LocalSend can't find your device? Try this instead
LocalSend is a great open-source tool — until two devices won't discover each other, you're on different networks, or a firewall blocks the transfer. WeScanTransfer sidesteps all of that: it runs in the browser, needs no install and no open ports, and works across any network.
Transfer across networks free →Free · no sign-up · nothing installed · auto-deletes in 24h
In short
LocalSend only works when both devices are on the same local network with the right ports open, which is why it often can't discover devices or transfer across networks. WeScanTransfer is a browser-based alternative that needs no install and no firewall changes: scan a QR code to pair, and send files up to 3 GB across any network — with everything auto-deleting after 24 hours.
What LocalSend does well
Open source and private
The code is auditable and transfers stay on your own network — nothing touches a third-party server. That's a genuinely strong privacy model.
No size limit on a LAN
On a good local network it moves very large files at full local speed, with no cap and no internet round-trip.
Truly cross-platform
Native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS — a rare full-set of platforms for a free tool.
No account, no cloud
Like WeScanTransfer, it needs no sign-up. When both devices are on the same Wi-Fi and cooperating, it's excellent.
Why LocalSend sometimes can't transfer
"Can't discover devices"
LocalSend relies on local-network discovery. AP isolation, guest Wi-Fi, VPNs and large subnets routinely stop devices from seeing each other.
Same network required
If your phone is on cellular or a different Wi-Fi than your PC, LocalSend can't connect. WeScanTransfer relays the transfer, so different networks are fine.
Firewall / port 53317 blocked
Security software and managed networks block the port LocalSend needs. A browser transfer over HTTPS has nothing to unblock.
Install on every device
LocalSend needs its app on both ends. WeScanTransfer runs in the browser — nothing to install to send one file.
Fix LocalSend not detecting your device
Worth a shot before you switch tools — sometimes one of these is all it takes.
1Put both devices on the same Wi-Fi
LocalSend only works within one local network. Make sure your phone isn't on cellular and that both devices are on the same SSID — and not a separate guest network.
2Turn off AP / client isolation
Many routers (and most public or guest Wi-Fi) stop devices from seeing each other. Disable 'AP isolation' or 'client isolation' in your router settings, or switch off guest mode.
3Allow LocalSend through the firewall
On Windows, allow LocalSend in Windows Defender Firewall for private networks, and make sure security software isn't blocking its port (53317).
4Disable your VPN during the transfer
A VPN can move one device onto a different subnet so discovery fails. Turn it off temporarily and try again.
5Add the device manually by IP
If auto-discovery still won't cooperate, enter the other device's local IP address in LocalSend directly instead of relying on discovery.
How to transfer files across networks without LocalSend
- 1
Open the site on your PC
Go to wescantransfer.com. A QR code appears — no app, no firewall prompt, no login.
- 2
Scan with your phone
Scan the QR with your phone camera. The devices pair over the internet in seconds — same network or not.
- 3
Send up to 3 GB
Drop files, photos or videos both ways. They arrive live, and everything auto-deletes after 24 hours.
Why WeScanTransfer works when LocalSend won't
No same-network requirement
Transfers are relayed, so devices on different Wi-Fi networks — or one on cellular — still connect and send.
No install, no ports
It's a web page. Nothing to install and no firewall ports to open, so managed and guest networks work.
Recipient can be offline
Unlike peer-to-peer tools, the other device doesn't have to be online at the same moment — the file waits.
Private and ephemeral
Encrypted in transit, unguessable links, hard-deleted after 24 hours. Never scanned or kept.
WeScanTransfer vs LocalSend
| WeScanTransfer | LocalSend | |
|---|---|---|
| Works across networks | Yes | Same LAN only |
| Needs an install | No — browser | App on both |
| Needs open firewall ports | No | Port 53317 |
| Recipient can be offline | Yes | No (live P2P) |
| Max file size (free) | 3 GB | Unlimited (LAN) |
| Open source | No | Yes |
LocalSend alternative — FAQ
Why is LocalSend not detecting my device?
LocalSend discovers devices over the local network, so it fails when they're on different Wi-Fi networks, when AP/client isolation is on (common on guest and public Wi-Fi), when a VPN is active, or when a firewall blocks its port. A browser-based tool like WeScanTransfer avoids discovery entirely — you pair by scanning a QR code.
Can LocalSend work across different networks?
Not by default — it's built for the same local network. To transfer across networks without extra setup, WeScanTransfer relays the transfer so it works regardless of which network each device is on.
What's a good LocalSend alternative that needs no install?
WeScanTransfer runs in the browser on both devices: open the site, scan the QR, and send files up to 3 GB. No app, no account, no firewall changes.
Is it as private as LocalSend?
Both need no account. LocalSend keeps data on your LAN and never uses a server, which is excellent when it works. WeScanTransfer relays the transfer over an encrypted connection, uses an unguessable link, and hard-deletes everything after 24 hours — never scanned, kept, or used for ads or training. The trade-off is LAN-only-but-serverless vs works-anywhere-but-briefly-relayed.
Can I keep using LocalSend and just add this for the hard cases?
Absolutely. LocalSend is great on a cooperative local network. Keep it for same-Wi-Fi transfers and reach for WeScanTransfer when devices are on different networks, on a managed/guest network, or discovery simply won't work.
No catch — the honest answers
The six questions people ask before they trust a transfer tool.
Is it really free?
Yes. Sending files up to 3 GB is free — no sign-up, no credit card, no ads, and no watermark on anything. The free tier is fully usable on its own; an optional Pro plan just raises the limits.
How do you make money?
From the optional Pro subscription, and nothing else. We don't run ads, we don't sell data, and we don't monetize your files. Pro upgrades — not your content — fund the service, which is why the free tier can stay generous.
Are my files private?
Yes. A transfer travels over an encrypted connection, and the share link is a long unguessable code, so only someone with that exact link can receive the file. Your files are never opened, indexed, read, or shown to anyone else.
Are files stored forever?
No. Every transfer is hard-deleted after 24 hours — both the file and its database record — and you can remove it instantly with Delete Now. Nothing lingers on our servers.
Are files used to train AI?
Never. Your files are not used to train AI models, build datasets, or improve any product. They are relayed to the recipient and then deleted — that is the entire lifecycle.
Is my data encrypted?
Yes — encrypted in transit with TLS 1.3 and at rest with AES-256. The only credential is the unguessable link, and it expires along with the transfer.
More detail on encryption, retention and deletion: how your files stay private →
Move your file now — scan, drop, done
No account, no install, nothing kept. It just works.
Transfer across networks free →