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XDA Developers reports that LocalSend has become a regular file-transfer tool for moving files between Windows, macOS, iOS and Android devices. The free, open-source app requires no account and uses HTTPS encryption, but devices must be on the same local network and transfers may be affected by firewalls, VPNs or guest networks.
XDA Developers reports that its News Editor has begun relying on LocalSend, a free, open-source app, to transfer files between devices running Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. The app sends files over a local network without an account, offering an alternative to AirDrop, Quick Share and cloud uploads when devices are connected to the same network.
In a report published October 27, XDA’s Patrick O’Rourke said he had used LocalSend over several weeks to move files between devices with different operating systems. The transfers included game files and folders as well as photos. He said the app was available on the platforms he regularly uses, and that a web-based version is also available.
LocalSend does not require a user account or a central server for transfers between devices on a local network. The report describes its connections as end-to-end encrypted using HTTPS. To send files, users open the app on both devices, select files or folders on the sending device, and accept the transfer on the receiving device. The recipient appears under an automatically generated device name, which users can change.
O’Rourke reported successful transfers ranging from about 100 kilobytes to roughly 120 gigabytes in his own use. Smaller files took seconds, while a 60GB transfer took about 15 to 20 minutes. He also said a receiving device sometimes took time to appear; refreshing the app could help. These are personal observations, not a guarantee of transfer speed or reliability for all devices and networks.
FIELD REPORT · FILE SHARING
A simpler way to move files across devices
XDA Developers reports that LocalSend has become a regular transfer tool for one writer moving files between Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. It is free, open-source and account-free, with an important condition: both devices need the same local network.
“One interface for the devices you already use.”
LocalSend · XDA use report01 / COMPATIBILITY
One local network, mixed devices
The report describes moving photos, game files and folders across four operating systems. A web-based version is also available, according to XDA Developers.
Windows
Send or receive files on a Windows PC.
macOS
Move items between Macs and other platforms.
iOS
Use alongside Windows, Mac or Android devices.
Android
Transfer directly across supported platforms.
02 / HOW IT WORKS
Send nearby, device to device
No account or central server is required for the local-network transfers described in the report. The receiving device accepts the transfer.
Launch LocalSend on both devices.
Choose files or folders to send.
Find the recipient by device name.
Approve the transfer on the receiving device.
03 / THE NETWORK CONDITION
Convenient when devices can see each other
LocalSend is designed for nearby devices sharing a local network. It is not a remote transfer service for recipients on another network.
Same local network: the core requirement for the described transfer model. The report says connections use HTTPS encryption.
Discovery can take time: the writer sometimes waited for a receiving device to appear; refreshing the app could help.
Network settings matter: firewalls, VPNs and guest networks may interfere with discovery or transfers.
04 / WHERE IT FITS
A useful option, with clear limits
LocalSend may simplify transfers between your own mixed-platform devices. The report does not establish that it replaces every use of other sharing tools.
LocalSend
Free, open-source transfers on a shared local network. No account required for the use described.
AirDrop & Quick Share
Tools the writer already used for transfers within their respective device ecosystems.
Cloud & removable storage
Other ways to move files when devices are apart or local discovery is unavailable. The report gives no independent speed comparison.
05 / READ THE EVIDENCE
One writer’s experience, not a benchmark
The account reflects personal use, primarily on a home network. It is not a broad device study or independent security review.
Observed transfers
The writer reported transfers from about 100 KB to roughly 120 GB. A 60 GB transfer took about 15 to 20 minutes in their experience.
Not guaranteed
Those timings do not predict speed or reliability across different devices, networks or operating-system versions.
Recent changes
The report notes an August 2026 technical overhaul that improved performance and streamlined the interface. The app is built primarily with Flutter.
06 / QUICK ANSWERS
What to know before you try it
Does it work across operating systems?
The report describes transfers among Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, as well as a web-based app.
Can it send to a different network?
The described use is for devices on the same local network, not remote file sharing between separate networks.
Is an account required?
No account or login is required for the use described. Transfers are reported as HTTPS-encrypted and do not require a central server.
What if a device does not appear?
Discovery may take time. Refreshing could help; firewalls, VPNs and guest networks are possible sources of trouble.
SOURCE · XDA DEVELOPERS · REPORT PUBLISHED OCTOBER 27, 2026
A Practical Option for Nearby Transfers
Moving files between Apple, Android and Windows devices can mean switching among platform-specific tools or uploading files to a cloud service. LocalSend offers one interface for these mixed-device transfers, without requiring an account or a cloud upload. That may appeal to people who regularly move large folders or files between devices and want to keep the transfer on their local network.
Its limits matter as much as its convenience: LocalSend is not designed for transfers across separate networks. It is not a direct replacement for every use of AirDrop, Quick Share or cloud storage, especially when the recipient is elsewhere. Its suitability also depends on devices being discoverable and allowed to communicate on the network.
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How LocalSend Fits In
LocalSend has been available since roughly 2022, according to the report. A major technical overhaul in August 2026 improved performance and streamlined the user interface. The interface is built primarily with Flutter, an open-source app development framework created by Google.
O’Rourke had previously used AirDrop between Apple devices, Quick Share on Android, Google Drive for cross-platform transfers, and removable storage. He described cloud uploads as slow in some cases and said handling larger files through that route could be inconvenient. Those remarks reflect his experience; the report does not provide a comparative speed test against those alternatives.
Network Conditions Can Interfere
The report is based on one writer’s use, primarily on a home network. It does not establish how LocalSend performs across a broad range of devices, network equipment or operating-system versions, nor does it include independent speed or security testing. O’Rourke said the app may have issues with firewalls, VPNs and guest networks, but did not detail which configurations cause problems or how often.
LocalSend’s local-network model also means that the report does not support using it to send files between devices on separate networks. The article provides no information about future features, planned releases or changes to platform support.
What Users Should Check
Anyone considering LocalSend can install it on the devices involved and test discovery and transfer on their usual network, particularly before relying on it for a large file. Both devices need to be on the same local network, and firewall, VPN or guest-network settings could affect whether they can find one another. For transfers between different networks, users will need another method.
O’Rourke said he was considering reducing his use of AirDrop, Quick Share and Google Drive for moving files between his own devices. The report does not say that he has stopped using those services, and no further product announcement or release milestone is provided.
Key Questions
What is LocalSend?
LocalSend is a free, open-source file-transfer app for devices including Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones and Android devices. It can also be used through a web-based app, according to XDA Developers.
Does LocalSend work between different operating systems?
Yes. The report describes transfers among Windows, macOS, iOS and Android devices. Each participating device needs a way to run or access LocalSend.
Can LocalSend send files over the internet to another network?
The report says LocalSend is intended for devices on the same local network, not transfers between separate networks. It should not be treated as a remote file-sharing service.
Does LocalSend require an account?
No account or login is required for the use described in the report. It says transfers use HTTPS encryption and do not require a central server.
What can prevent a device from appearing?
Device discovery may take time, and the report flags firewalls, VPNs and guest networks as possible sources of trouble. Refreshing the app may help, but the report does not specify which settings resolve each issue.
Source: XDA Developers
