Do my files pass through or get saved on any server?

No. Nearsend is strictly a peer-to-peer (P2P) platform. The signaling server is only used to exchange temporary session tokens and WebRTC handshake coordinates. Once connected, your files, text, and clipboard stream directly between your devices via WebRTC DataChannels in 64KB encrypted chunks.

How does the Voice Pairing work securely?

When you generate a voice pairing phrase, the host device creates an ephemeral 3-minute token. When spoken on the guest device, browser speech recognition converts the acoustic phrase into the token. The server validates the match and immediately triggers an explicit confirmation prompt on the host device before any connection is allowed.

Does Nearsend work across different operating systems?

Yes! Nearsend works seamlessly across any modern web browser — Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, iPadOS, and ChromeOS. No native apps or software installations are required.

Is there a file size limit on Nearsend?

Because transfers stream directly via WebRTC without hitting a central server memory limit, you can send files ranging from kilobytes to multi-gigabyte videos. Nearsend incorporates backpressure flow control to ensure smooth transmission without exhausting device RAM.

Peer-to-Peer File Transfer in the Browser

Peer-to-peer (P2P) means the two devices exchange data directly with each other, instead of both talking to a server that relays everything in between. Nearsend uses real P2P — WebRTC data channels — for the actual file transfer.

The usual problem

Most "file sharing" online is actually client-server: your device uploads to a server, the server stores it, and the other device downloads from the server. That’s an extra hop each way, a storage step in the middle, and a server that ends up with a copy of your file, even temporarily.

How Nearsend solves it

Nearsend uses WebRTC to open a direct data channel between the sending and receiving browser. A lightweight signaling step (through nearsend.app) helps the two devices find and connect to each other, but once that connection is open, file data flows straight from one device to the other — genuinely peer-to-peer, not routed through server storage.

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
Real WebRTC peer-to-peer data channels for the file transfer itself, not just the initial connection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does peer-to-peer actually mean here?

It means the file data travels directly between the sending and receiving device, rather than being uploaded to and downloaded from a server in the middle.

Does a server do anything at all?

A small signaling step helps the two devices establish a direct connection. After that, the file transfer itself is peer-to-peer.

Is P2P transfer faster than upload/download?

It skips the extra upload-then-download hop, so it’s often faster and doesn’t depend on a third-party server’s speed.

Do both devices need to install anything for P2P to work?

No — WebRTC is built into modern browsers, so nothing needs to be installed on either device.

Does this work between any two device types?

Yes — any two devices with a modern browser can connect, regardless of operating system.