Transferring files between devices—especially across platforms—has always been one of those tasks that frustrates everyone. That’s no longer the case with LocalSend. This free app makes moving files between any of my devices effortless and stress-free.
The file transfer struggles that drove me crazy
Transferring files shouldn’t be this complicated
Sending files from one device to another is something most of us do all the time. Between devices running the same operating system, this usually isn’t a problem. AirDrop works like magic between iPhones and Macs, and Windows devices can do the same via Nearby Share. The problem starts the moment you cross those invisible borders.
Try moving a video from an iPhone to a Windows laptop, or sharing photos from an Android phone to a MacBook, and suddenly you’re stuck using cables or, worse, having to rely on different apps.
For example, if you have a Windows PC, you need to use Google’s Quick Share to wirelessly move files to an Android device. Sharing the same file with an iPhone or Mac requires web apps like Snapdrop. And if you want to get content onto a TV, you might end up installing yet another app, such as Send Files to TV.
LocalSend is a free, cross-platform solution
One app to rule them all
LocalSend is a free, open-source app that can eliminate the frustration of juggling multiple file transfer methods. One of its biggest advantages is that it works on virtually every major platform, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and even Google TV. This means you can seamlessly transfer files between any of your devices, regardless of the operating system.
Another major selling point of LocalSend is its simplicity. There’s no complicated setup, no accounts to create, and no confusing instructions. You just need to install the app on your devices, connect them to the same network, and you are ready to go. If you only need to send a one-off file, LocalSend lets you share via link or QR code, so there’s no need to even install the app on the receiving device.
It doesn’t matter if you want to send a bunch of photos from your phone to your laptop, transfer large video files between computers, or even move documents to a friend’s device. LocalSend can handle it all. There’s also an option to send files to multiple devices simultaneously.
For someone like me, who juggles an Android phone, an iPhone, and a Windows PC for work, this app is a true blessing. Even if I need to transfer a file to my Google TV, I can rely on LocalSend for that.
Fast and effortless transfers
Move anything, anywhere
One of the most important factors when moving files between devices is speed. Thankfully, LocalSend doesn’t disappoint. There’s no waiting for long uploads to the cloud or watching a progress bar crawl. For instance, when I sent a 584 MB file from my Android phone to my iPhone, it took just 30 seconds, which is not bad.
LocalSend can handle almost any file type, be it images, videos, documents, zip files, and more. It even lets you transfer text copied to your clipboard, making simple tasks like sharing links between devices just as effortless. Also, LocalSend keeps the device screen awake until the transfer is complete, so the failure rate is almost zero.
By default, LocalSend asks you to manually accept every incoming file. This is a great security feature, but if you primarily use it on your home network, you can enable Quick Save in the Settings. This feature makes transfers even smoother by automatically accepting files.
It’s safe, private, and ad-free
No compromises
After using LocalSend, I honestly don’t see myself going back to any other method or app. It’s not just the convenience of a single app that works across all my devices or the incredible speed—it’s also that, despite being completely free, LocalSend doesn’t bombard you with ads or constantly push you to upgrade.
Privacy is another major strength of LocalSend. The app doesn’t access your files or collect any data. Also, all transfers occur locally and are end-to-end encrypted. This means my files stay private, secure, and within my control. For me, that combination of speed, simplicity, and security makes it a no-brainer.
I rarely even use native options like Quick Share or Nearby Share anymore. The only exception is AirDrop, which still works perfectly within the Apple ecosystem. Even then, LocalSend makes cross-platform transfers effortless, something those native tools simply can’t do.
Transferring files between devices is such a basic task, yet it rarely feels simple. There’s no shortage of ways to move files across platforms, and many of them work well if you stick to a specific setup.
LocalSend, however, is all about flexibility and convenience. Having used it for more than a couple of months, I can confidently say there are virtually no downsides or areas to complain about. At this point, LocalSend has earned a permanent spot on all my devices.
