Moving files between your own devices should be one of the simplest things to do.
Unfortunately, it often isn't.
Windows has Nearby Sharing, Apple has AirDrop, Android has Quick Share, and there are countless cloud-storage services that can be used to move files from one device to another.
But these solutions often work best within their own ecosystems.
What happens when you want to send a file from an Android phone to a Windows PC? Or from an iPhone to a Linux computer? Or from a Mac to a Windows machine?
This is where LocalSend comes in.
LocalSend is a free and open-source application that lets you transfer files and text directly between nearby devices over your local network.
There are no accounts, no cloud storage, no subscription and no internet connection required.
Install it on your devices, open the application and start sharing.
What Is LocalSend?
LocalSend is a cross-platform file-sharing application designed to transfer files between devices connected to the same local network.
It is available for:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- Android
- iOS
The application does not require you to create an account or sign in to a service.
Instead, devices discover one another on the local network and can then transfer files directly between them.
This makes LocalSend particularly useful for people who regularly work across different operating systems.
How LocalSend Works
The basic concept is extremely simple.
Install LocalSend on the devices you want to use, connect those devices to the same local network and open the application.
LocalSend discovers compatible devices nearby.
You then select the files you want to send, choose the destination device and accept the transfer on the receiving device.
The files travel directly across your local network.
There is no need to upload the files to a cloud server first and then download them again.
The entire process can therefore be summarized as:
Select files → choose device → accept → transfer.
No Internet Required
This is one of LocalSend's biggest advantages.
LocalSend does not need an internet connection to transfer files between devices.
As long as the devices can communicate with each other over the local network, they can transfer files.
This is useful when you are dealing with large files because you do not have to upload several gigabytes to a cloud service simply to move them between two devices sitting next to each other.
It is also useful when you have a fast local Wi-Fi network but a comparatively slow internet connection.
Cross-Platform File Sharing
This is where LocalSend really shines.
It does not matter whether your devices are running Windows, Android, iOS, macOS or Linux.
As long as LocalSend is installed and the devices can communicate over the local network, they can exchange files.
For example, you can use LocalSend to transfer:
- Photos from an Android phone to a Windows PC
- Videos from an iPhone to a Linux computer
- Documents from Windows to an iPad
- Music from a Mac to an Android phone
- Files between two Windows PCs
This makes it an excellent alternative to ecosystem-specific sharing solutions.
No Account Required
Another thing I really like about LocalSend is that there is no account system.
You do not need to register an email address, create a password or sign in before sending a file.
Install the application and it is ready to use.
This makes the application considerably more convenient than services that require you to create an account simply to transfer a file from one device to another.
It also means there is no LocalSend account containing your personal information or a cloud-based file library that you need to manage.
No Cloud Storage
LocalSend is fundamentally different from services such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or pCloud.
Those services are designed to store your files remotely.
LocalSend is designed to move files directly between your devices.
If you want to transfer a 10 GB video from your PC to your phone, LocalSend does not need to upload that 10 GB file to a remote server first.
The transfer can happen directly across your local network.
For large files, this can be a major advantage.
Transfer Speed
Because the transfer happens over your local network, LocalSend is not limited by your internet connection or a cloud service's upload and download speeds.
The actual transfer speed depends on your network and devices.
On a modern Wi-Fi network, transfers can be substantially faster than uploading a file to a cloud service and downloading it again.
Your router, Wi-Fi standard, signal strength, network congestion and the storage performance of both devices can all affect the final speed.
LocalSend itself does not impose a bandwidth limit on the transfer.
Security
Local file transfer does not automatically mean secure file transfer.
A poorly designed local-network sharing application could potentially expose your files to other devices on the network.
LocalSend addresses this by encrypting transfers using HTTPS.
The project describes its transfers as end-to-end encrypted so that only the sender and recipient can access the transferred files.
You can also enable PIN verification for an additional layer of protection when receiving files.
This is particularly useful on networks where you do not completely trust every connected device.
Device Discovery
LocalSend automatically discovers compatible devices on the local network.
This is one of the features that makes it feel much more like AirDrop than a traditional network file-transfer application.
You do not normally have to enter IP addresses or configure a shared folder.
Open LocalSend on both devices and they should appear as available destinations.
If automatic discovery does not work because of network configuration or firewall restrictions, LocalSend also provides troubleshooting and manual connection options.
Manual IP Connections
Automatic device discovery is convenient, but sometimes network environments do not allow multicast discovery to work correctly.
LocalSend therefore supports manually entering a target address.
This can be useful on more complicated networks, including networks with multiple interfaces, VLANs or firewall rules that interfere with automatic discovery.
It is also useful when you know exactly which device you want to connect to.
Send More Than Files
Despite its name, LocalSend is not limited to files.
You can also send plain text and links between devices.
This can be surprisingly useful.
For example, you can copy a long URL on your computer and send it to your phone without emailing it to yourself or using a cloud clipboard service.
You can also use LocalSend as a quick way to move snippets of text between devices.
Directory Sharing
LocalSend also supports sharing entire directories.
This is useful when you need to move a collection of files rather than selecting them individually.
For example, you could share an entire folder containing photographs, documents or music instead of manually selecting every file.
This makes LocalSend considerably more useful for larger transfers and migrations.
Multiple Recipients
LocalSend supports sending files to multiple nearby devices.
This is useful when you need to distribute the same files to several computers or phones on the same network.
Instead of repeating the transfer individually, you can select multiple recipients and send the content as part of the same workflow.
Receiving Files
Receiving files is just as simple as sending them.
When another LocalSend device sends you something, the receiving device displays a request that you can accept or reject.
You can configure where received files are saved and how incoming transfers should be handled.
There is also an option to require a PIN when receiving files, providing an additional layer of control over incoming transfers.
This is useful if LocalSend is running in the background and you do not want nearby devices to be able to send files without additional verification.
Quick Save Mode
LocalSend also includes a Quick Save mode.
This is useful when you frequently send files to one device and do not want to repeatedly confirm every individual transfer.
It can turn LocalSend into a very convenient personal file-transfer tool when moving content between your own devices.
As always, this should be used carefully on shared networks because reducing confirmation steps also reduces the amount of manual control over incoming transfers.
Share via Link
One particularly interesting feature is Share via Link.
This allows you to create a browser-accessible link for sharing content with someone who does not have LocalSend installed.
The recipient can access the shared content through a web browser rather than installing the application.
This is still intended for local-network use rather than internet-based sharing.
It is therefore particularly useful when you want to send a file to someone who is connected to the same network but does not want to install another application.
History
LocalSend maintains a history of transfers.
This makes it easier to keep track of files that have recently been sent or received.
The history can also help you locate previously transferred content without having to remember exactly when or where the transfer happened.
Recent versions have continued to improve how received files and transfer history are handled across platforms.
File Management
LocalSend does not attempt to become a full file manager.
Instead, it integrates with the operating system's normal file-management capabilities.
Received files are saved to a configurable destination, with Downloads being the default location in many configurations.
On mobile devices, LocalSend integrates with the platform's normal file and media storage mechanisms.
This is a sensible approach because you can continue using the file manager you already know rather than learning another proprietary file-management system.
Windows Integration
On Windows, LocalSend integrates particularly well with the operating system.
It can run in the system tray and supports Windows Explorer sharing options.
The project has also added integration with the Windows Send to context menu, allowing files to be sent to LocalSend directly from Explorer.
This makes the desktop workflow extremely quick.
You can simply select a file, use the Windows sharing or Send to functionality and choose the nearby LocalSend device.
Mobile Sharing
LocalSend works particularly well for moving photos and videos from smartphones to computers.
Instead of connecting a USB cable or uploading everything to a cloud service, you can select the media on your phone and send it directly to your computer.
On Android and iOS, the application integrates with the operating system's sharing functionality, making it possible to send content to LocalSend from other applications.
This makes it useful not only for moving files stored inside the application, but also for transferring content from other apps.
Privacy
Privacy is one of LocalSend's biggest advantages.
The application does not require a cloud account, and the normal file-transfer process does not require your files to pass through a LocalSend server.
The project states that it has no advertisements and no trackers.
Because transfers occur directly over the local network, your files do not need to leave your network simply to reach another nearby device.
This is an excellent architecture for personal file transfers.
Open Source
LocalSend is completely open source.
The source code is publicly available on GitHub, and the project has a large community of contributors.
This is particularly important for a privacy-oriented application because anyone can inspect the implementation, report problems and contribute improvements.
The project currently has more than 70,000 GitHub stars and more than 100 contributors, according to the official website.
It is also actively maintained, with the project changelog showing continued feature development and bug fixes across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
LocalSend vs AirDrop
AirDrop is excellent if you live entirely inside Apple's ecosystem.
The problem is that AirDrop is primarily designed around Apple devices.
LocalSend's biggest advantage is that it does not care which operating system you use.
| Feature | LocalSend | AirDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Yes | No |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | No |
| Android | Yes | No |
| iPhone/iPad | Yes | Yes |
| Internet required | No | No |
| Account required | No | No separate LocalSend account |
| Open source | Yes | No |
If you only use Apple devices, AirDrop remains extremely convenient.
But if your household contains a mixture of Windows, Android, iPhone, Mac and Linux devices, LocalSend is much more flexible.
LocalSend vs Cloud Storage
LocalSend also solves a completely different problem from cloud storage.
| Cloud Storage | LocalSend |
|---|---|
| Files are uploaded to remote servers | Files stay on the local network |
| Internet connection normally required | No internet required |
| Useful for long-term storage | Designed for transfers |
| Usually requires an account | No account required |
| Storage quotas may apply | No cloud storage quota |
| Upload/download speeds depend on internet connection | Speed depends primarily on the local network |
For moving a file between two devices sitting on the same Wi-Fi network, LocalSend is often the more logical tool.
Performance
LocalSend's performance is primarily determined by the network connecting the devices.
If both devices have fast Wi-Fi connections and the network is not congested, transfers can be very fast.
There is no cloud upload stage and no remote server sitting between the sender and recipient.
However, it is important not to confuse the theoretical speed of your Wi-Fi connection with the actual file-transfer speed.
The slowest link can become the bottleneck.
Older Wi-Fi hardware, poor signal strength, congested channels, slow storage or a device with limited processing power can all reduce the final transfer speed.
What I Like About LocalSend
The biggest advantage is its simplicity.
It does not ask you to create an account, upload your files, install a complicated server or configure a shared folder.
You simply install it and start sharing.
The cross-platform support is another major advantage.
Having the same application available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS solves one of the most annoying problems with file sharing: getting different ecosystems to communicate with one another.
I also like the fact that it is completely local.
If I want to move a large file between two devices sitting in the same room, there is no reason for that file to travel through a remote cloud server first.
The open-source nature of the project makes the package even more appealing.
What Could Be Better?
LocalSend's biggest limitation is inherent in its design: the devices need to be able to communicate with each other on the local network.
Some networks isolate wireless clients from one another, and guest networks commonly prevent devices from communicating directly.
In those situations, LocalSend may not automatically discover nearby devices or may not be able to transfer files until the network configuration is changed.
Firewalls can also interfere with device discovery or connections.
Fortunately, LocalSend provides troubleshooting information and manual IP connection options for more complicated network environments.
Another limitation is that LocalSend is not intended to replace cloud storage.
If you want to access a file while you are away from home, LocalSend cannot provide the same functionality as a cloud-storage service.
It is a transfer tool, not an online file repository.
Who Should Use LocalSend?
I would particularly recommend LocalSend to:
- People who regularly move files between phones and computers
- Users with Windows, Android, iOS, macOS or Linux devices
- People who want an AirDrop-like experience across platforms
- Users who do not want to upload files to cloud services
- Privacy-conscious users
- People who frequently transfer large files
- Users who prefer free and open-source software
- Anyone who wants a simple alternative to USB cables for local transfers
If you need to share files with someone who is thousands of kilometers away, LocalSend is obviously not the right tool.
Is LocalSend Worth Using?
Yes.
LocalSend solves a very common problem without introducing unnecessary complexity.
It takes the basic idea behind AirDrop and makes it available across practically every major desktop and mobile operating system.
There is no account, no subscription, no cloud storage and no advertising.
You install it on the devices you use, connect them to the same network and start transferring files.
For everyday file transfers, that simplicity is difficult to beat.
Final Verdict
LocalSend is one of those applications that is easy to recommend because it gets the fundamentals right.
It is free, open source, cross-platform, local and easy to use.
Whether you want to move photographs from your phone to your PC, transfer a large video between computers, send a document to a tablet or simply copy a URL from one device to another, LocalSend makes the process straightforward.
The fact that your files can remain entirely within your local network is a major advantage, particularly for large or private files.
It also avoids the ecosystem restrictions of solutions such as AirDrop, making it particularly useful in households where different people use different operating systems.
There are some limitations. Network isolation and firewall configuration can occasionally interfere with discovery, and LocalSend cannot replace cloud storage when you need remote access.
But within its intended use case, it is difficult to find much to complain about.
If you regularly move files between different devices, LocalSend is one of those utilities that is worth installing before you actually need it.
Pros
- Completely free
- Open source
- No account required
- No subscription
- No advertisements or trackers
- Works without the internet
- Transfers stay on the local network
- End-to-end encrypted transfers
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS support
- Very simple to use
- Fast local transfers
- Supports files and text
- Directory sharing
- Multiple recipients
- Share via browser link
- PIN verification
- Custom download locations
- Manual IP connections
- Windows Explorer integration
Cons
- Devices must be able to communicate over the local network
- Guest Wi-Fi and client isolation can prevent discovery
- Firewall configuration can occasionally interfere
- Not suitable for transferring files over the internet
- Not a replacement for cloud storage
- Transfer speed depends on your local network and hardware
Bottom line: LocalSend is an excellent file-transfer utility for anyone who owns multiple devices. Its combination of cross-platform support, local transfers, strong privacy, open-source development and zero-cost pricing makes it one of the easiest recommendations in this category.
Download LocalSend
LocalSend is completely free and open source. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
You can also inspect the source code, report issues and follow the development of the project on GitHub.
Homepage: https://localsend.org/