Moving a file from your computer to your phone shouldn't need a cable, a cloud upload or emailing yourself. This guide shows how to transfer files from a PC to a phone without a cable — and back — using a QR code in the browser, and compares the other wireless options: Quick Share, Phone Link, LocalSend and cloud drives. It also covers the phone browser quirks that most guides skip.
How do I share files between a PC and a phone without a cable?
The steps above take about a minute. Under the hood, the PC's browser and the phone's browser open a direct, encrypted WebRTC connection. The file goes straight from the PC's disk to the phone — nothing is uploaded or stored on a server first. Every link also has a QR code, handy for sending from a computer to a phone.
Where the files land:
- iPhone (Safari): the Files app → Downloads (or the folder set in Safari settings). Photos and videos can then be saved to the Photos app from there.
- Android (Chrome): the Download folder, visible in the Files app and in Chrome's downloads list.
Free · in your browser · no sign-up
What are all the ways to transfer files between a PC and a phone wirelessly?
| Method | Direction | Install | Network | Size and limits (as of 5 November 2026) | Folders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StrongFolder (QR code) | Both | None | Any | None set by the service; free space on the phone | Phone: files or ZIP |
| Quick Share | Android ↔ Windows | Windows app | Same network, ~5 m | Bluetooth on both | Yes |
| Phone Link drag and drop | Samsung ↔ Windows | Built into Windows and Samsung | Same Wi-Fi | ≤ 512 MB per file, ≤ 100 files | No |
| LocalSend | Any ↔ any | App on both | Same local network | — | Check the app |
| Cloud drive (Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud) | Both | App or web, account | Any | Your storage quota | Online only |
| Email to yourself | Both | None | Any | ~20–25 MB attachments | No |
| Messenger "saved messages" | Both | App | Any | App limits; media may be compressed | No |
| Bluetooth | Both | None | Nearby | Very slow for large files | No |
For phone-specific apps, see AirDrop alternatives for Windows & Android.
How do I send files from my phone to my PC?
StrongFolder works in the other direction too:
- Open strongfolder.com in the phone's browser.
- Choose photos, videos or files from the phone.
- Get the link onto the PC — copy it into a messenger or e-mail you open on the PC, or type it.
- Open the link on the PC. In Chrome or Edge on the PC you can choose where to save.
- Keep the phone's screen on and the browser in front until the PC finishes.
For long transfers from a phone, plug the phone into a charger and disable auto-lock for the duration. If you move phone videos to a PC often, an app-based tool (Quick Share on Android, Phone Link) may be more comfortable, because it can keep running in the background.
What are the limits of phone browsers?
Phone browsers are designed to save battery, which affects any in-browser transfer:
- Backgrounded tab pauses the transfer. Switching to another app, locking the screen or letting the phone sleep usually suspends the page, and the WebRTC connection stops. Keep the browser on screen.
- No folder saving. Saving a whole folder with its structure uses the File System Access API, which is available in Chromium browsers on computers — not in mobile browsers. On a phone, files download individually or as a ZIP.
- Storage. Large videos fill phones fast. Check free space before you start.
- Mobile data. On cellular, a large download uses your data plan; use Wi-Fi when you can.
- Sending from a phone works best for photos and videos of moderate size. For hundreds of gigabytes, send from a computer — see Why the sender stays online.
How do Quick Share and Phone Link compare?
Quick Share is built into Android 6.0 and later; Google's Windows app runs on 64-bit Windows 10 and later. Both devices need Bluetooth on, the same network and to be within about 5 metres. It can send files and folders and is the most "AirDrop-like" option for Android and Windows.
Phone Link (Link to Windows on the phone) is Microsoft's companion app. Its drag-and-drop file transfer is documented for Samsung phones on the same Wi-Fi: up to 100 files at a time, no single file over 512 MB, no folders, and minimising Phone Link cancels the transfer. Microsoft has also added file sharing with iPhone; availability depends on your Windows and app versions.
Both are good for your own devices on the same desk. Neither helps when the phone is somebody else's, in another city, or an iPhone with no app installed — that is where a link and QR code help.
What if the transfer to my phone fails or is slow?
Most problems come from the phone side, not the PC:
- The download stopped halfway. The browser probably went to the background or the screen locked. Open the link again, keep the browser in front, and set auto-lock to a longer time while you transfer.
- The link won't connect. Some mobile networks and VPNs block direct connections. The connection then falls back to an encrypted relay, which is slower; switching the phone to the same Wi-Fi as the PC usually gives a fast local path. Turn off the VPN if you can.
- It's slow on Wi-Fi. Move closer to the router, or pause cloud photo backup on the phone and on the PC — both compete for bandwidth.
- "Not enough storage". Free up space or send fewer files at a time.
- The video won't play. Some formats from a PC (for example certain MKV or ProRes files) need a player app on the phone; the file itself arrived intact.
Which method should I use?
| You want to… | Use |
|---|---|
| Move a video from your PC to your phone right now, no app | StrongFolder + QR code |
| Send files to someone else's phone in another city | StrongFolder link |
| Move photos from your Android to your Windows laptop daily | Quick Share |
| Drag a few files from your Samsung to Windows | Phone Link |
| Mix of iPhone, Android, Mac and PC at home, same Wi-Fi | LocalSend |
| Keep files available on all devices long-term | A cloud drive |
Summary
To transfer files between a PC and a phone without a cable, the quickest route with nothing to install is a browser link: choose the files on the PC, scan the QR code, and keep both screens on until it finishes. Use Quick Share or Phone Link for your own paired devices, and a cloud drive when files must stay available. For Mac-to-PC moves, see Mac to Windows file transfer; for big clips, Send large video files.