How to use Snapdrop to share and transfer files online

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From my Linux desktop to my smartphone and other computers connected to the network, I exchange files frequently. Most of the time, I use KDE Connect to share files between a mobile device and a desktop computer. I use Croc to share files between two Linux desktops. I came across Snapdrop while searching for more file sharing tools. Wow! What a great app! Snapdrop allows you to easily share files between multiple devices on the same network via a web browser.

It doesn’t matter what OS or device you use. Snapdrop can share files across multiple platforms as long as all devices are connected to the same network. You can, for example, transfer files from an Android phone to a Linux desktop, share files from an iPhone to a Windows computer, or share files between two mobile devices. Snapdrop requires no setup or configuration.

Snapdrop is a safe and secure way to transfer files! Your files will not be uploaded to any server. If WebRTC is supported by your browser, Snapdrop uses a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection. Wirelessly, it finds the devices on the network and transfers the files locally. With WebRTC, all of your files will be encrypted while being sent between the devices. Snapdrop uses Web Sockets to transfer files when a browser does not support WebRTC.

Snapdrop is a web-based application, so you don’t have to download it. All you need is a web browser, such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. It can also be self-hosted. You can host it on your computer and share files instantly. What more you want?

Snapdrop is a web-based replacement for Apple’s AirDrop local file sharing software. It’s a HTML5-clone of AirDrop. One caveat is that all devices must be on the same network. AirDrop works regardless of network and is built into stock iOS by default.

Snapdrop allows you to share files between multiple devices via the web

Snapdrop does not require installation! You can access Snapdrop’s website by clicking the following button from your desktop or mobile device.Snapdrop will now open in your default web browser. Your device will be given a random name.

At the bottom middle of the Snapdrop site, my device name is “Turquoise Ferret”. When you open the Snapdrop site, a new random name will be assigned to your device.

Open Snapdrop on all your other devices as well. When Snapdrop is opened in other devices, the names of all devices will appear in the browser window of the other device. See the screenshot below. I have opened Snapdrop on my desktop PC and on my tablet PC. Each device is visible on the other’s browser.

This is how Snapdrop appears on a Tablet PC:

As you can see in the screenshot above, my tablet PC is named “Pink Rooster”. My desktop computer is in the middle of the screen.

Snapdrop appears as follows:

If you access Snapdrop on a third device, the name of that device will appear on all other devices.

Once the device appears in the browser session, click on it to attach, then select the file to share.wnload notification message will appear on the other device. You can either accept and download the file or ignore it. It is that simple! No more sign-ups, no more installation!

Snapdrop can also share text messages between devices.

Right click on the device, type your message, and hit the Send button.