PairDrop
PairDrop: Transfer Files Cross-Platform. No Setup, No Signup.
A browser-based file sharing tool that works like Apple AirDrop across any devices and operating systems, with no account or app install needed, plus support for transfers over the internet using pairing codes.
PairDrop is a web-based file transfer tool that lets you send files between devices without installing anything or creating an account. You open it in a browser, and it finds other devices on the same local network, similar to how Apple AirDrop works on Apple hardware. You can send photos, documents, videos, or plain text from phone to laptop, Android to iOS, Linux to Windows, or any combination, as long as both sides have a modern browser.
On local networks, devices appear automatically and files travel peer-to-peer, meaning the data moves directly between the two devices rather than through a cloud server. For transfers over the internet, PairDrop lets you pair two devices with a 6-digit code or a QR code. Paired devices always find each other even on different networks, because they share a private key. You can also create temporary public rooms, joined via a short letter code, to connect with a device you have never paired with before.
When you send multiple files at once, they arrive bundled as a ZIP archive on the receiving side. On phones, files go through the system share menu, so photos can be saved directly to your gallery. A progress indicator shows how the transfer is going, and the screen stays awake so the transfer does not stall midway through.
PairDrop is a fork of an earlier tool called Snapdrop, and its main additions are internet transfers, persistent device pairing, public rooms, and a range of smaller improvements including dark mode, video preview, and command-line support on desktop systems.
If you prefer not to use the public hosted instance, PairDrop can run on your own server. Setup guides for Docker and Node.js are included in the repository. The project is open-source, accepts community translations, and welcomes bug reports and contributions.
Where it fits
- Transfer photos from an Android phone to a Windows laptop on the same Wi-Fi without cables or cloud storage.
- Send a large video file to someone on a different network by sharing a 6-digit pairing code or QR code.
- Self-host a private file sharing server for a household or small team using Docker.
- Drop files from one browser tab to another on the same machine as a quick copy tool.