Guides: moving files between phones and computers
Every guide below covers one transfer route end to end: what you need, the steps in order, and the details that usually go wrong. They all run on the same browser-to-browser flow, so nothing has to be installed on either device.
- AirDrop alternative for Windows, Android, and PC — AirDrop works only between Apple devices. Lan-Share is a free browser alternative for sending files between iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac over Wi-Fi.
- Transfer files from Android to Mac wirelessly — Send photos, videos, and files from Android to a Mac over Wi-Fi in the browser — no Android File Transfer, no USB cable, no cloud upload.
- Transfer files from Android to PC over Wi-Fi — Move photos, videos, and documents from an Android phone to a Windows PC over Wi-Fi in the browser. No USB cable, no app install, no account: just a code.
- Send files from iPhone to Android (and Android to iPhone) — AirDrop does not work between iPhone and Android. Send photos and files in the browser instead: pair two phones with an 8-digit code or QR code over Wi-Fi.
- Transfer files from iPhone to Mac without AirDrop — Move photos, videos, and documents from an iPhone to a Mac in the browser when AirDrop is not an option — no cable, no iCloud sync, originals unchanged.
- Transfer files from iPhone to PC over Wi-Fi — Send photos, videos, and documents from an iPhone to a Windows PC in the browser. No iTunes, no USB cable, no app: pair with an 8-digit code or QR code.
- LocalSend alternative that needs no install on any device — LocalSend is an excellent open-source transfer app, but every device needs an install. Lan-Share does the same local transfer in the browser — nothing to install, no account.
- Transfer files over a mobile hotspot, no Wi-Fi router needed — Pair a phone and a laptop through the phone's personal hotspot and send files directly. No router, no shared Wi-Fi — and file content never touches the mobile network.
- PairDrop alternative: private code pairing with download approval — PairDrop keeps Snapdrop's shared-room model alive and maintained. Lan-Share pairs exactly two devices with a short-lived 8-digit code and lets the receiver approve every download.
- Send files from PC to Android without a cable — Move documents, packages, and PDFs from a Windows or Mac computer to an Android phone in the browser. Pair with an 8-digit code or QR code — no cable, no email attachment.
- Send files from PC to iPhone without iTunes — Put files onto an iPhone from a Windows PC or Mac in the browser — no iTunes, no Apple Devices app, no per-app share sheets. Pair with an 8-digit code and download straight into the Files app.
- Transfer files between two computers without internet — Move files between two PCs, Macs, or laptops in the browser over the local network. No cloud upload, no network drive setup, no USB stick.
- Transfer files from phone to laptop over Wi-Fi — Send photos, videos, and documents from any phone to any laptop in the browser. Open lan-share.com on both devices, pair with an 8-digit code or QR code, and download on the laptop.
- Send Anywhere alternative with no app to install — Send Anywhere is built around its apps and a 6-digit key. Lan-Share runs entirely in the browser: pair two devices with an 8-digit code or QR code and files move directly, with nothing to install.
- Send photos and videos without compression — Chat apps shrink photos and re-encode videos by default. Send pictures and clips in full original quality through the browser — no chat upload, no cloud album.
- Snapdrop alternative: browser file transfer that still works — Snapdrop showed a browser tab can work like AirDrop. Lan-Share keeps that idea and adds private 8-digit pairing, a confirm-before-download step, and active maintenance.
- Transfer photos from iPhone to PC in full quality — Move photos and videos from an iPhone to a Windows PC over Wi-Fi in the browser. No iTunes, no cable, no iCloud upload: originals arrive unchanged, HEIC included.
- WeTransfer alternative: send files without uploading first — WeTransfer sends files through its servers and a download link. Lan-Share skips the upload: pair two browsers with an 8-digit code and files travel directly over your local network.
- Wormhole alternative: transfer files without the upload wait — Wormhole encrypts files and uploads them through a server before the receiver downloads. When both devices share a network, Lan-Share moves the same files directly — no upload round trip, no expiring link.