This free app gives Android phones AirDrop-like file transfer powers — and it even works with Mac
Even though I have access to some of the best iPhones, I’m drawn to the best Android phones when it comes to choosing a daily driver.
However, as a Mac and iPad user, I admit that there is still some friction between Google’s mobile operating system and Apple’s platforms. Although the interaction between the two ecosystems is better than it once was, some absolutely basic tasks remain either impractical or downright difficult.
One of them is to transfer files from Android phone to Mac computer. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to move photos and videos, documents or audio, getting data between the two systems isn’t exactly easy.
LocalSend is a free and open source app that allows users to transfer files between devices over a shared Wi-Fi connection, and it has quickly become one of my most used apps. All an app like this needs to do is work, and this one does it seamlessly.
Once both devices are connected to the same network, all you need to do is choose whether you want to send or receive files and look for the code name of your chosen device that appears. You can then select your media, press send and displays. Simple cross-platform file transfer completed.
Sure, it’s not as fast or convenient as AirDrop, which is still a big plus for iPhone use, but it’s a lot faster than using cloud storage to download and then upload your files, as I had to do through Google Drive before finding LocalSend.
LocalSend is available on the Google Play Store and the App Store for Mac, iPhone and iPad, and can also be downloaded from its dedicated website, all for free.
I sent dozens of videos and photos from my various Android phones to my MacBook Pro using the app, and all transferred at a good rate (compared to my home Wi-Fi speed). Problems are rare and easy to overcome, and generally boil down to instability of said connection.
There’s not much more to say about LocalSend other than I think every Android user should try it. If, like me, you use a hybrid transport on a daily basis, then LocalSend can serve as the magic glue that brings Apple and Android together (at least when it comes to transferring files).
Have you tried LocalSend or similar apps? Let us know in the comments below.
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