qrcp

qrcp is a command-line tool that lets you transfer files between your computer and a phone using your local Wi-Fi network and a QR code. The idea is simple: you run a command on your computer naming the file you want to send, the tool displays a QR code in the terminal, you scan it with your phone's camera, and the file downloads in your phone's browser. No cables, no accounts, no cloud storage in between.

Under the hood, qrcp starts a small temporary web server on your computer and binds it to your Wi-Fi network address on a randomly chosen port. The QR code encodes the URL for that server. When your phone scans the code and opens the link, it connects directly to your computer over the local network and downloads the file. Once the transfer finishes, the server shuts itself down. You can also go the other direction: running qrcp receive puts up an upload page so you can send files from your phone to your computer.

The tool handles single files, multiple files, and folders. There is an option to zip a folder or large file before sending, which can be useful for slow connections. Configuration is optional but available via a YAML file or environment variables if you want to lock in a specific port, network interface, or output directory. HTTPS is supported if you provide your own certificate and key.

Installation is available through most common package managers: Homebrew on macOS, Scoop or Chocolatey or WinGet on Windows, and package files or the AUR on Linux. You can also install it directly with the Go toolchain or download a prebuilt binary from the releases page.

The project is written in Go and works on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Both the computer and the phone need to be on the same Wi-Fi network for the connection to work, since the transfer happens directly between the two devices rather than through the internet.