Mini review – Use LocalSend for simple file transfer on Linux

by July 5, 2025 · Editors Choice / Latest blog / Mini Review

In today’s digital life, we are no longer limited to just one device on which we perform our digital activities and create and store files. Many of us now have multiple devices on our desks, in our backpacks, and in our pockets. Whether at home behind our workstation, working on our laptop during our commutes or travels on the train, or quickly updating a document on our mobile phone, if we have a spare moment. We can maintain our digital life anywhere and at any time. An important aspect of this multi-device digital life is file transfer. How do you easily move your files between your different devices? There are several methods for transferring files between devices and platforms. In this new mini review, I will explain how to use the free and open-source, cross-platform file transfer application LocalSend on Linux.

Content

  1. Introduction
  2. What is LocalSend
  3. Features of LocalSend
  4. How to install LocalSend
  5. How to use LocalSend
  6. Final words

Introduction

As mentioned above, the intensity with which we combine different devices in our digital lives has increased significantly in recent years. Depending on which generational perspective you look at it from, this may feel normal, but for others, it may be something that has developed over the years. For me, as someone from 1970, with youth in which we did not immediately have the same digital possibilities as we have now, it was not that complex to deal with your data in an organized way. In my teenage years, I had a Commodore 64, so my data was on a cassette, and during my studies at university, I shared a 286 PC with my girlfriend, now my wife. Files were stored on a floppy disk and, a little later, on our first hard drive. Now, decades later, my wife and I have 2 Linux workstations, a Linux laptop, a MacBook, 2 iPad Airs, 2 mobile phones, a 4-bay NAS, a 2-bay NAS, some external drives, and cloud storage. The digital complexity has clearly increased in this household and, with it, how we deal with the exchange of data between all these devices. I expect a lot of you to recognize this type of change over the years. So, how can we make data exchange between our devices possible?

What is LocalSend

LocalSend is an easy-to-use, secure, decentralized, cross-platform, free-of-charge, open-source file-sharing solution that is based on nearby device technology. Sharing or transferring files works without an external internet connection and an external service provided and managed by others. The solution is what we call peer-to-peer file transfer and is also end-to-end encrypted. LocalSend uses a secure protocol to communicate between devices within the scope and boundaries of your WiFi network. This communication between your devices is possible by using a REST API, HTTPS encryption, and automatic TLS/SSL certificate generation on each device.

Features of LocalSend

In summary, LocalSend offers the following features:

  • Cross-platform (apps available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS)
  • No external internet connection is required
  • Peer-to-peer transfer over Wi-Fi
  • Secure because of end-to-end encryption
  • It can handle large files, multiple files, and complete directories with files
  • Gives historical insight into file transfer activities
  • Simple setup and user experience

How to install LocalSend

Installing LocalSend is easy on all your different devices. Since I am primarily interested in Linux and have both Android and iOS devices, I will focus on those, but I will also provide references for Windows and macOS.

Install LocalSend on Linux

You can install LocalSend on Linux in different ways, like Flatpak, Snap, DEB, and AppImage. 

Install as Flatpak

If you use a Linux distribution like Pop!_OS, Linux Mint, or Zorin OS, Flatpak support is offered out-of-the-box, so it is integrated into the system and in the Software application. Just go to the Software Center application and search for LocalSend to install it.

If your Linux distro doesn’t have Flatpak support yet, you can find out more info on how to set up Flatpak support for your distribution.

When you have read the support information and Flatpak support is set up correctly, go to the LocalSend application page on Flathub. 

Now, click on Install to download the .flatpakref file and double-click the downloaded file to install LocalSend.

If you want to read more about managing your Flatpak-based apps, read my article “How to use Flatseal to modify and review Flatpak permissions in Linux“.

Install as Snap

If you use Ubuntu or maybe a Linux distribution like Zorin OS, Snap support is offered out-of-the-box, so it is integrated into the system and the Software application. In that case, just go to the Software Center and search for LocalSend to install it.

If your Linux distro doesn’t have Snap support yet, you can find out more about how to set up Snap support via Read more about Snap support

When Snap support is set up correctly, you can install LocalSend via the below steps:

1) Open your Terminal via the keyboard combination Ctrl + Alt + T.

2) Copy and paste the following command and hit Enter:

sudo snap install localsend

Install as DEB

If you want to install LocalSend as DEB, then click on Download LocalSend DEB file

After a successful download, double-click the .deb file to start the installation process.

Install as AppImage

If you want to install LocalSend as AppImage, then click on Download LocalSend AppImage file

After a successful download, right-click the .AppImage file, select the Permissions tab, and enable “Allow executing file as program”. Now you can double-click the file to start the application.

Install LocalSend on Android

To install LocalSend on Android devices, click Install LocalSend on Android for information on all options.

Install LocalSend on iOS

To install LocalSend on iOS devices, click Install LocalSend on iOS for information on all options:

Install LocalSend on Windows and macOS

For Windows, click on Install LocalSend on Windows for more information:

For macOS, click on Install LocalSend on macOS for more information:

How to use LocalSend

Now that you know how to download and install LocalSend on your different devices, let’s have a look at how to set up the application and transfer files between your devices. The whole idea is to start the LocalSend application on the device you want to transfer one or more files from, and start the device you want to transfer these files to. Both need to be connected to the same WiFi network.

Below, I will show how to transfer files and folders from an Android device to a Linux desktop computer. 

1) So, let’s start LocalSend first on your Linux device and click on Receive.

We see here some important items:

  • First of all, you see the name of the LocalSend session, in my case Zorin WS. This name can be changed in the settings. 
  • Below the session name, we see Quick Save options: Off, Favorites, and On. We come to that later. 
  • Further, we see on the left the options: Receive, Send, and Settings.

When the option Receive is selected, we are able to receive files from another device. With the option Send, we are able to send files to another device. 

2) Now, let’s start LocalSend on your Android device and click on Send.

On this screen, we see some important items:

  • Selection section – In this section, we can choose between File, Media, Paste, Text, Folder, and App. These are the different options to select one or more files, folders, or other items to transfer from this Android device to another device.
  • Nearby devices – Here we see, if applicable, the other device(s) on your WiFi network. You can refresh the list, enter the address, add as a favorite, and choose between single recipient, multiple recipients, and share via link for those who don’t have LocalSend installed
  • Further, we see the same options as in the app for Linux: Receive, Send, and Settings..

3) Now select one or more files by choosing File in the Selection section.

After having selected one or more files, you have the option to edit the list (remove files) or to add extra files.

4) Now, click on the device that you want the files to be sent to, in my case Zorin WS. 

The below will be shown on your Android device.

The below will be shown on your Linux device.

5) On your Linux device, click on Accept.

Now the selected files will be transferred.

6) Now, click on Done on both devices to close the transfer session.

And that was all. How simple was that!

Settings

The LocalSend application is also offering some settings options:

General

  • Theme
  • Color
  • Language
  • Save window position after quit
  • Minimize to the System Tray/Menu Bar when closing
  • Autostart after login
  • Animations

Receive

  • Quick Save
  • Quick Save for “Favorites”
  • Require PIN
  • Save to folder
  • Auto Finish
  • Save to history

Send

  • Automatically accept requests in “Share via link” mode

Network

  • Server
  • Device name
  • Device type
  • Device model
  • Port
  • Network
  • Discovery Timeout
  • Encryption
  • Multicast address

Other

  • About LocalSend
  • Support LocalSend
  • Privacy Policy

Most of these options speak for themselves. 

Final words

I really like these simple but powerful apps for Linux. The purpose of such a small app is clear. It does exactly what it says it does and no more. They are fast, easy to understand, and if designed well, they’re easy to integrate into your Linux productivity workflow. And LocalSend is one of these apps that ticks all the boxes of a simple but useful app for me.

If you have tips for other great single-task applications for which a mini-review is of value to other readers, please share your thoughts via the RealLinuxUser Contact page.

If you’d like to read my other Mini Reviews, open them via the links below:

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Hi there! My name is John Been. At the moment I work as a senior solution engineer for a large financial institution, but in my free time, I am the owner of RealAppUser.com, RealLinuxUser.com, and author of my first book "Linux for the rest of us". I have a broad insight and user experience in everything related to information technology and I believe I can communicate about it with some fun and knowledge and skills.

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