Documentation

How to use Handoff

Everything you need to know about delivering work, gathering feedback, and getting approvals from clients.

Getting started

1

Create your account

Sign up with your email and name at /signup. Your account is free and takes seconds to create.

2

Create a project

From your dashboard, click 'New project'. Enter the project name, your client's name, and their email address. This generates a unique, shareable portal link for your client.

3

Upload your first deliverable

Open the project and click 'Upload file'. Drag and drop or browse for a file (JPEG, PNG, WebP, PDF, ZIP, or MP4 up to 10 GB). Add version notes to give context — e.g. 'Updated homepage header, added mobile breakpoints'. Click Upload.

4

Send for review

Once you're happy with the upload, click 'Send for review' on the deliverable. This changes its status to In Review and emails your client a direct link to the portal.

5

Share the portal link

Copy the portal link from the project page and share it with your client over email, Slack, or however you communicate. They don't need an account — just the link.

Uploading deliverables

1

Supported file types

JPEG, PNG, WebP (images) · PDF (documents) · MP4 (video) · ZIP (archives). For Figma files or other design tool links, use 'Add link' instead.

2

Version history

Every upload creates a new version (v1, v2, v3…). Previous versions stay visible so clients can compare iterations. The latest version is always shown first.

3

Version notes

When uploading, add a short description of what changed. This appears on the deliverable card and helps clients understand what to look for without a separate email explanation.

4

External links

Use 'Add link' to share Figma prototypes, Loom videos, Google Docs, or any URL. Figma links are auto-detected and labeled. Links are versioned just like file uploads.

5

Deleting a deliverable

Click the trash icon on any deliverable in the project view. A confirmation dialog will appear. Deletion is permanent — the file is removed from storage and the version is gone.

The client portal

1

How clients access their portal

Each project has a unique link (e.g. yourapp.com/p/abc123). Anyone with the link can view the deliverables — no login required. Share it however you like.

2

What clients can see

Clients see all deliverables that have been sent for review, approved, or marked as needing changes. Draft deliverables are hidden until you send them for review.

3

Client name prompt

When a client first opens the portal, they enter their name. This name is used in comments so you know who's speaking. It's stored locally in their browser.

4

Approving or requesting changes

For any deliverable in 'In Review' status, clients see two buttons: Approve and Request changes. Approving locks in the deliverable with a green badge. Requesting changes changes the status to 'Needs Changes' and notifies you by email.

Comments & feedback

1

Leaving comments

Both designers and clients can leave comments on any deliverable. Click 'Show comments' on a deliverable to open the thread. Type your comment and press Send.

2

Who gets notified

When a client posts a comment, you (the designer) receive an email. When you post a comment, the client receives an email with the comment text and a link back to the portal.

3

Comment attribution

Each comment shows the author's name and a color-coded 'designer' or 'client' badge so it's always clear who said what.

Email notifications

1

What triggers an email

New deliverable uploaded → client is notified. Sent for review → client is notified. Client approves → you are notified. Client requests changes → you are notified. New comment → the other party is notified.

2

From address

Emails are sent from the address configured in your EMAIL_FROM environment variable. By default this is onboarding@resend.dev during development. In production, configure your own domain in Resend.

3

Email delivery

Emails are sent via Resend. Delivery is best-effort — if an email fails, the app continues normally. Check your Resend dashboard logs if a client reports not receiving notifications.

Security & access

1

Project ownership

Only the designer who created a project can view or edit it in the dashboard. Other logged-in users cannot access your projects even if they know the project ID.

2

Portal link security

The portal link uses a random token. It's not guessable — there are trillions of possible tokens. That said, anyone who has the link can view the deliverables, so treat it like a shared password.

3

Client access

Clients access the portal without logging in. They can view deliverables, leave comments, and approve or request changes. They cannot edit or delete deliverables.

Frequently asked questions

Does my client need to create an account?

No. Clients access their portal via a unique link — no login, no sign-up, no friction. They just open the link and enter their name.

What happens if I upload a new version after the client approved the previous one?

The new version starts as a Draft. The old approved version stays visible with its Approved badge. Send the new version for review when you're ready for fresh feedback.

Can I have multiple clients in one project?

Each project is linked to one client email for notifications. If you need multiple stakeholders to review, share the portal link with all of them — they can all comment and approve.

Can I delete a project?

Yes. From the dashboard, hover a project card and click the trash icon. This permanently deletes the project, all its deliverables, all comments, and all stored files.

What file size is supported?

Up to 10 GB per file. For files over 500 MB you'll see a warning to keep the browser tab open during upload. For very large source files, consider using an external link (e.g. Google Drive, Dropbox) instead.

What if my client shares the portal link with someone else?

Anyone with the link can view the portal. If you want to restrict access, you can delete the project and recreate it — the new project will have a different portal token.

Can I add version notes after uploading?

Not currently. Version notes are set at upload time. This is on the roadmap.

Do draft deliverables show in the client portal?

No. Drafts are only visible to you in the project view. They appear in the client portal only after you click 'Send for review'.

Can I work with a team of designers?

Not in the current version. Team collaboration with multiple designer seats is on the roadmap for the Studio plan.

My client isn't receiving email notifications. What do I check?

First check that the client email address on the project is correct. Then check your Resend dashboard for delivery logs. Emails may land in spam — ask your client to check their spam folder and mark Handoff as safe.

Ready to get started?

Create your first project and send your client a portal link in under two minutes.

Create free account