Send Files Between a Tablet and a Phone
Tablets and phones end up with overlapping photos, documents, and downloads, but moving files between them usually means the same cable, cloud, or messaging-app detour as any other device pair.
The usual problem
An iPad and an Android phone, or an Android tablet and an iPhone, don’t share a built-in transfer method the way two devices from the same brand sometimes do. That leaves cloud storage, email, or a cable as the fallback, all slower than moving a file between two devices sitting next to each other should be.
How Nearsend solves it
Open nearsend.app in the browser on the tablet and the phone, pair them with a QR code, PIN, or voice phrase, and send files, folders, or text directly between them, works in either direction, regardless of which brand made which device.
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 both directions and across brands, iPad, Android tablet, iPhone, or Android phone in any combination
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this work between an iPad and an Android phone?
Yes, any combination of tablet and phone works, regardless of brand, since both sides just need a browser.
Can I send files from my phone to my tablet, not just the other way?
Yes, transfers work in either direction, whichever device is sending just opens the same page and selects files.
Do I need to install an app on the tablet?
No. Nearsend runs entirely in the browser on both the tablet and the phone.
Can I send a whole folder of photos at once?
Yes, whole folders are supported with their structure preserved.
Is it free?
Yes, Nearsend is free to use.
Does this work between two tablets, not just a tablet and a phone?
Yes, any two devices with a modern browser can pair this way, including two tablets or any other combination.
Can I send a document I'm editing on a tablet over to my phone to finish later?
Yes, export or save the document as a file first, then send it the same way as any other file.
Is there a difference in how this works on a smaller tablet versus a large one?
No, screen size doesn't affect the pairing or transfer process at all, only which pages are convenient to view on a smaller screen.
Does this work for a Kindle Fire or other Android-based e-reader tablet?
Generally yes, as long as it has a modern browser with camera and file-picker access, some heavily customized e-reader tablets have more limited browsers, which is worth checking if pairing seems restricted.
Can I send a PDF or ebook file this way?
Yes, any file type is supported, including PDFs and ebook formats, the same as photos, documents, or any other kind of file.