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6 Ways to Transfer Files Between Devices: AirDrop, Quick Share, Bluetooth, and More

Tap a method to see how it works and when it makes sense to use.

AirDrop

Lets nearby Apple devices exchange files quickly over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth without needing a cable, provided both devices have it turned on and are within range.

Quick Share / Nearby Share

The Android equivalent of AirDrop β€” it lets nearby Android devices share files quickly over a short-range connection, without needing a cable or an internet connection.

Bluetooth Transfer

Works between virtually any two Bluetooth-enabled devices regardless of brand or platform, trading raw speed for the widest compatibility of any wireless option here.

USB Cable Transfer

Connecting devices directly with a cable is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to move files, especially for large batches, since it does not depend on a wireless signal.

Transfer via Cloud Storage

Upload a file to a cloud service and download it on another device β€” all you need is an internet connection, and it works regardless of what kind of device or operating system is on the other end.

Email Attachment

The most old-fashioned method of all, and still useful for smaller files, though nearly every email service caps how large an attachment can be.

Wireless transfer is fastest within the same ecosystem

iPhone to iPhone means AirDrop, and Android to Android means Quick Share β€” within the same ecosystem you can move files cable-free at real speed. Across different ecosystems, cloud storage or email tends to be the most dependable option.

Not sure which one to pick? Match it to your situation

For a quick photo between two people standing next to each other, a nearby-share tool wins easily. For a single large video or a big batch of files, a cable is often faster and more reliable than anything wireless. And whenever the two devices run different operating systems, cloud storage is usually the path of least friction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I send a file from an iPhone to an Android phone?

AirDrop and Quick Share do not work across ecosystems, so you will want to use cloud storage, Bluetooth, or an email attachment instead.

What is the best method for a very large file?

Email almost always has an attachment size limit, so for large files a USB cable or cloud storage tends to work much better.