Re: Tutorial: How to send files between Windows & iOS over the LAN using LocalSend

On 07/04/2025 10:19, Marion wrote:

Tutorial: How to send files between Windows & iOS over the LAN using LocalSend.
    LocalSend is a free, open-source application for all common OS platforms.
   LocalSend uses HTTPS to transfer files between the OS platforms.
   LocalSend does not need to use the Internet to transfer files.
   LocalSend uses only the local Wi-Fi (LAN) network.
   LocalSend must be installed on both the sending and receiving devices.
   Both sending & receiving devices must be on the same network.
   LocalSend does not require creating any online accounts or logins.
   LocalSend bypasses Apple's arbitrary file-transfer restrictions.
   There is no need for iTunes, iCloud, Apple Mobile Devices, etc.
  A. Install LocalSend on all devices you wish to transfer files between.
    <https://localsend.org/download>
    For the LocalSend Windows portable zip archive:
    <https://localsend.org/download?os=windows>
    <https://github.com/localsend/localsend/releases/download/v1.17.0/LocalSend-1.17.0-windows-x86-64.zip>
     Name: LocalSend-1.17.0-windows-x86-64.zip
     Size: 18766124 bytes (17 MiB)
     SHA256: A4FFB41FCBC3BD0F2F0CBD30B62A58D9A478EAF1DA63EB410886886064ABE70C
    This extracts to "LocalSend-1.17.0-windows-x86-64" which contains:
     Name: localsend_app.exe
     Size: 161280 bytes (157 KiB)
     SHA256: 9AA728853377643FBB13368E2A52ED816A448E0B5F28404AFB2154D2068F007A
    For the LocalSend iOS IPA:
    <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/localsend/id1661733229>
    For the LocalSend Android APK:
    <https://github.com/localsend/localsend/releases/download/v1.17.0/LocalSend-1.17.0-android-arm64v8.apk>
    Name: LocalSend-1.17.0-android-arm64v8.apk
    Size: 17491108 bytes (16 MiB)
    SHA256: 2C7F5FD4872DA25115BB8E5E62F92DE94DDA47B0F249FF387AC667B13871DC3E
 Step by step tutorial that I tested so that you can use it with confidence.
1. Both the PC & iOS device need to be on the same local network
    To find what IP address the iOS device is, go to "Settings".
    Then click on the Wi-Fi connection in the left top pane.
    Press the circled (i) for information about that connection.
    Scroll down to the "IPV4 Address" section & note the "IP Address".
    To ping that IP address from the Windows PC, use "Win+R > cmd"
    C:\> ping 192.168.1.3
2. LocalSend must be open & running on Windows & iOS
    On Windows, you'll get a firewall message when you first run LocalSend.
    On iOS, you'll get a popup when you first run LocalSend saying...
     "LocalSend" would like to find and connect to devices
      on your local network. The app uses the local network
      to find and connect to nearby devices."
          [Don't Allow] [Allow]
    Windows Firewall has to allow LocalSend on Private Networks (at least).
    a. Windows Defender Firewall: Win+R > firewall.cpl
       or Windows Firewall with Advanced Security: Win+R > wf.msc
    b. Tap "Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall"
       A new window will open, titled "Allowed apps and features"
    c. Scroll through the list to find "LocalSend" & set it to
       LocalSend [x]Private [_]Public
3. On Windows LocalSend, press the "Send" button.
4. On Windows LocalSend, select the "File" selection.
5. On Windows, browser to the file you want to send to iOS.
6. On Windows LocalSend, in the "Nearby devices" section select the iPad.
7. The Windows LocalSend will say "Waiting for response..."
8. On the iPad LocalSend, it says Windows wants to send you a file.
    [Options][Decline][Accept]
9. Pressing "Options" gives you three choices:
     a. Save to folder = LocalSend folder
     b. Save media to gallery = on/off (default is "on")
     c. Files
10. Leaving it at the default, I pressed the "Accept" button.
11. The iOS LocalSend said "LocalSend would like to add to your photos.
     The app saves received media to the photo library.
     [Don't Allow][OK]
12. The iOS LocalSend will say "Saved in Photos".
 Note that it works both ways, as Paul said it should. :)
By default, from iOS to Windows is saved in "C:\Users\you\Downloads".
 As always, please improve so that billions of people benefit from
every post you make, which is why we all should learn from each other.
 

I am going to reply to all here with thanks.
I use a Windows 8.1 Pro local account with no login. I don't have a mobile phone.
I get PCs, laptops & sometimes phones brought to me with either faults or requests of 'how do I?', & I do what I can with no charge.
Windows doesn't allow file sharing (since Windows 8) without logging in.
However files can be transferred from an iphone to Windows (local account/no log in) via USB but not from Windows to the iphone.
  Drag & drop doesn't work.
  Copy/Move doesn't work
  Send-to in the context menu shows but doesn't work
Photos on the iphone will open with Irfanview in Windows
Files can be deleted from an iphone if they can be seen in Windows.
An MS account is required to download apps from the App Store.
A credit card is required to set up an account to download apps to an iphone & often the phone owner doesn't want to give me or Apple that information.
As with most problems I get, the phone owner doesn't want to spend a lot of time whilst I diagnose/sort problems.
I really need the phone owner to either be in attendance or give me their passwords etc.
I have not yet been asked to sort out an Android phone with a file sharing problem however I do have an Android tablet but have never needed to transfer files to or from Windows.
Most of the answers presume I own the hardware & can do what I like with no time limits, but for me that's not the case.
--
Regards
wasbit