What LocalSend Does for Local File Transfers

LocalSend is a free, open-source application that transfers files between devices on the same local network, replacing cloud uploads and email attachments with a direct peer-to-peer transfer. You install it on each device you own, open the app, and it automatically discovers other machines running LocalSend on the same Wi-Fi network. Pick the photos, videos, documents, or folders you want to move, choose a detected recipient, and the receiving device gets an accept prompt before anything is written to disk. The workflow needs no account, no server login, and no internet connection, so transfers keep working on isolated networks or a phone hotspot. Files travel at whatever speed the network allows, and every transfer is encrypted end to end.

Because LocalSend only speaks to devices on the same subnet, nothing is uploaded to a third-party server and there is no transfer quota to hit. It is the practical answer for moving a folder of RAW photos from a phone to a laptop, handing a build artifact to a colleague in the same office, or shifting files between Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS machines that otherwise have no common sharing protocol. The receiving side can require confirmation for each request, understandably useful on shared networks. Text and clipboard snippets can be pushed the same way as files. When files must be published to a wider network over HTTP instead, HFS covers that scenario, while LocalSend remains the lighter choice for device-to-device handoffs.

Benefits of Using LocalSend

The clearest benefit is speed without a middleman: transfers run at the full bandwidth of your Wi-Fi or Ethernet link, so multi-gigabyte video files move in a fraction of the time a cloud upload and re-download would take. Privacy follows from the same design, since data never leaves the local network and every session is encrypted with HTTPS, with optional PIN verification for extra control over who can send. There are no accounts, subscriptions, ads, or telemetry, and no file size caps imposed by a service provider. Cross-platform support means a Windows desktop, a MacBook, a Linux workstation, an Android phone, and an iPhone can all exchange files through one consistent interface rather than a patchwork of platform-specific tools. Setup is minimal: install LocalSend, and nearby devices appear in a list. Because it runs offline, it works on air-gapped lab networks, field equipment, and travel hotspots where cloud services fail.

LocalSend Software Information

• Developer: Tien Do Nam
• Current Version: 1.18.2
• File Size: 18.1 MB
• License: Open Source
• Language: en-US
• Downloads: 83K
• Platform: Windows Desktop

System Requirements

• Processor: 2-core CPU
• RAM: 2 GB RAM
• Storage: 1 GB available storage
• Graphics / GPU: Not required

Visit the official LocalSend website

LocalSend Features

Automatic Nearby Device Discovery

LocalSend broadcasts its presence on the local network, so every other device running the app appears in a list within seconds, labelled with a custom device name. There is nothing to pair, type, or configure: open the app, see who is reachable, and choose a target. Discovery works over Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and mobile hotspots.

Encrypted Peer-to-Peer Transfers

Each transfer is protected with HTTPS, so the payload is encrypted directly between the sending and receiving devices without relying on an external relay server. Optional PIN verification adds a second layer, requiring a shared code before a device accepts inbound requests on crowded or public networks.

One App Across Every Major Platform

The same application runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, which removes the protocol mismatches that normally complicate sharing between a phone and a computer. A file sent from an iPhone arrives intact on a Linux workstation, and the interface, settings, and behaviour stay consistent on every platform.

No Accounts, Servers, or Cloud Storage

LocalSend requires no sign-up, login, subscription, or storage plan, and it keeps working when the internet is completely unavailable. That makes it suitable for air-gapped machines, field devices, and workplace networks where uploading business data to an outside service is not an option.

Any File Type and Whole Folder Transfer

Photos, videos, documents, archives, installers, and audio files can all be sent, along with entire folder trees that keep their original structure at the destination. LocalSend imposes no built-in size ceiling, so the practical limit is free space on the receiving device.

Text and Clipboard Sharing

Short text snippets, links, and clipboard contents can be pushed to a nearby device exactly like a file, which is convenient for moving a URL or an address from a phone to a laptop without messaging it to yourself. Received text is available to copy straight into the clipboard.

Multiple Recipients and Transfer History

Several nearby devices can be selected in a single operation, so one set of files reaches a laptop, tablet, and phone without repeating the workflow. A history view records past transfers for quick re-sending, and frequently used devices can be marked as favourites for faster targeting.

Configurable Receiving Behaviour

The receiving device decides how incoming requests are handled. It prompts for confirmation by default and saves files to the Downloads folder, but the destination can be changed and trusted senders set to accept automatically. Progress indicators and clear error messages appear on both ends.

LocalSend Old Versions

Version 1.17.0   Updated: February 20, 2025   Download

Version 1.16.1   Updated: November 4, 2024   Download

Version 1.16.0   Updated: November 3, 2024   Download

Version 1.15.4   Updated: August 20, 2024   Download

Version 1.15.3   Updated: July 29, 2024   Download