How to use AirDrop on Windows PC

AirDrop is an old acquaintance of Apple users. It is the easiest way to share all kinds of files between computers on the bitten apple. However, Can AirDrop be used on Windows PC? Now we will explain the easiest way to perform this step between an iPhone or iPad and a computer based on the Microsoft operating system.

The year 2011 was coming. Apple launched with its teams a function that lasts to this day. It is used massively among Mac, iPhone and iPad users. Indeed, this function is called AirDrop and it is one of the services that users of other operating systems want the most. Now, it is very possible that you have an iPhone but that does not mean you want - or need - a computer based on macOS. Is there an alternative to share files with a Windows computer without using a cable? The answer is yes.

The truth is that the iPhone is one of the best-selling mobiles on the market. And we haven't said this since Actualidad iPhoneBut sales figures they are what they reveal: 8 out of 10 computers sold is an iPhone model. However, Windows is perhaps the most widely used desktop operating system in the world.. Lenovo is the company with the largest market share available in this sector. But surely, the professional and business sector have a lot to do in this regard.

And the possibility of being able to easily share files between our teams is something that users look for every day. Since 2011, AirDrop facilitates this task between users of the Apple ecosystem. And it is that finding this function in the 'share' menu and having to do without cables or sending attachments in emails, is a relief. And with users who combine both ecosystems -Apple and Microsoft-, what solutions are available to them?

Is there AirDrop for Windows?

Regrettably, AirDrop as a feature is not available for use outside of the Apple ecosystem. Those from Cupertino have already taken care of creating this service in a closed way and that no other team that does not carry their operating systems could take advantage of it. AirDrop works over Bluetooth, WiFi and proximity connections. In other words, when you activate the function and want to share a file, only the devices that are close to you will appear among the devices available for sharing.

Therefore, using AirDrop as such with a Windows computer is not possible. Now, are there alternatives as valid as this function? Yes, and they are also free. But we will see it later.

Google launches the alternative for Windows: this is how Nearby Share is born

Ok, we put ourselves in a situation and we no longer say for reasons of taste about one operating system or another, but for work reasons -usually due to the use of some from software which is only available in Windows-, the alternative that you use in your day to day is Windows. However, instead of a mobile with iOS you have an Android. Good, Google introduced Nearby Share in 2020 and it would serve to pass documents between Android computers, although it promised a version for Windows computers. And it was not until 2023 when the beta version appeared for download.

This function worked the same as AirDrop but leaving the Apple ecosystem. That is, you can share any type of files between an Android mobile and a Windows computer. Furthermore, entering Nearby Share for Windows you can choose to receive files from everyone, from your contacts or only from your devices.

For this app to work you must enter the data of your Google account that you want to associate with this service. Once this is done, you will see that in the option to receive files from your devices, only the computers that are logged in with the Google account that you have previously chosen will work.

If you want to try this option, first try downloading it from the page official website of the application. In case this doesn't work, since distribution in certain regions was complicatedyou should try a VPN. But although this solution is very good, we continue with the same problem: we are not going to be able to use an iPhone or an iPad to transfer files.

Snapdrop: the best alternative to use AirDrop on a Windows PC from the browser

However, another alternative to be able to share files is with whatever computer and whatever operating system it uses. This alternative is called snapdrop. It is a website to share files anonymously between devices that are on the same network. To give you an example: that they are using the same WiFi network. In this way we save ourselves from having to receive files from strangers at any time.

On the other hand, the next requirement to be able to use this service is that both computers that are going to share a file must enter snapdrop page. And of course, Do not close the browser tab at any time during the process. Done, you can use it. In the same way, we are going to explain how it works step by step:

• Enter the Snapdrop website with the first team -the one that will send the file to share-
• Now, from the receiving device - in this case it can be a computer with Windows, macOS, a mobile phone with Android, an iPhone, etc. - also open the Snapdrop service
• The teams close to you should appear to be able to share. Select one of them
• Now a menu will open on the sending device, search your file browser for the document, image, etc., that you want to share and click on it
• The receiving computer will automatically receive the file and it will let you preview the file -here it will depend on whether it is an image or another type of document- and it will give you the option to save it in your memory or discard the download

Update: apparently, snapdrop service is down. While it becomes available again, another alternative to it is sharedrop.io. Like Snapdrop, allows you to share files of different kinds through WiFi networks and using the same browser. Both computers must enter the page of the peer-to-peer service in order to share.

Warpinator, from Linux Mint

Users who stay in an ecosystem as complete as Apple's do not need to look elsewhere, but it is not the same for Windows users. Microsoft's desktop system can reach more places than anyone else, which is a double-edged sword. What at first may seem to make things easier, can complicate them if we do not understand them. And where do Windows users have to look to find some good solutions is towards Linux.

Linux Mint developers ofrecen something they named warpinator. It is an application for sharing files over the home network, and in addition to Linux they offer versions for Windows, an unofficial one for Android and one, this one official although at the moment only via TestFlight, for iOS. It is open source, and its use is very simple: we will only have to download the application on the sending and receiving device and start sending with one of them. When we do so, we will see in a list all the devices that are on the same network and use Warpinator, and what remains is to follow the process to finish the sending.

LocalSend, the fastest and most stable to use with Windows

Almost everything explained in Warpinator's point is valid for this de LocalSend. The main difference is that the latter does not have the developers of a large Linux distribution behind it, and I like LocalSend better. It seems to me that the interface is more polished and the transfers are faster and more stable. It also has versions for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android and for me it is the best for sending large files from iPhone to Windows and vice versa.

Another difference is that LocalSend, like Snapdrop, shows a random name on each of the devices. If the sender shows "Neat Cherry" and we want to send it to another device, we have to see what name it shows on it. If it is "Sweet Potato" we have to send it to "Sweet Potato", and on that device check that the sender is "Neat Cherry". It is a security measure that also does not bother.

Both Warpinator and LocalSend allow sending to any device that has the application installed and is on the same network.

that simple is power share files between your computers without having to use cables or download third-party applications which, perhaps, entail some extra expense such as a monthly subscription. Similarly, if you know more methods for this task, we would appreciate it if you share them in the comments.