Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

Re:Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to A... by askldfhalkdfh on Tuesday April 28, 2026 @10:17AM (#47934993)

This. Localsend may be very useful for a set of devices you control or influence. The USP of Airdrop is ad hoc sharing with people you don't really know. Classic case is meeting strangers on holiday and you want to swap some photos of the trip you're on. One or both of you doesn't have data or time to install anything, or it's just too hard to persuade someone they should install random app. Pairing Bluetooth or setting up local networks is way too convoluted and time consuming.

With Airdrop you have trivially easy, "just works" sharing with people in proximity. It works great between iPhones and Pixel phones now they support it. It just needs support to spread to more Android devices.

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Re:Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to A... by davely on Tuesday April 28, 2026 @10:35AM (#47935238)

> With Airdrop you have trivially easy, "just works" sharing with people in proximity.

Funny enough, I encounter so many problems trying to share things via AirDrop with friends, family, and even my own Apple devices that I just tell everyone to install LocalSend and I find that things work better.

I’m not sure why that is, because AirDrop used to work pretty well for me. But it’s been an exercise in frustration more often than not for me.

(Obviously, LocalSend works only as long as everyone is on the same network.)

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Re:Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to A... by Melatonic on Wednesday April 29, 2026 @03:06AM (#47945043)

I've found it very often falls back to sending over your internet connection even if your cell reception sucks. No idea why. People on a previous HN thread talked about solutions

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Re:Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to A... by t43562 on Tuesday April 28, 2026 @11:00AM (#47935586)

setting up local networks is so trivial compared to forcing everyone to buy an Apple gizmo.

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Re:Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to A... by bee_rider on Tuesday April 28, 2026 @11:07AM (#47935690)

True. But I mean these are photos (from strangers that you aren’t even willing to exchange phone numbers with?). It is a really non-essential feature anyway, so most likely everybody who doesn’t have an Apple device skips it.

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Re:Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to A... by lukeschlather on Tuesday April 28, 2026 @10:30PM (#47943571)

If it's videos sending over local wifi is the best option, even with people you know.

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Re:Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to A... by maratc on Wednesday April 29, 2026 @06:25AM (#47946360)

The real choice though is between (a) buying an apple gizmo and not having to set up local networks; and (b) buying a non-apple gizmo and having to do that.

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Re:Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to A... by t43562 on Thursday April 30, 2026 @02:08AM (#47958781)

...and guilt tripping people you meet on holiday for their phone choice because it's inconvenient for you.

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