How to share floor plans privately

Floor plans can reveal details about a home, workplace, or project that you do not want to publish. PlanReply is designed for private collaboration: PDFs, annotations, and comments are encrypted in your browser by default.

Encryption protects the stored and synced content, but the way you share the review link still matters. Anyone who has the complete link can open an encrypted review.

1. Keep encryption enabled before uploading

The upload form enables encryption by default. Your browser creates a random key and encrypts the PDF before uploading it. Annotations and comments are also encrypted before they sync. The server stores encrypted content and does not receive the decryption key through the upload or collaboration protocol.

You can turn encryption off before uploading. In that case, the PDF and collaboration data are stored without this encryption. Existing unencrypted rooms are not automatically upgraded.

2. Share the complete link with intended reviewers

The decryption key is carried in the link’s fragment, the part after the # symbol. Browsers do not include that fragment in HTTP requests. The app reads it locally to open the encrypted review.

Use Share link and send the copied link through a channel appropriate for your project. Do not publish it on a public page or forward it to people who should not see the drawing. The link is an access credential: PlanReply does not require an account or verify the identity behind a display name.

3. Keep a safe copy of the link

Recent reviews are saved in your browser, including their keys. Anyone who can use that browser profile may be able to open those reviews. Use a trusted device and browser profile for sensitive work.

If you lose the key, it cannot be recovered from the server. Clearing browser storage can remove your saved links, so keep the complete link somewhere suitable for the project. Saving it does not extend a review’s availability.

Understand what stays visible

Presence information, including display names and connection metadata, remains unencrypted. Browser encryption does not hide that you are connecting to the service, prevent recipients from copying a document, or protect a device that is already compromised.

The app also depends on the browser code served by PlanReply. A server that changes that code could access keys when a review is opened. Browser encryption is not a promise of anonymity or protection from every possible threat.

Keep sensitive details out of feedback when possible

Share only the drawing pages needed for the decision. Avoid adding personal details to comments when a room label or drawing reference would be enough. Confirm your project’s sharing requirements with the people responsible for it before uploading.

When you are ready, follow the floor-plan review workflow to collect focused client feedback without scattering the discussion across screenshots and emails.