Send Large Files Between Devices

Large files, 4K video, RAW photos, project archives, run straight into other tools’ limits. Email tops out around 25MB, and free cloud storage tiers fill up fast. Nearsend sidesteps both because it never uploads the file to a server in the first place.

The usual problem

Email attachments are capped at roughly 25MB by most providers. Free cloud storage plans (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox) have limited space, and even with room to spare, a large file still has to fully upload before the other person can start downloading it, doubling the wait.

How Nearsend solves it

Nearsend streams the file directly from one device to the other over an encrypted WebRTC connection, in small chunks with flow control so it doesn’t overwhelm either device’s memory. Since it never touches server storage, there’s no size cap on Nearsend’s side, the practical limit is your two devices’ own network speed and how long they both stay connected.

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 email attachment size cap and no cloud storage quota to run into

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the actual file size limit?

There’s no server-side limit. In practice, transfer time and your two devices’ own network connection are the limiting factors for very large files, not a cap Nearsend imposes.

Do both devices need to stay on the page during a large transfer?

Yes, since the file streams directly between the two devices, both need to stay connected until the transfer finishes.

Is it faster than uploading to cloud storage first?

Usually yes, since there’s no separate upload-then-download step, the file goes straight to the other device.

Can I send a large folder instead of one file?

Yes, folders are supported and their structure is preserved.

Does it cost anything for large transfers?

No, Nearsend is free regardless of file size.

What actually determines how long a large transfer takes?

Whichever of the two devices' own network connections is slower, the same way any direct network transfer's speed is set by its weakest link, not by a limit Nearsend imposes.

Is there a practical size where a transfer becomes impractical?

Not one Nearsend sets, a multi-gigabyte file works the same way as a small one, just taking proportionally longer depending on your connection speed.

What happens if the browser tab accidentally closes mid-transfer?

The transfer stops, since the connection is tied to that tab being open, reopening nearsend.app and pairing again lets you retry, and for a folder, files that already completed don't need to be resent.

Does sending a large file use noticeably more of my mobile data plan?

Yes, if either device is on mobile data rather than Wi-Fi, the file still has to travel over whichever connection each device has, so a large transfer on cellular data counts against that plan the same as any other download.

What is the best way to receive a very large file?

Receive it on a computer. The receiving browser holds an incoming file in memory until it is saved, so a PC with plenty of free memory copes better than a phone, and Nearsend warns you before it accepts a very large transfer.

How long will a large transfer take?

Roughly the file size in megabits divided by the speed of the slowest connection. A 1 GB file is about 8,000 megabits, so at 100 Mbps it takes about 80 seconds in the best case. Real speeds are usually lower, so allow some extra time.