The Problem
Sending files to other devices is a complicated thing to accomplish. People use multiple devices with different operating systems at their home and work. Even when they connect to the same network, different operating systems and their unique quirks leave a lot to be desired in terms of seamless file sharing experience. We have AI that can pass law exams but, simple things like secure file sharing between devices with different OS is still not straightforward. Please don’t tell me bluetooth is the way to go.
Solutions, but not platform agnostic
File sharing apps like AirDrop for iOS and Nearby Share from Android have tried to fill in the gaps for their own operating systems. They are still not platform agnostic. You cannot use these apps to send files between iOS, Android, Windows or Linux.
Users then turn to sketchy third-party file sharing apps, messenger apps, or use cloud file sharing options. They come with their own privacy and security risks.
A true platform agnostic solution
A browser comes pre-installed on any mainstream operating system. So browsers could offer a solution to the file sharing dilemma that haunts people. WebRTC is an open-source peer-to-peer network protocol that allows you to scan and connect directly to the devices on your network. WebRTC stands for Web Real Time Communication. It supports voice, audio, files, and any generic data transfer. You need a recent browser to use WebRTC.
Pairdrop is an open-source web service that uses WebRTC to enable you to scan peers on your network and send them files and messages. The pairdrop project is on Github. PairDrop is a fork of Snapdrop which hasn’t been maintained for a while.
The service also works as a progressive web app. You can add it as a PWA on Windows, Linux, and Android, so it will work offline. Both devices already need the PWA to work.
The service runs on your browser, and can scan through other devices running the same service in other browsers. The devices also need to be in the same network.
Sharing files through Pairdrop is pretty simple. Devices found during the scan become visible with unique names. Tap them to send a file, left click to send a message. If you are on mobile, tap and hold the bubble to send a message.
Technical details and caution
WebRTC is a protocol that runs over P2P connection. It uses direct IP addresses connections on both ends for better connectivity. This raises some privacy concerns for many, but snapdrop only works on local network. WebRTC works both on the internet and in your local network. If you use a privacy focused browser, it may block WebRTC to prevent your IP leaking on the internet. Services like Pairdrop require WebRTC feature to be enabled. So you might need to turn these settings on to share and transfer messages and files.
Privacy centric browsers like Brave, Mull, and Cromite may disable WebRTC by default so these file sharing website might not work. You may have to temporarily enable WebRTC feature or use a different browser entirely.
Summary
Snapdrop is an open-source project that helps users in situations where they don’t have access to cables. It is also convenient not dealing with cables and malware transfer through cables. However browsers do not have a granular site based WebRTC activation, so once activated, every website can access its . A good practice is to turn on WebRTC feature when you’re using local services like Snapdrop. Turn it off when you’re done sending files or messages.
