Homepage • Discord • GitHub • Codeberg

English • 中文 • 日本語

LocalSend is a free, open-source app that allows you to securely share files and messages with nearby devices over your local network without needing an internet connection.

• About
• Screenshots
• Download
• How It Works
• Getting Started
• Contributing
  • Translation
  • Bug Fixes and Improvements
• Building
  • Android
  • iOS
  • macOS
  • Windows
  • Linux

LocalSend is a cross-platform app that enables secure communication between devices using a REST API and HTTPS encryption. Unlike other messaging apps that rely on external servers, LocalSend doesn't require an internet connection or third-party servers, making it a fast and reliable solution for local communication.

It is recommended to download the app either from an app store or from a package manager because the app does not have an auto-update.

Read more about distribution channels.

In most cases, LocalSend should work out of the box. However, if you are having trouble sending or receiving files, you may need to configure your firewall to allow LocalSend to communicate over your local network.

Also make sure to disable AP isolation on your router. It should be usually disabled by default but some routers may have it enabled (especially guest networks).

Portable Mode

(Introduced in v1.13.0)

Create a file named settings.json located in the same directory as the executable. This file can be empty. The app will use this file to store settings instead of the default location.

Start hidden

(Updated in v1.15.0)

To start the app hidden (only in tray), use the --hidden flag (example: localsend_app.exe --hidden).

On v1.14.0 and earlier, the app starts hidden if autostart flag is set, and the hidden setting is enabled.

LocalSend uses a secure communication protocol that allows devices to communicate with each other using a REST API. All data is sent securely over HTTPS, and the TLS/SSL certificate is generated on the fly on each device, ensuring maximum security.

For more information on the LocalSend Protocol, see the documentation.

To compile LocalSend from the source code, follow these steps:

1. Install Flutter directly or using fvm (see version required)
2. Clone the LocalSend repository
3. Run cd app to enter the app directory
4. Run flutter pub get to download dependencies
5. Run flutter run to start the app

We welcome contributions from anyone interested in helping improve LocalSend. If you'd like to contribute, there are a few ways to get involved:

You can help translate this app to other languages!

1. Fork this repository
2. Choose one
   • Add missing translations in existing languages: Only update _missing_translations_<locale>.json in app/assets/i18n
   • Fix existing translations: Update strings_<locale>.i18n.json in app/assets/i18n
   • Add new languages: Create a new file; see also: locale codes.
3. Optional: Re-run this app
   1. Run cd app to enter the app directory.
   2. Make sure you have run this app once.
   3. Update translations via flutter pub run slang
   4. Run the app via flutter run
   5. Open a pull request

Take note: Fields decorated with @ are not meant to be translated; they are not used in the app in any way, being merely informative text about the file or to give context to the translator.

• Bug Fixes: If you find a bug, please create a pull request with a clear description of the issue and how to fix it.
• Improvements: Have an idea for how to improve LocalSend? Please create an issue first to discuss why the improvement is needed.

For more information, see the contributing guide.

These commands are intended for maintainers only.

Traditional APK

flutter build apk

AppBundle for Google Play

flutter build appbundle

flutter build ipa

flutter build macos

Traditional

flutter build windows

Local MSIX App

flutter pub run msix:create

Store ready

flutter pub run msix:create --store

Traditional

flutter build linux

AppImage

appimage-builder --recipe AppImageBuilder.yml

Snap

Feel free to open a pull request. There is a snap branch to play with.