AirDrop for Windows: A Browser Alternative

AirDrop only exists within Apple’s ecosystem; it has no version for Windows or Android at all. If either device in the transfer isn’t an iPhone or a Mac, you need something else, and Nearsend is built specifically to work across all of them.

The usual problem

There’s no Microsoft or Google equivalent to AirDrop that works the same effortless way. Windows’ "Nearby Sharing" only works between two Windows PCs, and Android’s "Quick Share" only reliably works between Android devices; neither talks to an iPhone or a Mac, and neither talks to the other.

How Nearsend solves it

Nearsend doesn’t care which platform either device is on. Open nearsend.app in the browser on a Windows PC, an Android phone, an iPhone, or a Mac, any combination, pair them, and send files or folders directly.

How to do it

Open Nearsend on both devices, Go to nearsend.app in any modern browser on the sending and receiving device; no app to install.
Pair them, Scan the animated QR code, enter the 6-digit PIN, or say the voice phrase to connect the two devices directly.
Send your files or folder, Drop files or a full folder onto the page, or pick them from the file browser. They stream straight to the other device.

Why it works well here

No app to install, runs in the browser on both devices
No account or sign-up required
Works across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, ChromeOS, and HarmonyOS
Files stream directly device-to-device; nothing is stored on a server
Works across every combination of Windows, Android, iPhone, and Mac, not just within one ecosystem

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a real AirDrop for Windows?

No, Microsoft has never shipped a direct AirDrop equivalent. Nearsend is a cross-platform alternative that works in the browser instead.

Does Quick Share on Android work with an iPhone or Windows?

Quick Share is primarily designed for Android-to-Android (and some Windows PCs with the app installed); it doesn’t reach iPhones. Nearsend works across all of them.

How does Nearsend compare feature-for-feature with AirDrop?

See the full side-by-side comparison on the AirDrop Alternative page.

Do both devices need to be on the same network?

No. Nearsend pairs devices through nearsend.app rather than relying on local network discovery the way AirDrop does.

Is it free?

Yes, completely free.

Does Windows have any built-in cross-platform sharing at all?

Not really, "Nearby Sharing" is Windows-to-Windows only, so there's no first-party Microsoft feature that reaches an iPhone, a Mac, or even a different Android phone brand reliably.

Is there a Windows app I need to install for this to work?

No. Nearsend runs entirely in whichever browser is already on the Windows PC, with nothing to download from the Microsoft Store or anywhere else.

Can I use this between two Android phones from different manufacturers?

Yes, since it only depends on a modern browser, it works the same regardless of which company made either Android device.

Does this also work as an alternative for Mac-to-Windows transfers specifically?

Yes, the same cross-platform pairing covers Mac and Windows too, not just Android, since Nearsend doesn't treat any operating system as a special case.

Do I need to enable any special settings on Windows first?

No; there's nothing to turn on or configure ahead of time; opening nearsend.app in the browser is the entire setup step.