What is LocalSend, and how does it work?

LocalSend is a free, open-source app for sending files and text between devices on the same local network, with no account and no internet connection. Think of it as an AirDrop-style tool that runs on almost everything: Mac, Android, Windows, Linux, and iPhone. You install it on both devices, pick a file, and tap the other device's name. It does one job, moving things you choose, and it does not sync anything in the background.

Publisher note: The Relay publishes this guide and is one of the products discussed. Details about other products come from each maker's own pages, checked on 25 October 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm before you buy.

What does LocalSend do?

Its GitHub README describes it as a free, open-source app to share files and messages with nearby devices "without needing an internet connection". The LocalSend website sums up the routine in three steps: install and open it, select files, tap the nearby device.

In practice that covers:

• Files of any type. The site says you can choose "photos, videos, documents, or text" and that "any file type is supported". It states no file-size limit.
• Short text. You can send a message or a link instead of a file.
• Any direction. Mac to Android, Android to Mac, Android to Windows, phone to phone. The same app runs on both ends, so it behaves the same either way.

Received files go to the Downloads folder by default, and the site's FAQ says you can change that in settings.

Who makes it, and what does it cost?

LocalSend is a community project. The website footer credits Tien Nam Do and says the project is "Licensed under the Apache License 2.0", which matches the licence file in the repository. The site's FAQ answers "Is it really free?" with "100% free and open source", adding that there are "no ads, no tracking, and no hidden costs". The same page says the project is "made possible by our partners and community", and it takes donations.

The site also claims more than 35 million downloads and over 230 contributors. Those are the project's own figures.

Which devices does it work on?

The README lists these minimums:

There is also a Fire OS build on Amazon's store. Older phones are covered by older releases: the README says v1.17.0 was the last to support Android 5 and 6.

The current release when we checked was v1.18.2, published on 21 August 2026.

How does LocalSend work without the internet?

Everything happens on your own network. The README says devices talk to each other using "a REST API and HTTPS encryption", and that the security certificate is "generated on the fly on each device". There is no LocalSend server in the middle, and no sign-in.

The LocalSend protocol documentation fills in the rest:

1. Finding devices. When the app opens, it announces itself to the local network with a small multicast message. Other LocalSend devices reply. If multicast is blocked, the app falls back to asking every address on the local network directly.
2. Asking first. The sender sends a list of files. The receiver accepts all, some, or none of them.
3. Sending. The files go straight from one device to the other over HTTPS.

The default port is 53317, for both TCP and UDP. That number matters when something blocks it, as the troubleshooting section below shows.

One consequence of this design: LocalSend only talks to other devices running LocalSend. It does not show up in AirDrop on a Mac or in Quick Share on an Android phone. If you want an Android phone to appear in AirDrop, that depends on the phone; see AirDrop from Android to Mac.

How do I install LocalSend on a Mac and an Android phone?

The README gives one piece of advice worth following. It recommends installing from an app store or a package manager, because the app "does not have an auto-update". So choose a source that updates for you.

On the Mac, the README links three routes:

1. The Mac App Store listing, which updates like any other App Store app.
2. Homebrew, if you already use it: brew install --cask localsend in Terminal. The Homebrew page listed version 1.18.2 when we checked.
3. A DMG installer from the GitHub releases page. You will need to update this one by hand.

On the Android phone:

1. Google Play, or
2. F-Droid, or
3. the APK from GitHub releases, which does not update itself.

Then connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network and open the app on each. If macOS asks whether LocalSend may find devices on your local network, allow it. The full walkthrough for sending in both directions is in LocalSend from Mac to Android.

If your phone runs Android 17, use version 1.18.1 or later. Its release notes say it adds a local network permission "required for Android 17+".

What if the other device does not show up?

The README's troubleshooting table names the usual causes:

Each fix is explained step by step in LocalSend device not showing.

What can LocalSend not do?

Going by its own site and README, LocalSend is a sending tool. Its pages describe sending files and text when you choose to, and nothing else. So, for a phone and a Mac:

• Not across the internet. The site's FAQ answers "Does it work over the internet?" with a plain "No". Both devices must be on the same local network.
• No background sync. Its pages do not describe clipboard sync, notifications, text messages, or calls.
• No auto-update for the DMG and APK versions, as quoted above.
• No AirDrop or Quick Share compatibility, because it uses its own protocol.

Where does LocalSend fit next to other tools?

For moving files between an Android phone and a Mac on the same Wi-Fi, LocalSend is one of the best free answers. It is open source, needs no account, and works the same in both directions. If you also want the Mac to act as a Quick Share device, look at NearDrop or LocalSend. If you want notifications and clipboard as well as files, KDE Connect vs LocalSend covers the trade.

The Relay, which publishes this guide, sits further along that line. It does file transfer and browsing of the phone's storage from a Mac window, and also syncs the clipboard both ways, shows the phone's notifications, incoming texts, login codes, and calls on the Mac, and lets the phone act as a webcam. It is made only for an Android phone and a Mac, so it does not help with Windows, Linux, or iPhone. The Relay is one subscription through Google Play that covers your phone and your Mac, with a 7-day free trial. If all you need is to send files now and then, LocalSend does that for free, and you do not need The Relay.

Questions people ask

Is LocalSend free?

Yes. Its website says it is "100% free and open source", with no ads and no hidden costs. The code is published under the Apache License 2.0.

Does LocalSend need the internet or an account?

No to both. The site says "No account, no login, no servers", and transfers stay on your local network. Both devices do need to be on the same network.

Is LocalSend the same as AirDrop?

No. It works in a similar way, sending to nearby devices over your network, but it only talks to other devices running LocalSend. It does not appear in AirDrop or Quick Share.

Is LocalSend safe to use?

Its README says transfers use HTTPS with a certificate generated on each device. The project has also published security advisories for older versions. We look at both in Is LocalSend safe?

Where do LocalSend files go on a Mac?

To the Downloads folder by default. The site's FAQ says you can choose a different folder in the app's settings.