Want to move a photo from your phone to your PC? The usual way is emailing it to yourself or using WhatsApp. PairDrop lets you send any file between any two devices directly, exactly like AirDrop but for everything.
Everything happens in the browser: open the site on both devices, they see each other automatically on the same network, and you drop the file across. No app, no account, and your file never touches a server. All free and open source.
What is PairDrop?
PairDrop is a free web tool to share files between devices on the same Wi-Fi network. Open pairdrop.net on both devices, each one shows up with a friendly random name, tap the other device, pick your files and they transfer instantly. It works across iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux because it all runs in the browser.
How to send a file with PairDrop
- Open pairdrop.net on both devices (they need to be on the same network).
- The other device appears on your screen.
- Tap it and choose the files you want to send.
- The other device receives and saves them instantly.
Why PairDrop beats WhatsApp and email
- Direct device-to-device transfer, your file never uploads to a server.
- No compression: photos and videos arrive in original quality.
- Works across every platform: iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac.
- Free, open source and ad-free.
Safety and privacy
Transfers happen directly between your devices on your local network, so your files never leave your home. Even across networks the connection is encrypted. And since it is open source, the code is public. That makes it one of the safest ways to share files between devices without installing anything.
Frequently asked questions
Does it need an app or account?
No, everything runs in the browser. Open the site and transfer.
Does it work without internet?
Both devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi, but files move locally without using your data plan.
Is there a file size limit?
No official limit, you can move large files, and speed depends on your network.
Alternatives
If you want to download clips from the web instead of moving files between your devices, check our guide to cobalt, which grabs video and audio from dozens of platforms for free.
Note: The names shown on the site are random and change, so double-check you are sending to the right device.
The bottom line
From today on, stop emailing files to yourself. PairDrop is faster, keeps original quality, and nobody sees your files. Try it once and it becomes your default way to share files between devices.
Link: PairDrop
