Send Files Without Going Through Google Drive

Google Drive is a good place to keep files. It is a slower way to move one from a phone to a laptop, because the file has to be uploaded to Google’s servers and then downloaded again, and that only works if both devices are signed into an account with enough free storage.

The usual problem

Using cloud storage as a courier has a few familiar costs. The upload and the download both take time, so a big video can sit at “syncing” for a long while. The file counts against your storage quota, which is shared with the rest of your account. It leaves a copy in the cloud that you then have to remember to delete. And if the other person is not signed into the same account, you end up managing sharing permissions just to hand over one file.

How Nearsend solves it

Nearsend skips the storage step entirely. Open nearsend.app on both devices and pair them with a QR code, a 6-digit PIN, or a spoken phrase. Then drop in files or a folder and they stream directly from one device to the other, encrypted, without being saved anywhere in between. No Google account, no quota, and no leftover copy to clean up.

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, and ChromeOS
Files stream directly device-to-device — nothing is stored on a server
No storage quota to run out of, because nothing is stored
No leftover cloud copy to find and delete afterwards

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Nearsend replace Google Drive?

No, and it is not meant to. Drive is for storing and sharing files over time. Nearsend is for moving a file from one device to another right now, without storing it anywhere.

Do I need a Google account?

No. Nearsend needs no account of any kind on either device.

Will it use my Google storage?

No. Files never touch cloud storage, so there is nothing to count against a quota.

Is it faster than uploading to Drive and downloading again?

Often, yes. A direct transfer skips the upload-then-download round trip. When both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network the data can travel at local network speed, which is frequently much faster than a typical home upload connection.

Does the recipient need to be signed in anywhere?

No. They only need a browser. They open Nearsend, pair with the code or QR code, and accept the transfer.

Can I send a whole folder?

Yes. Folders are sent with their structure preserved and approved with a single prompt.

What happens if I close the tab during a transfer?

The transfer stops, because the connection lives in the open page. Unlike a cloud upload, nothing keeps running in the background, so keep the tab open until it finishes.

Is there a size limit?

Nearsend sets none. The practical limit is the receiving device’s memory, since the browser holds the file until it is saved, so very large files are best received on a computer.

Is it secure?

Transfers use DTLS-encrypted WebRTC data channels and are never stored on a server. If a direct connection is blocked, an encrypted relay may forward the data without being able to read it, and Nearsend tells you when that is the case.

When should I still use Drive?

When you want a file to be available later, to more than one person, or from any device without both being online together. Use Nearsend for the quick handoff and Drive for the keeping.