clipboard synchronization alone does not establish image-transfer support.
Method: share a temporary screenshot URL
Share2AI uploads one screenshot and copies an HTTPS link that you can paste as text. The receiving tool needs network access and image-reading support. Ask it to fetch the image once, save it if necessary and inspect that saved copy. A second download may fail because the first successful delivery consumes the link.
Screenshot → Share2AI → your AI
- Install Share2AI on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Open the app and activate or restore your subscription before using the share extension.
- Check the screenshot and hide passwords, personal messages and other sensitive details. On iPhone or iPad, open it in Photos, tap Share and select Share2AI. If needed, find it under More.
- Wait for the upload and the confirmation that the link was copied. Paste that fresh link into your AI conversation with a specific question. Do not open it yourself to test it first.
- Ask the agent to retrieve and inspect the screenshot once. If it needs a local attachment, download the image on the machine running the agent, then attach that saved file. A URL only works when the tool can fetch and process images.
Temporary access and privacy
Anyone with an active link can access the screenshot. Share2AI deletes its temporary copy after successful delivery or expiration; the initial lifetime is 30 minutes, and the app shows the applicable expiry. Removing metadata does not hide visible secrets. Copies downloaded to your server and data retained by the destination AI follow their own retention rules.
Troubleshooting and FAQ
The AI cannot open the link. What should I check?
Check whether it supports image input and outbound HTTPS. A text-only web fetcher may not pass image pixels to the model. If permitted, download once to the agent’s machine and attach the local image. Do not turn off security controls just to make a link work.
Why did the link stop working?
It may have been delivered already or expired. Opening it in a browser or downloading it with curl can use the one-time delivery. Create a fresh link for another delivery; keep a successfully downloaded local copy for the current task.
Can I send several screenshots or any file?
Share2AI handles one screenshot per upload. PNG and JPEG are supported; the Apple client can convert HEIC before uploading. Documents, archives and batches are outside the screenshot workflow.
Send the screenshot from where you are
Share a screenshot, copy its temporary link and bring visual context to your remote AI.
Share2AI costs $0.99 per month in the United States. The App Store shows your local price before purchase. There is no free trial. The subscription renews automatically until canceled in your Apple Account settings.