How to Share Files Without Internet — Offline File Transfer
Sharing files without internet used to mean USB sticks or complicated network setups. DropLink makes it trivial: as long as two devices are on the same local network, they can transfer files directly — with end-to-end encryption and zero cloud involvement.
Quick answer
Put both devices on the same local network — Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or a phone hotspot works, with or without internet access. Open DropLink on the sender, pick the receiver from the Nearby list (or share a Web UI link to any browser), and transfer directly over QUIC with TLS 1.3. Discovery uses mDNS/Bonjour, no cloud, no server, no account — ideal for air-gapped offices, planes with Wi-Fi, and regions with restricted internet.
Step-by-step
- 1
Connect both devices to the same network
Use a local Wi-Fi network, Ethernet, or a phone hotspot. DropLink only needs devices to be on the same LAN — there is no requirement for that network to have internet access.
- 2
Install DropLink on the sender
macOS (App Store) or Windows (Microsoft Store). The app is free and under 50 MB.
- 3
Open DropLink — discovery happens automatically
DropLink uses mDNS/Bonjour to find other DropLink devices on the network. Any other device running the app will appear in the DropLink Vicini list within seconds.
- 4
No DropLink on the receiver? Use the Web UI
Click Receive files on the sender. DropLink runs a local web server and shows a link. The receiver opens the link in any browser — no app needed.
- 5
Drop your files and send
On the sender, drop the files into the drop zone and select the destination. The receiver gets a prompt to accept, and the transfer begins — all over the local network, no internet required.
Common issues and fixes
- Devices do not see each other
The network almost certainly has AP isolation (guest Wi-Fi, hotel, cafe). DropLink probes for this by trying to TCP-connect to IPs in the same /24 subnet; if nothing is reachable while the internet is, it declares 'AP isolation detected' and suggests alternatives. Workaround: use a phone hotspot instead. Ethernet cables always work.
- mDNS not working on my enterprise network
Many enterprise Wi-Fi setups block multicast. As a workaround, use the Web UI method: the sender shows a link/QR code and the receiver opens it in a browser — this uses unicast HTTP and does not require mDNS. You will need to type the sender's IP into the browser URL.
- Transfer is slower than expected on a hotspot
Phone hotspots are typically limited by the phone's Wi-Fi chipset running in AP mode. On iPhone, using USB tethering (via Lightning/USB-C) rather than Wi-Fi tethering often gives 2-3x the throughput. On Android, 5 GHz hotspot is faster than 2.4 GHz.