Your new favorite file-sending tool

Easy file transfers between all your devices  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Cool Tools, by The Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: ​ Let's be honest: There should be a quick, wireless way to send files between all your devices. But in 2024, it's not always obvious how to do it. If you use the built-in tools on modern devices, it can get complicated fast. Between Google's Quick Share, Microsoft's Nearby Sharing, and Apple's AirDrop, there's a whole mess of different file-sending standards built into different platforms. Your alternative is often uploading a file to a cloud storage service or emailing it — but shouldn't there be an easy, simple way to move files between any devices on your local network? There is, and that's the especially cool tool I want to share with you. It's time to fix all that file-sending confusion. [Chris Hoffman, Author of Windows Intelligence] Chris Hoffman​ Author of [Windows Intelligence]()​ --------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSORED MESSAGE Before we get into the rest of today's newsletter, there's another extremely cool tool you should check out... We’re all familiar with the tortuous tango that is scheduling meetings. It either involves tons of back and forth, overly fancy footwork, or is just plain impersonal. Not anymore. Introducing [Bookable Schedule]() from Boomerang. This free, simple tool lets you embed your calendar in your email messages so that people can pick a time that works best for them, right in their inbox! It is: 🫰 Convenient: Syncs with your calendar, all without leaving your email 💪 Powerful: Integrates with multiple calendars and works with all major video conferencing platforms ✅ Easy to use: No more coordinating or impersonal links ➜ [Save yourself time and simplify meeting scheduling for free with Boomerang.]() [REMOVE SCHEDULING HEADACHES ➜]() ​ Wirelessly send files between any devices on your network This tool is a free, easy, open-source, cross-platform way to send and receive files on your local network. It doesn't use any accounts, and it runs on Android devices, Windows PCs, iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Linux systems. ➜ It's called [LocalSend](, and it's an extremely useful tool an eagle-eyed reader recommended to me. (Using a Chromebook, or just want a web-based alternative that doesn't need installation? You should try out [Snapdrop]( instead — I'll cover that below, too.) ⌚ You can get started with LocalSend in as little as 15 seconds or so — the setup process is that fast! First, install LocalSend on whatever devices you want to use. You'll find [download links on the LocalSend website](), and you can also get it for Android from [Google Play](=) or grab it for Apple devices from [Apple's App Store](=). Just run and open the app — that's it! There's no further setup process and no accounts or passwords you need to bother with. Once you're running LocalSend on two apps on the same network, they'll automatically discover and "see each other" in the LocalSend app. LocalSend automatically names your devices things like "Energetic Pear" so you can tell them apart, but you can specify your own device names in the LocalSend app's settings, if you like. [The LocalSend app on Windows 11.] To send a file, click or tap over to the "Send" tab. You can provide one or more files or photos, an entire folder, or even some text from your clipboard. (You can also drag-and-drop files from elsewhere on your computer to the window.) [The LocalSend app's Send window on Windows 11.] Once you've provided whatever you want to send, just click or tap the nearby device you want to send it to. [The LocalSend app waiting to send files from a Windows 11 PC to an Android phone.] You'll get a notification saying the other device wants to send you a file and you can choose to allow or deny it. If you allow it, the file is send wirelessly and saved in your device's Downloads folder. That's it! [The LocalSend app waiting to receive files on an Android phone.] Since everyone has to choose to accept file transfers, you can install LocalSend and use it to share files between multiple people's devices on a local network. Everyone stays in control of their own devices. But, if you're just using LocalSend on your own trusted network, you can go enable "Quick Save" in the app's settings and LocalSend will automatically accept and save incoming file transfers. Be sure you trust everyone on the network if you do this! 👀 Looking for a web-based alternative? [Snapdrop]( is just the ticket. It's like LocalSend, but it runs entirely in a browser. You just have to open a web page To use it, first open [the Snapdrop website]( on multiple devices. Like with LocalSend, the devices need to be on the same local network. The devices will immediately see each other on the Snapdrop website. Like with LocalSend, Snapdrop assigns your devices random names. [The Snapdrop website in Google Chrome.] Now, you can send a file. On the device you want to send the file from, click the name of the device you want to send the file to on the Snapdrop website. Browse to the file, select it, and Snapdrop will send it wirelessly over your local network. (Or, you can drag-and-drop the file onto the window.) On the device receiving the file, you must then choose to download the file. [The Snapdrop website receiving a photo from an Android phone on a Windows PC.] That's it! LocalSend may be more convenient for frequent use because it remains running in the background, while you have to open the Snapdrop website each time you want to use it. Still, that means you can quickly and easily use Snapdrop whenever and wherever you like — no installation necessary. 📌 You can [download LocalSend from its official website](, or [use Snapdrop on its website](. 💰 Both LocalSend and Snapdrop are completely free. 🕶 LocalSend and Snapdrop don't need any accounts, and they send the files directly between your own devices on your own network. ​ This Week's Cool Tools Quiz Which company created the first touchscreen "smartphone"? Hint: A prototype debuted back in 1992! Remember: NO CHEATING! Anyone can look up info on the web. Stick with the spirit of the game and test your actual knowledge without searching. It's just for fun, anyway! [Apple](=) [Microsoft](=) [IBM](=) [AT&T](=) Answer correctly before next Wednesday and secure your spot on the [Cool Tools Leaderboard](=)! 👉 Last week's question and answer: Which of these characters was not ever associated with an actual tech product? Barry, the BlackBerry assistant. Somewhat astonishingly, such a character never existed! Jeeves and Clippy are among the most famous real tech mascots, meanwhile, while Clarus the dogcow, believe it or not, was an [actual, honest-to-goodness part]( of Apple’s early desktop software. 🤚 Wait! Before you go: What'd you think of this issue? [Thumbs Up](=) [Thumbs Down]( Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to cast your vote and let us know. ​ Want less email? [Update your reading preferences](=) to opt out of any individual publications or unsubscribe entirely. New here and not yet subscribed? Take two seconds to [sign up for our newsletters](): Cool Tools, Android Intelligence, or Windows Intelligence (or all three!). Hungry for even more? [Learn about becoming an Intelligence Insider,](=) our one-of-a-kind community where you'll have access to power-packed advanced resources, an on-demand help desk, and tons of free apps and services. Independent journalism relies on you. 🤝 [An Intelligence Insider membership](=) allows you to support our work and keep this newsletter sustainable! # #