Send Files from a Mac to a Windows PC

Apple’s AirDrop doesn’t reach Windows, so moving files between a Mac and a PC usually means a flash drive or a cloud upload. Nearsend connects the two directly through the browser instead.

The usual problem

A Mac and a Windows PC don’t share a built-in transfer tool the way two Apple devices do. That usually means a USB flash drive shuffled between them, a shared network drive that needs setup, or a cloud upload-and-download round trip; all more steps than moving a file between two computers should take.

How Nearsend solves it

Open nearsend.app in the browser on the Mac and on the Windows PC, pair them with a QR code, PIN, or voice phrase, and send files or whole folders directly between them; no flash drive, no cloud upload, and nothing to install on either 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 flash drive, shared network folder, or driver setup required

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this replace AirDrop for Mac-to-Windows transfers?

AirDrop doesn’t support Windows at all. Nearsend works across both, so yes, it fills that gap.

Do I need to install anything on the Windows PC?

No, just open nearsend.app in a browser, same as on the Mac.

Can I send a whole folder of files?

Yes, whole folders are supported with their structure preserved.

Will this work on a work or school computer where I can’t install software?

Usually yes, since Nearsend needs only a browser tab and no admin rights to install anything.

Is it free?

Yes, Nearsend is free to use.

Is this faster than using a USB flash drive to move files?

For a single handoff, usually yes, once you account for the time spent finding the drive and copying files on and off it twice, a direct transfer skips both of those steps entirely.

Do I need Apple's Boot Camp or any Windows-on-Mac software for this?

No. Nearsend has nothing to do with running Windows on a Mac; it works between a regular macOS browser and a regular Windows browser, no virtualization involved.

Can I send files between an M-series Mac and an older Intel-based Windows PC?

Yes, the processor architecture on either side doesn't matter, since both sides only need a modern browser.

Does this work over a company VPN connecting the Mac and the PC?

Usually yes, as long as the VPN allows the underlying connection types Nearsend needs, some strict corporate VPNs can restrict this, in which case checking with IT is worth doing.

Is there a faster way to do this for repeated, regular Mac-to-Windows handoffs?

For frequent transfers between two devices you personally use often, a shared network drive can be worth setting up once. Nearsend is built for the occasional, one-off handoff rather than that ongoing case.