Send Files To and From Linux

File-transfer tools are often built for one ecosystem at a time, leaving Linux as an afterthought, or requiring a specific package for your distro. Nearsend sidesteps that entirely: if there’s a modern browser, it works.

The usual problem

A lot of "wireless transfer" tools either don’t support Linux at all, or need a package built for your specific distribution and package manager. Given how many distros exist, that support is inconsistent, and getting a native app running can mean dependency hunting just to send one file.

How Nearsend solves it

Nearsend runs entirely in the browser, so it works the same way on Linux as it does anywhere else; no distro-specific package, no dependencies, no compiling anything. Open nearsend.app, pair with a QR code, PIN, or voice phrase, and send files or folders to or from Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, or another Linux machine.

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
No distro-specific package or dependencies, works in any modern browser on Linux

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this work on any Linux distribution?

Yes, since it only needs a modern browser, it doesn’t matter which distro or package manager you’re running.

Can I send files from Linux to Windows or a Mac?

Yes, any combination of Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and HarmonyOS works, since all sides just need a browser.

Do I need to install a package or compile anything?

No; there’s nothing to install on Linux or any other device.

Can I send whole folders?

Yes, whole folders are supported with their structure preserved.

Is it free?

Yes, Nearsend is free to use.

Does this work the same in Firefox on Linux as it does in Chrome?

Yes. Nearsend relies on standard web APIs that Firefox, Chrome, and Chromium-based browsers on Linux all support equally, so the browser choice doesn't change how it works.

Can I use this on a headless Linux server?

No, a headless server without a graphical browser and camera/input access can't complete the pairing step, since that needs an interactive browser session on both ends.

Does it matter if I'm running a desktop environment like GNOME versus KDE?

No, the desktop environment doesn't affect anything, since Nearsend only interacts with the browser itself, not the underlying window manager or desktop shell.

Will this work on a Raspberry Pi running a lightweight Linux distro?

As long as it has a reasonably current browser installed, yes, the underlying hardware and how lightweight the distro is don't matter beyond that.

Can I send files between two Linux machines on different distros, say, Ubuntu and Fedora?

Yes, the distribution on either end is irrelevant, since both sides only need a modern browser, regardless of package manager or desktop environment.