How to Get an 'AirDrop' Experience on Windows 11 (Top 5 Methods)

Looking for AirDrop on Windows 11? Apple's AirDrop doesn't run on PC — but these 5 free alternatives give you the same instant wireless experience. No cables, no hassle.

Updated: July 27, 2026

No login required

End-to-end encrypted

Works everywhere

100% free

You bought a Windows 11 laptop. Your iPhone has a file you need on it right now.

You try AirDrop. Nothing happens — Windows isn't in the list.

Here's why, and here's what actually works.

Does Windows 11 Have AirDrop?

No. Windows 11 does not include Apple's AirDrop, and it never will.

AirDrop is a proprietary Apple protocol that combines Bluetooth and a direct Wi-Fi connection. Apple built it exclusively for devices running iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. There is no official AirDrop app, driver, or extension for Windows — and no third-party tool can install the real AirDrop either.

Windows 11 does have a feature called Nearby Sharing, which works similarly to AirDrop. But it only connects Windows PC to Windows PC. It cannot communicate with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

What about Bluetooth? You can pair an iPhone with a Windows 11 PC via Bluetooth, but Apple blocks the standard Bluetooth file-transfer protocol (OBEX) on iOS. The pairing works. The file transfer does not.

The good news: five alternatives give you a genuinely fast wireless transfer experience on Windows 11.

Method 1: Browser-Based P2P Transfer (Best No-Install Alternative)

This is the closest experience to AirDrop on Windows 11 — and it requires zero installation on either device.

Textunnel runs entirely in your browser. Open it on your iPhone in Safari and on your Windows 11 PC in Chrome or Edge. Connect them with a 6-digit room code or QR scan. Files and text transfer directly between the two devices over your local Wi-Fi.

The whole setup takes about 30 seconds the first time.

Why it works like AirDrop:

• No app installation on iPhone or Windows
• No account or signup required
• Peer-to-peer transfer — works at local Wi-Fi speed
• Transfers files, photos, links, and text snippets in both directions

How to "AirDrop" Files via Textunnel in 3 Steps

Works even on work PCs: Because Textunnel runs in the browser, it works even on managed enterprise computers where IT policy blocks software installations.

Method 2: Windows 11 Nearby Sharing (Best for PC-to-PC Transfers)

If you need to send files between two Windows computers, Nearby Sharing is the right tool — it's built in, requires no setup, and works wirelessly over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Important: Nearby Sharing only works between Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs. It does not support iPhone, Android, iPad, or Mac.

Setup:

1. On both PCs, go to Settings → System → Nearby sharing.
2. Set it to Everyone nearby (or My devices only if both are signed into the same Microsoft account).
3. On the sending PC, right-click any file → Share → select the nearby PC from the list.
4. The receiving PC shows a notification to accept the file.

Files land in your Downloads folder by default. You can change this in the Nearby Sharing settings.

Method 3: LocalSend (Best Dedicated Local Network App)

LocalSend is a free, open-source app available on iPhone (App Store) and Windows (Microsoft Store). It replicates the AirDrop experience within a local Wi-Fi network — fast, private, and without cloud uploads.

Why it's worth installing:

• No file size limits
• No internet connection required for the transfer
• Completely free with no ads or subscription
• Transfers all file types

The catch: Both devices need the app installed. On a personal machine this is trivial. On a work or rented computer where you can't install software, use Method 1 instead.

Setup:

1. Install LocalSend from the App Store on iPhone and from the Microsoft Store on Windows 11.
2. Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
3. Open LocalSend on both — they discover each other automatically.
4. Select a file, tap the target device, send.

Method 4: Microsoft Phone Link (Official Companion App)

Phone Link is Microsoft's built-in wireless bridge between smartphones and Windows 11. It works best with Android devices — iPhone support was added later and remains more limited.

What it does on iPhone:

• Syncs recent photos from your iPhone camera roll to your PC
• Shows iPhone notifications on Windows 11
• Allows iMessage replies from your PC (requires same Apple ID, limited setup)

What it doesn't do well: Large file transfers and arbitrary document types are not reliably supported for iPhone users. For photos only, it's fine.

Setup:

1. Open the Phone Link app on your Windows 11 PC (pre-installed — search in Start).
2. Choose iPhone, then follow the QR pairing steps.
3. On your iPhone, scan the code using the Camera app and complete the setup process.
4. Grant the necessary permissions and keep the connection active.

Method 5: Cloud Storage — iCloud Drive & OneDrive

Cloud storage is the fallback that works when your devices aren't on the same network — at the cost of upload time and storage quota.

iCloud Drive:

• Save files to iCloud Drive using the iPhone Files app.
• Access on Windows 11 via the iCloud website (icloud.com) or the iCloud for Windows app.
• Free tier: 5GB — fills quickly with videos and RAW photos.

OneDrive:

• Install the OneDrive app on iPhone, upload files there.
• Files sync automatically to your Windows 11 OneDrive folder.
• Free tier: 5GB. Integrates deeply with Windows 11.

The trade-off: Both methods require an internet upload from your iPhone first, then a download to your PC. For a 1GB video on a typical home connection, expect 5–10 minutes total wait time. For large files in a hurry, local transfer methods are far faster.

Which Windows 11 AirDrop Alternative Should You Pick?

Quick decision guide:

• Can't install anything on the PC? → Textunnel
• Sending between two Windows PCs? → Nearby Sharing
• Moving large files daily between personal devices? → LocalSend
• Just want photos from iPhone on your PC automatically? → Phone Link
• Need access from anywhere, not just home? → iCloud or OneDrive

Frequently Asked Questions