I found the easiest way to send files between my devices,…

A simple, cross-platform solution

I use an Android phone as my daily driver, while my Mac handles most of my work. I also keep an iPad around, and my wife prefers an iPhone. Sharing files is effortless, as long as I am in the same ecosystem. Outside of it, things get complicated. I usually end up installing a third-party app just to move a file from one device to another, which adds unwanted friction and slows down the whole process.

That is, until I found LocalSend. When transferring files between my Android phones, I usually rely on Quick Share. It's not as seamless or reliable as AirDrop, but it gets the job done. For moving files between my Mac, spare iPhone, and iPad, AirDrop is my default. Within each ecosystem, everything works the way it should. The problem is that I move between platforms almost every other hour. A screenshot taken on my Android phone might need to be edited on my Mac.

A document downloaded on my iPad might need to be shared over WhatsApp Business from my Android phone. This cross-platform file sharing created a problem, as I could not seamlessly move files between devices. To work around this, I set up a shared Google Drive folder to sync files across all my devices. On paper, it sounded like a great idea. But it didn't always work in reality. Slow sync speeds, unstable internet, and occasional conflicts made it unreliable.

Transferring large files was another challenge altogether, as it took almost forever and felt painfully slow. That's despite both devices being connected to the same Wi-Fi network. There are several popular cross-platform file-sharing apps out there. However, most of them either require creating an account or feel unnecessarily complicated to use. I didn't need file storage. I didn't need fancy features.

I just wanted a simple, direct way to transfer files between devices on the same network, irrespective of the platform. That's when I discovered LocalSend. A free, open source app available for all major platforms: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux. It even works through a browser. I installed it on my Vivo X300 Pro and my Mac mini. Unlike other solutions, LocalSend did not prompt me to create an account or pair the devices together.

As long as both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, I can transfer files between them instantly and without friction. It's almost as seamless as using Quick Share or AirDrop to send files between devices within the same ecosystem. It just requires one or two additional taps. The first time I tried LocalSend, I sent a 1GB video file from my Mac to my Android phone. The entire transfer took just a few seconds.

There were no ads, no pop-ups asking me to create an account, and no unwanted steps. My Vivo X300 Pro appeared instantly in the LocalSend app on macOS. I simply selected the file and tapped Send. One of LocalSend's standout features is its ability to share text, including whatever is copied to my Mac's clipboard, directly to my phone. That means I can copy a link, a snippet of text, or even a short code on my Mac and instantly access it on my Android device without relying on cloud syncing.

Since LocalSend directly appears as a share target in my Mac's share menu, sharing files feels almost as seamless as using AirDrop. Admittedly, AirDrop is still hard to beat. Within Apple's ecosystem, sharing files using AirDrop feels magical and seamless. Within the Android ecosystem, Quick Share delivers a similar experience, though it's a bit unreliable. The problem is that I am not loyal to one ecosystem.

I use a mix of devices, and with AirDrop and Quick Share not talking to each other, it becomes a problem. Google has gotten Quick Share to work with AirDrop, but for now, it's only available on select Pixel phones. Until then, LocalSend remains my go-to choice for cross-device file-sharing. Instead of fumbling with cables, I just tell my partner to open LocalSend in their web browser. Since we are both on the same Wi-Fi network, their device appears instantly as a share target on my phone.

I tap Send, and the file transfers within seconds, all without the hassle of creating an account or using a cable. For years, I tried to make a file-sharing system that works across different ecosystems. AirDrop for devices within Apple's ecosystem and Quick Share for Android. Cloud storage when neither worked. While hacky, the solution worked, though it never felt seamless. LocalSend changed that.

It has won me over with its simplicity, focusing on doing one thing: making file transfer easier, irrespective of the ecosystem or device. There's no ecosystem lock-in, subscriptions, or other arbitrary restrictions. It's even completely free to use. No wonder it is among the best free open source apps I use on all my Android devices.

Summary

This report covers the latest developments in iphone. The information presented highlights key changes and updates that are relevant to those following this topic.

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