Does Windows have AirDrop?

No. AirDrop is an Apple-only feature — it works between iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but there is no AirDrop for Windows and Apple has never released one. AlterSend is the closest equivalent: it sends files directly between Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

How do I AirDrop from iPhone to a Windows PC?

Install AlterSend on both your iPhone and your Windows PC, pair them once by scanning a QR code, and send files directly, end-to-end encrypted, with no accounts and no size limits.

Yes. AlterSend is free and open source (Apache-2.0). There's no premium tier for the transfer core and no upload costs, because your files never go to a server.

Does it work over the internet or only on the same Wi-Fi?

Both. AlterSend connects your devices whether they're on the same Wi-Fi or on opposite sides of the world.

Do both devices need to be online at the same time?

Yes. AlterSend opens a direct, encrypted connection, so both devices need the app open during the transfer. It's a live device-to-device transfer, not an upload-and-share-a-link — which is why your files never sit on a server.

Is there a file size limit?

No. Because you're transferring directly rather than uploading to a service, there's no cap. A single photo or a 200 GB project folder use the same flow.

AlterSendDownload

AirDrop for Windows.

AlterSend is the simplest free way to do it — send files directly between Windows, iPhone, Mac, Android, and Linux, end-to-end encrypted, with no accounts and no size limits.

Download free for Windows See how it works →

AlterSend desktop app sending files to a Windows PC

AlterSend on iPhone receiving files from a Windows PC

Why AlterSend

Real advantages over AirDrop

Works on every platform

Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android — any direction.

No size limits

A photo or a 500 GB archive — same flow.

Send whole folders

Drag an entire folder, not just single files.

Fast

Direct transfer, at full connection speed.

Never touches the cloud

End-to-end encrypted, never uploaded or stored.

Works over the internet

Across the world, not just the same room.

No account, no sign-up

Open the app and send. Nothing to register.

Free and open source

Apache-2.0 — no subscriptions, no upload fees.

Send from any device to Windows in seconds

01
Install on both devices
Free on Windows, iPhone, Mac, Android, and Linux.
02
Scan a code to pair
One QR scan connects them. Pair once — they remember each other.
03
Send, directly
Files go straight across, encrypted. Any size, no cloud.

AlterSend transferring files between a Windows PC and a phone, end-to-end encrypted

Questions

The AirDrop that works everywhere.

Free, open source, and native on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, and Android.

Download free Star on GitHub