WhoospHow to transfer files from your phone to a PC without a cable
The fastest way that works with any phone and any computer is to open the same web page on both. With Whoosp you create a room on the computer, scan its QR code with the phone and send the file: no cable, no app, no account, and the two devices don't even need to be on the same Wi-Fi. Below you'll find every other option too, and when each one is the better choice.
Open WhoospThe quick way: a browser on both devices
- On the computer, open whoosp.com and click Create a room.
- Pick a name. A QR code and a four-character room code appear.
- On the phone, scan the QR code with the camera, or open whoosp.com and type the code.
- Tap + and choose the photos, videos, PDFs or documents to send.
- On the computer, click the file to open or download it. When you're done, leave the room: it's deleted with everything in it.
It works the other way round too: files sent from the computer appear on the phone. Each file can be up to 15 MB, and photos are compressed automatically so they arrive in a moment.
Every option compared
| What you need | Works with | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whoosp (browser) | A browser on both devices | Any phone, any computer, any network | A few files, quickly, even on a computer that isn't yours |
| USB cable | The right cable | Any phone and computer | Hundreds of photos or long videos |
| Phone Link (Windows) | An app on the phone, paired with the PC | Android and iPhone with Windows 10 or 11 | Your own PC, every day |
| Quick Share for Windows | An app on the PC, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, devices close together | Android and Windows | Android phones with your own PC |
| AirDrop | Apple devices close together | iPhone, iPad and Mac | Apple to Apple |
| Cloud storage | An account, signed in on both devices | iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive on any device | Backups and files you want to keep |
| Email or WhatsApp Web | Signing in on the computer | Any device | Your own computer, not a shared one |
From iPhone to a Windows PC
AirDrop doesn't exist on Windows, so iPhone users usually pick one of these:
- Whoosp, as above: nothing to install on either side, handy when the PC isn't yours.
- Microsoft Phone Link: with the Link to Windows app on the iPhone and the two paired over Bluetooth, recent versions can send files between the iPhone and your PC.
- iCloud: iCloud for Windows syncs your photos to the PC, or you can download them from icloud.com in any browser. You need your Apple Account.
- USB cable: connect the iPhone, tap Trust on the phone, and import the photos with the Photos app in Windows.
From Android to a PC
- Whoosp works the same way on Android, in Chrome or any other browser.
- Quick Share for Windows: install Google's app on the PC, turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and send from the Android share menu. The devices need to be within about 5 metres of each other.
- Phone Link: pair the phone through the Link to Windows app to reach your photos and files from the PC.
- USB cable: plug it in, choose File transfer in the notification on the phone, and the phone appears in File Explorer.
From a PC or Mac to your phone
The same tools work in reverse. In Whoosp, drag the file into the chat on the computer and it shows up on the phone, ready to open or save. For things you need on the go, like a ticket, a boarding pass or a PDF to sign, that's usually quicker than emailing yourself.
Moving a PDF or a document
PDFs sent through Whoosp open right in the chat on recent browsers, with pages you can zoom and buttons to download or share them. Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, ZIP archives and audio go through as normal files. The limit is 15 MB per file, which covers almost every document.
When a cable or the cloud is the better choice
Whoosp is built for a handful of files, not for moving your whole camera roll. For hundreds of photos, full-length videos or anything over 15 MB, use a USB cable or a cloud service. And if you want a copy to stay available later, keep it in cloud storage: Whoosp deletes everything when the room closes.
Common questions
Can I transfer files from my phone to a PC without Wi-Fi?
With Whoosp both devices need an internet connection, but not the same one: the phone can use mobile data while the PC is on Wi-Fi or a cable. With no internet at all, use a USB cable, Bluetooth or Quick Share, which work directly between nearby devices.
Can I do it on a work or school computer where I can't install anything?
Yes. Whoosp only needs a web browser, so it works on shared and managed computers. If the organisation blocks websites it doesn't know, ask whoever manages the computers, and follow its rules for sensitive files.
Is it safe?
Transfers are encrypted in transit with HTTPS, and everything is deleted when the room closes. Files do pass through Google Firebase servers and are not end-to-end encrypted, so for highly sensitive documents use a method your organisation approves.
How big can the file be?
15 MB per file. Photos are compressed automatically, so normal phone pictures are well under the limit.
Does it cost anything?
No. Whoosp is free, with no account and no ads.
More guides
- Is there an AirDrop for Android and Windows?
- How to send a file to a computer that isn't yours
- How to share files with a QR code, with one person or a whole group
- How Whoosp works, compared with AirDrop, WeTransfer and peer-to-peer tools, plus everyday questions