Identifying files stored on client devices as web-based search results

A system for identifying, as search results, files stored on client devices that are designated for sharing, the system comprising:

• a computing device associated with a file service having one or more processors and one or more computer-readable storage media;
• and
• a data store coupled with the file service, the data store being external to the client device,
• wherein the file service:
• receives a search query from a searching user;
• determines that the searching user is a social network connection of at least one sharing user, the social network connection being designated via a social networking application, wherein the at least one sharing user has designated one or more files for sharing with social network connections of the sharing user, the one or more files being stored concurrently on a client device associated with the sharing user and in association with the data store in such a way that changes made to the one or more files at the client device are stored in association with both the client device and the external data store;
• determines that one or more client device files associated with users of the social networking application are designated for public sharing;
• and
• identifies at least one file of the one or more files and/or the one or more client device files as matching the received search query.

A method for rendering files stored on a client device associated with a sharing user searchable to at least a portion of users of a social networking application, the method comprising:

• receiving selection of at least one file stored on the client device associated with the sharing user;
• receiving a user indication to associate the at least one file stored on the client device with at least one social network connection of the sharing user,
• receiving a user indication of at least one access permission designation for association with the at least one file;
• and
• uploading the at least one file to a data store external to the client device and accessible by the social networking application.