How to use
- On one device, click “Get a pairing code”; a 6-digit code and a QR code appear.
- On the other device, open this page and enter the code, or tap “Scan QR code” to scan it in the page (scanning with the phone’s camera app opens the page and connects too).
- Once it says Connected, either side can choose or drop files to send, or send text and links.
- Click Save to keep a received file; close the page when you are done.
Options explained
- Pairing code
- Six digits, valid for 15 minutes and for one device only; get a new one if someone else used it first.
- How files travel
- A direct WebRTC connection with mandatory DTLS encryption. Files are not uploaded and have no size limit, but received files use memory until saved.
- Network
- Fastest and most reliable when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi. It also tries to connect across networks, but some company, school and mobile networks block direct connections.
How a web page can connect straight to another device
Browsers have WebRTC built in. It is best known for video calls, but it can also open a data channel for files. The two devices first swap a short note through our server — their network addresses and encryption keys — and then connect directly; the data no longer passes through the server. On the same local network the data stays inside your Wi-Fi, so speed depends on your router and is usually much faster than uploading to cloud storage and downloading again.
| Situation | Tip |
|---|---|
| iPhone photos to a Windows PC | Send from the phone; convert iPhone HEIC photos with HEIC to JPG if needed |
| Computer to phone | Get the code on the computer and scan the QR code with the phone |
| Lots of small files | Zip them first and open the archive with Unzip online on the other side |
| Just a link, a code or a note | Use Send text; the other side can copy it with one click |
When it will not connect
| What you see | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Stuck on Connecting, both on the same Wi-Fi | A guest or public network with “client isolation”, which stops devices on it from seeing each other | Use your home network, or turn on a phone hotspot and join it from the computer |
| Works at home, fails at the office or school | The network blocks peer-to-peer traffic | Put both devices on a phone hotspot |
| Phone on mobile data, computer on Wi-Fi | Some mobile carriers block direct connections | Join the phone to the same Wi-Fi |
| Transfer stops halfway on a phone | The screen locked or you switched apps, and the browser paused the page | Keep the page in front until the transfer finishes |
| Code rejected | It expired (15 minutes) or another device used it | Get a new code |
A VPN on either device can also route the connection away from your local network; pause it while transferring.
Where received files go
Click Save on each file after it arrives:
- iPhone and iPad (Safari): the file goes to the Files app, in Downloads. To put a photo in the Photos app, open it in Files, tap Share and choose Save Image.
- Android (Chrome): the Download folder, also listed in the Files or My Files app.
- Windows and Mac: the browser’s download folder, usually Downloads.
Compared with the usual ways
| Method | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| This page | Any phone to any computer, no install, files stay on your network | Both devices must stay on the page during the transfer |
| USB cable | Very large folders, full photo libraries | Needs the right cable, and drivers or Apple apps on Windows |
| Chat apps | Sending to another person | Photos are often compressed unless you choose “original”; file size limits |
| Cloud drive | Keeping a copy, sharing later | Uploading then downloading takes twice as long, and storage is limited |
| AirDrop, Quick Share | Devices of the same family | Mostly limited to the same brand or operating system |
Frequently asked questions
Do my files go through your server?
No. The server only passes on the pairing code and the connection details (a few KB of text) and deletes them after 15 minutes. Files and text go straight between the two devices.
Could someone guess the 6-digit code and connect instead?
Each code can be used by only one device and expires after 15 minutes. If someone did get in first, you would see it — once connected, both devices show the other device’s name and a 4-digit safety code computed from both sides’ encryption certificates, which does not match if anyone is in between. Check that the two safety codes are the same before sending; if they differ, click Disconnect and pair again.
How big a file can I send?
There is no set limit. Received files are kept in the browser’s memory until you save them, so a phone may run out of memory with videos of several gigabytes; send large files one at a time or receive them on a computer.
It stays on “Connecting” or fails. What can I do?
Put both devices on the same Wi-Fi and try again. Company and school networks and some mobile networks block peer-to-peer connections. Locking the phone or switching apps can also drop the connection, so keep the page open while sending.
How is this different from AirDrop or Nearby Share?
It works across brands and operating systems and needs nothing installed — just a browser on each device — so you can use it between an iPhone and a Windows PC or with someone else’s device.
Privacy
This tool runs in your browser. It only fetches public data (such as the exact time or orbital data) or passes pairing details through our server; your files, text and location are not uploaded. Server access logs record IP addresses and request URLs, used only to prevent abuse.