# AirDrop for Windows and Android: the best alternatives

Source: https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/airdrop-alternative-windows-android/
Updated: 2026-11-05

> There is no AirDrop for Windows, but several tools fill the gap. Quick Share links Android and Windows nearby, Phone Link pairs a phone with a PC, LocalSend works across all systems on the same Wi-Fi, and browser tools like StrongFolder send files and folders between any devices on any network with just a link — no app needed.

AirDrop spoiled Apple users: tap, pick a nearby device, done. If you use Windows or Android
— or a mix of everything — you need something else. There is no AirDrop for Windows, but
there are good alternatives, each with a different sweet spot: nearby devices, same Wi-Fi,
or anywhere on the internet. This guide compares them with checked facts as of 2026-11-05.

**Key facts**

- **No official AirDrop for Windows or Android.** AirDrop is Apple-only.
- **Quick Share** (Google): Android ↔ Windows and Android ↔ Android, nearby; since November 2025 it also works with AirDrop, starting on Pixel 10.
- **Phone Link** (Microsoft): pairs a phone with a Windows PC; drag-and-drop file transfer has limits (Samsung: up to 512 MB per file, 100 files, no folders).
- **LocalSend**: free, open source, every OS — but devices must be on the **same local network**.
- **StrongFolder**: works in any browser, on **any network**, sends whole folders — but the sender's tab must stay open.

## Is there AirDrop for Windows?

No. AirDrop is built into iPhone, iPad and Mac and works only between Apple devices. It
uses Bluetooth to discover nearby devices and a direct Wi-Fi link to move the data — so it
is fast, but only within a few metres.

Windows has its own equivalent, **Nearby sharing**, which sends files between Windows 10
and 11 PCs over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It does not talk to phones. To bridge Windows and
phones, you need one of the tools below.

## Which AirDrop alternatives work on Windows and Android?

| Tool | Devices | Range | Install needed | Folders | Notable limits (as of 2026-11-05) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirDrop | iPhone, iPad, Mac | Nearby | Built in | Yes | Apple only (plus Quick Share interop, below) |
| Quick Share (Google) | Android 6+, Windows 10/11 64-bit | Nearby, same network, ~5 m | Built into Android; app on Windows | Yes | Bluetooth on both; Samsung PCs use Samsung's app |
| Nearby sharing (Windows) | Windows 10/11 PCs | Nearby | Built in | Files and links | PC to PC only |
| Phone Link (Microsoft) | Windows + Android or iPhone | Same Wi-Fi (drag and drop) | Built into Windows; app on phone | No (drag and drop) | Samsung drag and drop: ≤ 512 MB per file, ≤ 100 files |
| LocalSend | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Same local network | App on every device | Check the app | Doesn't work across the internet |
| PairDrop | Any browser | Same network; paired devices or rooms over the internet | No | No (multiple files as ZIP) | Both sides need the page open |
| Send Anywhere | Apps and web | Anywhere | App or web | Varies | 6-digit key valid 10 minutes; links valid 48 hours |
| **StrongFolder** | **Any modern browser** | **Anywhere** | **No** | **Yes, structure kept** | **Sender's tab must stay open** |

Vendors change features often — check their pages before relying on a specific limit.

## How does Quick Share work between Android and Windows?

Quick Share (formerly Nearby Share) is built into Android 6.0 and later. Google's
**Quick Share for Windows** app brings it to 64-bit Windows 10 and later (ARM PCs need
Windows 11). Google's help page asks you to turn on Bluetooth on both devices, connect
both to the same network and keep them within about 5 metres (16 feet). You can send files
and folders, and choose who can see your device: everyone, contacts or only your own
devices.

**Best for:** your own Android phone and your own Windows laptop on the same desk. It is the
closest thing to "AirDrop for Windows" for Android owners.

**Quick Share and AirDrop.** In November 2025 Google made Quick Share work with AirDrop,
starting with the Pixel 10 family. The iPhone has to be set to receive from *Everyone for
10 minutes*. Google says more Android devices will follow — check whether yours is included.

## What about Phone Link?

Microsoft's **Phone Link** (on the phone: *Link to Windows*) mirrors notifications,
messages and photos and can move files. Drag-and-drop file transfer is documented for
Samsung phones: same Wi-Fi network, up to 100 files per transfer, no single file larger
than 512 MB, and **folders are not supported**. Microsoft has also added file sharing
between iPhone and PC through the *Link to Windows* app; availability depends on your
Windows and app versions.

**Best for:** quick photo and document hand-offs if you already use Phone Link daily. Not
for large videos or folders.

## Is LocalSend a good AirDrop alternative?

Yes, if both devices share a network. **LocalSend** is free and open source, has apps for
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, and transfers directly over your local Wi-Fi with
encryption — no internet and no account. Its limitation is the flip side of its design:
data never leaves the local network, so it can't send to someone in another building or
city.

**Best for:** a mixed household or office on the same Wi-Fi — iPhone to Windows, Android to
Mac.

## What happened to Snapdrop, and what is PairDrop?

**Snapdrop** was a popular browser-only "AirDrop for the web" on the local network. Its
GitHub page states that it was acquired by LimeWire, and the hosted service changed with
it. **PairDrop**, an open-source fork, continues the original idea: open the page on two
devices on the same network and they see each other. PairDrop also lets you **pair**
devices or join a temporary **public room** to transfer across the internet, using a TURN
relay when devices are behind NAT. Several files arrive as a ZIP.

**Best for:** quick, install-free sends of photos and documents between your own devices.

## How is StrongFolder different?

StrongFolder is a browser tool built for the cases the nearby tools don't cover:

- **Any network.** Sender and recipient can be in different cities. The browsers connect
  over [WebRTC](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/how-webrtc-file-transfer-works/); if a direct path is impossible,
  an encrypted relay forwards the stream.
- **No app on either side.** The recipient opens a link (or scans the QR code) in any
  modern browser.
- **Whole folders.** Folders are sent as folders: subfolders and file names are kept, nothing is zipped.
- **Large files.** No size limit set by StrongFolder. The practical limits are free disk space on the recipient's device, connection speed, and how long both devices stay online.
- **Nothing stored.** Files are never uploaded to or stored on a StrongFolder server.

The trade-off, honestly: the **sender's tab must stay open** until the recipient finishes,
and saving a whole folder with its structure needs Chrome, Edge or Opera on a computer.
More in [Why the sender stays online](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/why-sender-stays-online/).

[Send files now](https://strongfolder.com)
## Which AirDrop alternative should I choose?

| Your situation | Choose |
|---|---|
| Android phone → your Windows PC, same room | Quick Share |
| Pixel 10 ↔ iPhone nearby | Quick Share with AirDrop |
| Samsung phone you already link to Windows | Phone Link |
| Mixed devices on the same Wi-Fi, app installed | LocalSend |
| Quick browser send between your own devices | PairDrop |
| Big files or whole folders, any distance, no app | StrongFolder |
| You can't stay online while they download | A cloud link — see [P2P vs cloud](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/p2p-vs-cloud-file-transfer/) |

## Summary

AirDrop for Windows doesn't exist, but the gap is covered: Quick Share for Android and
Windows nearby, Phone Link for paired phones, LocalSend for any device on the same Wi-Fi,
and StrongFolder for files and folders sent over the internet from any browser. For
phone-specific steps, see [PC to phone file transfer](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/pc-to-phone-file-transfer/);
for Apple-to-PC moves, [Mac to Windows file transfer](https://help.strongfolder.com/en/guides/mac-to-windows-file-transfer/).

## FAQ

### Is there an official AirDrop for Windows?

No. AirDrop works only between Apple devices. Windows has its own Nearby sharing between PCs, Google offers Quick Share for Windows to exchange files with Android, and Microsoft's Phone Link connects phones to PCs.

### Can Android send files to an iPhone with AirDrop?

Partly. Since November 2025 Google's Quick Share can exchange files with AirDrop, starting with the Pixel 10 family; the iPhone must be set to receive from 'Everyone for 10 minutes'. On other phones, use a cross-platform app such as LocalSend or a browser link.

### What is the best AirDrop alternative for Android?

Quick Share is built into Android and is the easiest choice between Android devices and Windows PCs nearby. For mixed Android, iPhone and computers on the same Wi-Fi, LocalSend is popular. For devices on different networks, a browser link such as StrongFolder needs no app on either side.

### Does AirDrop work over the internet?

No. AirDrop, Quick Share, Nearby sharing and LocalSend are designed for devices that are physically close or on the same network. To send to someone in another city, use a browser link: StrongFolder connects two browsers over the internet without uploading the files.

### Can I send a whole folder like AirDrop does?

With StrongFolder, yes. Folders are sent as folders: subfolders and file names are kept, nothing is zipped. Saving a whole folder with its structure uses the File System Access API: Chrome, Edge, Opera and other Chromium browsers on a computer. Other browsers can download the files one by one or as a ZIP.

### Do I need to install anything to use StrongFolder?

No. Open strongfolder.com in a browser to send; the recipient opens the link in theirs. The Chrome extension is optional and adds a toolbar button.