Use AirDrop-style sharing on Windows in 4 steps
- Open localfiletransfer.com on your PC. Chrome, Edge or Firefox on Windows 11 or Windows 10. You’ll see your PC’s name at the top of the card.
- Open the same address on your iPhone in Safari. On the same Wi-Fi, your PC appears on the iPhone’s radar within a few seconds.
- Tap your PC, then pick photos, videos or files. Choose Photo Library for photos and videos, or Choose File for anything in the Files app.
- Click Accept on the PC, then Save. Files go to your Downloads folder. You can also drag files onto the radar on the PC to send them the other way.
Tip: want it like an app? In Edge, open the menu and choose Apps → Install this site as an app. In Chrome, choose Cast, save and share → Install page as app. It then opens from the Start menu.
Is there AirDrop for Windows?
No. AirDrop is built into iPhone, iPad and Mac, and Apple doesn’t make a Windows version. Apps in the Microsoft Store that use the AirDrop name are made by other companies. What you can do instead:
- Use a browser method like this page. It works on every Windows PC and every iPhone, with nothing to install.
- Use iCloud. iCloud Photos or iCloud Drive in the iCloud for Windows app syncs files, but uploads them first and counts against your storage.
- Use a cable. The Apple Devices app or File Explorer can copy photos and videos over USB.
AirDrop alternatives for Windows
- Browser-based tools (no install): Local File Transfer (this page), PairDrop and Snapdrop. Open the page on both devices and send.
- Apps you install: LocalSend (free, open source, works without internet on the same network) and AirDrop-style apps in the Microsoft Store.
- Microsoft Phone Link: connects your phone to Windows for messages, calls and notifications. File sharing with iPhone is limited.
- Quick Share for Windows: Google’s app for Android phones; it doesn’t work with iPhone.
Send files from PC to iPhone
It works both ways. Click your iPhone on the PC (or drag files onto it), then tap Accept on the iPhone. Safari saves files to the Files app, in Downloads. More detail is in PC to iPhone.
AirDrop online, without a download
People often search for “AirDrop online” or an “AirDrop website”. That’s what this page is: open it on any two devices and they find each other. It also works between Windows and Android, and between two PCs (see PC to PC).
Ways to AirDrop to a Windows PC compared
| Method | Install | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local File Transfer (this page) | Nothing | Wi-Fi speed | Quick transfers, any PC |
| iCloud for Windows | Windows app | Upload, then download | Keeping photos in sync |
| USB cable | Cable, Apple Devices app | Fast | Copying a whole camera roll |
| Email or chat apps | Account | Slow, compressed | One small photo |
If your PC doesn’t appear
- Check the Wi-Fi. Both devices must be on the same network. Guest networks often keep devices apart.
- Turn off VPNs and ad-blocking apps while you transfer.
- iPhone not showing up? If iCloud Private Relay is on, Safari hides your network, so the iPhone can’t be found nearby. Open Settings → Wi-Fi, tap ⓘ next to your network and turn off iCloud Private Relay, or connect with a code instead.
- Allow the connection. If Windows asks whether your browser may use private networks, click Allow.
- Tap Scan at the top of the card for a fresh search.
- Use a code. On one device, tap Nearby devices → Create a code; on the other, tap Enter a code or scan the QR code. This works even on different networks or mobile data.
Questions
Is there AirDrop for Windows 11 or Windows 10?
Not from Apple. AirDrop only works between Apple devices. Local File Transfer works like AirDrop for Windows 11 and 10 in your browser: open localfiletransfer.com on your PC and your iPhone, then tap the other device to send.
How do I AirDrop from iPhone to a Windows PC?
Open localfiletransfer.com in Safari on the iPhone and in Chrome or Edge on the PC, on the same Wi-Fi. Tap your PC on the iPhone, pick the photos or files, then accept them on the PC.
Can I AirDrop from a PC to an iPhone?
Yes. Click your iPhone on the PC or drag files onto it, then tap Accept on the iPhone. Safari saves the files to the Files app, in Downloads.
Do I need to download anything?
No. It runs in the browser you already have. You can install the page as an app from Edge or Chrome if you want it in the Start menu.
Where do the files go on my PC?
Click Save and they go to your Downloads folder. For very large files, Chrome and Edge ask where to save and write the file straight to disk.
Does it work if my PC and iPhone are on different networks?
Yes. Create a code on one device and enter it or scan the QR code on the other. The transfer then runs at internet speed instead of Wi-Fi speed.
Is there a Windows equivalent to AirDrop?
Not built into Windows for iPhone. Windows has Nearby sharing between Windows PCs, and Google’s Quick Share app works with Android phones. For iPhone to PC, browser-based tools like localfiletransfer.com or apps like LocalSend fill the gap.
How do I enable AirDrop on my laptop?
AirDrop can only be turned on on a Mac (in Control Center or Finder). On a Windows laptop you can’t enable AirDrop, but you can get the same result by opening localfiletransfer.com on the laptop and on your iPhone.