Send large files free up to 200 MB
Email caps attachments at 25 MB, chat apps re-encode photos and videos, and cloud drives make you upload before the other side can download. Lan-Share sends the file straight from one browser to the other: pair the devices with an 8-digit code, and the bytes travel over your Wi-Fi. The hosted build allows up to 200 MB per file; a self-hosted deployment can raise that limit with MAX_FILE_SIZE_BYTES.
Step by step
Open lan-share.com on the receiving device
On the PC, laptop, or phone that will receive the file, open the page in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari. Under Local code you will see an 8-digit code and a QR code.
Pair from the sending device
Open the same address on the other device, type the 8 digits into Peer code, or scan the QR code. Tap Connect; both pages switch to the conversation.
Send the file and download it
Pick the file in the paperclip menu. It appears as a card marked Waiting for download; on the receiving device, click the download icon. Keep both pages in the foreground until the card reads Downloaded.
Why the hosted build caps each file at 200 MB
The cap is a safety limit, not a storage limit. Files never touch Lan-Share's servers: only pairing signals go through, and the bytes move directly between the two browsers. A 200 MB cap keeps a single session from exhausting the receiver's memory or disk on a phone.
Self-hosted deployments can raise it: set MAX_FILE_SIZE_BYTES to a larger value, then test the same transfer on the devices you care about. The browser still has to hold the file in memory, so a higher cap is a trade-off, not a free upgrade.
What 200 MB covers — and what it does not
200 MB is enough for a long 4K clip, a batch of RAW photos, a design file, or a slide deck with video. It is not enough for a 10 GB archive or a full camera card. For those, use an external drive, a cloud drive, or a self-hosted instance with a higher limit.
If a file is just over the cap, split it into parts or compress it first; the receiver can join the parts afterwards. Do not rename a 300 MB file to .zip and expect the picker to accept it — the limit is checked on the actual byte size.
Troubleshooting
- The picker says the file is too large
Why it happens The hosted build caps each file at 200 MB.
How to fix it Use a self-hosted instance with a higher MAX_FILE_SIZE_BYTES, or split or compress the file. The page shows the current limit before you pick.
- A 200 MB video stalls near the end
Why it happens iOS or Android may suspend the browser when the screen locks, and a weak Wi-Fi signal can drop the peer.
How to fix it Keep both pages in the foreground, raise Auto-Lock, and stay close to the router until the card reads Downloaded.
- The receiver has no space to save the file
Why it happens The browser writes the file to its download folder; a phone with a full disk cannot complete the save.
How to fix it Free space on the receiving device before starting, or choose a device with more storage.
FAQ
Is there a file size limit?
Yes. The hosted browser build allows up to 200 MB per file. Self-hosted deployments can raise the limit with the MAX_FILE_SIZE_BYTES environment variable.
Can I send a 10 GB file?
Not with the hosted build. For files that large, use an external drive, a cloud drive, or a self-hosted instance with a higher limit; the browser transfer is designed for files up to 200 MB.
Do I need to upload the file first?
No. The file goes directly from the sending browser to the receiving browser; Lan-Share's servers only handle pairing signals.
Is it free?
Yes. The hosted browser transfer is free, with no account and no per-file fee.
What counts as a large file?
Anything that email or a chat app refuses or shrinks: a long 4K clip, a RAW photo batch, a design archive, or a slide deck. Up to 200 MB per file, multiple files per session.