TheRetroArcade
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Posts: 1,971
Joined: Feb 2026
Joined: Feb 2026
Open source and free.
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I'm often moving a lot of files around a host of different devices. Photographs taken on my iPhone are sent to my Windows PC for editing. Then over to my work laptop, which I recently switched to Ubuntu, to upload to PC Gamer. The application that makes it all possible, and convenient, is LocalSend.
LocalSend is totally free. It's also open source and end-to-end encrypted using HTTPS. You don't even have to create an account or log in to use it—it's the sort of application that doesn't outstay its welcome at a time when many do. And, hey, some might view singing praise as a sponsored post in disguise, but it's not. Credit where credit's due on this one—free software that does a job and does it very well is worth calling out, in my opinion.
The app lets you transfer files between devices on the same network. I've seen it described as open-source AirDrop, which maybe means more to you Apple-heads than it does me. The key thing here is that it's not for sharing files across different networks ( i.e. the internet), it's localised to the network you're connected to. Ideal for shifting files around a multitude of devices with different operating systems. It supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. I use it on an iPad, too.
"LocalSend is a cross-platform app that enables secure communication between devices using a REST API and HTTPS encryption," the website says. "Unlike other messaging apps that rely on external servers, LocalSend doesn't require an internet connection or third-party servers, making it a fast and reliable solution for local communication."
Install the application, and it'll happily run in the background until required, or you can just boot it up when you need it. It only takes a second to pop up, so if you can't spare the background usage. On my Ubuntu machine, it makes use of 0.3% CPU utilisation and around 100 MB of RAM when open, and drops down to nil utilisation when minimised. Nice.
What's even nicer is the web app. I don't tend to use this myself, just as I don't mind installing the app everywhere for convenience, but you can load this up on any machine with ease.
It'll transfer all sorts of things. Files...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
What do you think about this?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
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Every Friday
GamesRadar+
Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.
Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
I'm often moving a lot of files around a host of different devices. Photographs taken on my iPhone are sent to my Windows PC for editing. Then over to my work laptop, which I recently switched to Ubuntu, to upload to PC Gamer. The application that makes it all possible, and convenient, is LocalSend.
LocalSend is totally free. It's also open source and end-to-end encrypted using HTTPS. You don't even have to create an account or log in to use it—it's the sort of application that doesn't outstay its welcome at a time when many do. And, hey, some might view singing praise as a sponsored post in disguise, but it's not. Credit where credit's due on this one—free software that does a job and does it very well is worth calling out, in my opinion.
The app lets you transfer files between devices on the same network. I've seen it described as open-source AirDrop, which maybe means more to you Apple-heads than it does me. The key thing here is that it's not for sharing files across different networks ( i.e. the internet), it's localised to the network you're connected to. Ideal for shifting files around a multitude of devices with different operating systems. It supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. I use it on an iPad, too.
"LocalSend is a cross-platform app that enables secure communication between devices using a REST API and HTTPS encryption," the website says. "Unlike other messaging apps that rely on external servers, LocalSend doesn't require an internet connection or third-party servers, making it a fast and reliable solution for local communication."
Install the application, and it'll happily run in the background until required, or you can just boot it up when you need it. It only takes a second to pop up, so if you can't spare the background usage. On my Ubuntu machine, it makes use of 0.3% CPU utilisation and around 100 MB of RAM when open, and drops down to nil utilisation when minimised. Nice.
What's even nicer is the web app. I don't tend to use this myself, just as I don't mind installing the app everywhere for convenience, but you can load this up on any machine with ease.
It'll transfer all sorts of things. Files...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
What do you think about this?