Share Files Instantly Across Devices with This Free, Secure Tool

Published Feb 18, 2026, 2:30 PM EST

Sagar holds a bachelor's degree in electronics engineering from Swami Vivekananda Technical University in Bhilai. He later completed his MBA in finance and marketing from SSIM, Hyderabad. Sagar is also a Google-certified Digital Sales and Marketing professional and has a Six Sigma White Belt in Business. He also holds certification in SEO, Bing Ads from Microsoft, and Business Analytics.

Sagar started his career in finance after earning an MBA, working at a leading multinational corporation in London. However, his passion for technology eventually led him to shift gears and explore content writing. His journey began with ThemeFoxx, where he discovered his knack for simplifying complex tech topics. Over time, he expanded his expertise, writing for some of the most well-known tech publications and IT brands. His bylines now appear in over a dozen outlets, including SlashGear, Neowin, TechPP, Android Police, SamMobile, Android Headlines, Guiding Tech, and Tech Wiser.

With his vast experience of almost a decade, Sagar is adept at crafting breaking news articles, insightful how-tos, engaging listicles, and informative explainers. He also has the expertise necessary to tackle any technology-related topic.

The other day, I was trying to send a photo of my daughter from my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to my iPhone 17 Pro. And there, I hit a wall. iPhones cannot receive files from Android via Bluetooth, thanks to Apple’s Bluetooth restrictions. This also means that if I wish to send a PDF from my Windows laptop to my iPad for some editing, that isn’t possible.

Thankfully, I have been using a free tool called LocalSend on my Samsung phone. Ever since I switched to LocalSend, I have stopped using Bluetooth and even Quick Share. The app handles and completes the transfer of any type of file like a breeze; it doesn’t matter the size. Here’s why you should also use LocalSend to share files between devices.

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I stopped struggling with file transfers thanks to this free app

Moving files between phones, laptops, and TVs has never been simpler.

LocalSend is a godsend

This free tool is simple yet very effective

I started using LocalSend when I was searching for a way to send files to my smart TV from an Android device. It has now become the staple for sending or receiving any file across the wide range of devices I own.

Now, why LocalSend? The answer is simple. It does what you need it to do. LocalSend is a free tool available for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. It acts like a universal AirDrop, allowing you to transfer files across different devices running various operating systems.

Unlike other file transfer tools that require you to log in to an account, upload your files to a cloud server, or watch a 30-second ad just to send a file, LocalSend is clean. It connects to the other device directly over your local Wi-Fi network and lets you send files instantly.

The thing that stands out for LocalSend is its clean interface. You won’t see any ads while sending or at any time while using the app. If you have connected your devices to the same Wi-Fi network, that will instantly show up. If you don’t have Wi-Fi, you can use your phone’s hotspot for the connection. This ensures that the file transfer is blazing fast.

You get yourself a cute and humorous two-word alias. If you don’t like the name that LocalSend has automatically picked up, then you can head over to the Settings menu and change it. You can even choose whether you want encryption enabled or not under Advanced Settings.

File transfer is fully secure

You can transfer a file as big as Godzilla

Aside from the clean interface, there are a few other perks of using LocalSend over other file transfer apps. LocalSend is an open-source app, meaning anyone with knowledge can inspect its code.

You aren’t asked for unnecessary permissions, apart from your file storage (which is needed for obvious reasons). It doesn’t ask for an account, and it doesn’t track your location. Additionally, LocalSend makes use of end-to-end encryption (HTTPS) for transfers. Your files aren’t uploaded to an unknown server; they remain on your network.

Another thing that I like about LocalSend is that there is no file size cap. Most other file transfer apps have a file size limit or a speed limit. Since LocalSend uses local hardware, that is, your smartphone and your phone’s router speed, there is no speed limit. I have transferred 50GB of backups from my PC to my laptop without any issues.

On top of this, it comes with cross-platform support. This means that it doesn’t matter what device you own. You can send a text from an iPhone to your Android phone, send a PDF from your Windows laptop to an iPhone, or even send an APK file from your Android phone to your Android TV. It bridges the gap between ecosystems, which tech companies try to separate.

Using it is also quite easy. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Download the LocalSend app from its official website. Install it on all of your devices.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi. If you don’t have a Wi-Fi connection, simply turn on the wireless hotspot and connect the receiver device to it.
3. Open LocalSend, select a file, and tap on the receiving device’s name.
4. On the receiving device, tap the Accept button to save the file on the device.

If you want to avoid hitting the Accept button while receiving files from a trusted device, you can head over to LocalSend -> Settings -> and turn on the Quick Save button. There is also another toggle called Quick Save for Favorites, which automatically saves files that are sent from devices that you have added as favorites.

For those who would like to add a layer of security, there is an option to set a PIN, which will be required by the sender to send files to your device.

LocalSend

LocalSend is a free, open-source file transfer app that uses your local network to send files instantly and reliably between Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices without needing the internet

Use LocalSend instead of AirDrop or QuickShare

I have completely switched from using AirDrop and QuickShare and have installed LocalSend across all of my devices. It makes sending files so convenient, which it should’ve been by default. LocalSend is one of those rare tools that works just as it is supposed to, without any nonsense of subscriptions or ads.