How to Transfer Files from iPhone to Windows Wirelessly

Learn how to transfer files from iPhone to Windows wirelessly — no cable, no iTunes. Covers browser P2P, Phone Link, iCloud, LocalSend, and SMB sharing.

Updated: July 27, 2026

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You want to send a file from your iPhone to your Windows PC without digging out a cable.

The obvious answer — AirDrop — doesn't work here.

But there are five wireless methods that do, and they range from "open a browser and go" to "configure your local network." Pick the one that fits your situation.

Can You AirDrop from iPhone to Windows?

No. AirDrop uses a proprietary combination of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi that Apple has built exclusively for its own devices — iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Windows is not supported, and there is no official workaround.

What about Bluetooth file transfer?

You can pair an iPhone with a Windows PC via Bluetooth. But Apple has intentionally blocked the Bluetooth Object Push Profile (OBEX) on iOS — the protocol that allows file transfers. So the pairing works; the file transfer does not.

The good news: there are better options than Bluetooth anyway.

Method 1: Browser-Based P2P Transfer (No App, No Install)

This is the closest thing to AirDrop on Windows.

Our dedicated iPhone to PC Wireless Transfer Tool runs entirely in your browser. Open it on your iPhone Safari and on your Windows PC browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox), connect them with a short room code or QR scan, and start transferring files. When both devices are on the same Wi-Fi, the transfer happens peer-to-peer over your local network — no internet upload, no cloud storage quota, no waiting.

It takes about 10 seconds to start transferring.

How to Use Textunnel over Wi-Fi

Why this works for large files: The transfer goes directly from your iPhone to your PC over your local Wi-Fi router. It never touches an external server, so you're limited only by your local network speed — typically 50–200 MB/s, far faster than any cloud upload.

Method 2: Microsoft Phone Link (Official Windows Tool)

Phone Link is Microsoft's built-in wireless bridge between Android phones and Windows PCs. iPhone support was added later, though it is more limited than the Android version.

What it does on iPhone: Syncs recent photos, and with some iPhone setups, allows messaging and notifications on your PC.

What it doesn't do well: Large video transfers and arbitrary file types are not reliably supported for iPhone users as of 2026. This is a better fit for photo syncing than general file transfer.

Setup:

1. On your Windows 11 PC, open the Phone Link app (pre-installed, search in Start).
2. Choose iPhone and follow the on-screen pairing instructions — it generates a QR code to scan.
3. On your iPhone, open the Camera app and scan the code. It will redirect you to a setup process.
4. Grant the requested permissions and keep the Phone Link connection active in the background.

Method 3: Cloud Services (iCloud Drive, Google Drive)

Cloud storage is the most familiar approach and works when your devices are on different networks.

The trade-off: You upload the file from your iPhone to a remote server, then download it again to your PC. For a 1GB video on a 50 Mbps connection, that's potentially 5+ minutes of waiting — each way.

iCloud Drive:

• On iPhone, go to Files → iCloud Drive and save the file there.
• On your PC, download iCloud for Windows or access files at icloud.com.
• Free tier: 5GB. You'll hit this quickly with videos.

Google Drive:

• Upload using the Google Drive app on iPhone.
• Access at drive.google.com from any browser on your PC.
• Free tier: 15GB, shared with Gmail and Google Photos.

Cloud storage is the right tool for files you want to keep permanently accessible from multiple devices. It's not the right tool for "I need this file on my PC in the next 60 seconds."

Method 4: LocalSend — Local Wi-Fi App (Best for Repeated Heavy Transfers)

LocalSend is a free, open-source app that creates an AirDrop-like experience using only your local Wi-Fi network. It's available on iPhone (App Store) and Windows (Microsoft Store and direct download).

Why it's worth mentioning:

• Completely free with no ads, no accounts, no file size limits.
• Transfers happen entirely on your local network — fast and private.
• Supports all file types.

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

Setup:

1. Install LocalSend from the App Store on your iPhone.
2. Install LocalSend from the Microsoft Store (search "LocalSend") on your Windows PC.
3. Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
4. Open LocalSend on both devices — they discover each other automatically.
5. Select the file on your iPhone, tap the PC in the device list, and send.

Method 5: Network Sharing (SMB) via the iOS Files App

This is the advanced option — no apps required on either end, maximum local network speed, and it works for browsing your entire Windows file system from your iPhone.

SMB (Server Message Block) is the file-sharing protocol built into Windows. Once enabled, your Windows PC becomes a shared drive that your iPhone can access directly from the native Files app.

Setup on Windows:

1. Open Settings → System → Shared Experiences (Windows 10) or Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings (Windows 11).
2. Make sure Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing are turned on.
3. Right-click a folder you want to share → Properties → Sharing → Share → add your user or set to Everyone.
4. Note your PC's local IP address: open Command Prompt and type ipconfig. Look for the IPv4 address (usually 192.168.x.x).

Setup on iPhone:

1. Open the Files app.
2. Tap ... (three dots) in the top right → Connect to Server.
3. Type smb://192.168.x.x (replace with your PC's IP address).
4. Enter your Windows username and password.
5. Your PC's shared folders appear in the Files app. Drag files directly in or out.

This method has no file size limit, no internet dependency, and runs at full local network speed. The setup takes 10–15 minutes the first time, but once configured, it's permanently available whenever your iPhone and PC are on the same network.

Which Method Is Right for You?

If you're on a work PC where you can't install anything, Method 1 (Textunnel) is the only option that works without any installation on either device.

If you're moving 20GB of footage between your home devices regularly, Method 5 (SMB) is worth the one-time setup investment.

Frequently Asked Questions