Looking for a cross-platform file sharing solution? I had the same problem and I found LocalSend. Let’s what it is and how to use it.
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My needs
Sometimes I need to share data between my devices: text files, copied text, images, documents, etc. Long ago, I tried KDE Connect to share files between my Linux desktop and my Android phone. It worked well but isn’t the best solution since: I switched to SwayWM (we will talk about it in a future post) and I don’t want KDE-related software on my system. For some time, after KDE-connect I used Telegram to share files through “saved messages” but it’s not the best solution either. I needed a better solution.
Also, I don’t only want a “solution”, I also need:
- open software
- cross-platform (to share files with other members of my family)
- easy to use
LocalSend for the rescue
I found My father-in-law found LocalSend since he had the same problem previously: he has an iPhone, an iPad and a Windows desktop.
According to the LocalSend repository
LocalSend is a free, open-source app that allows you to securely share files and messages with nearby devices over your local network without needing an internet connection.
In my opinion, one of the most important things about LocalSend is that it has multiple installation methods for each platform.
This a strong project with a lot of users, take into account that is 40.8k stars on GitHub and 135 contributors.
Fedora compatibility
Unfortunately, there is no official package for Fedora, so I used the AppImage version. In theory, it should executable wihout problems, but I had an issue with the firewall.
Before that, I also needed to place the file in a directory that is in the PATH (eg: ~/bin folder) and mark the AppImage as executable:
chmod +x ~/bin/LocalSend.AppImage
Firewall setup
Since the app communicates through the local network, it’s needed to allow the app to communicate through some ports.
# check the ports, they should not be here
sudo firewall-cmd --list-all
# enable ports
sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --permanent --add-port=53317/udp
sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --permanent --add-port=53317/tcp
# verify ports
sudo firewall-cmd --list-all
# reload the firewall
sudo firewall-cmd --reload
After these simple steps, I was able to use LocalSend without problems. 🎉
Conclusion
LocalSend is a great solution for cross-platform file sharing. It’s easy to use, open-source and it’s actively maintained. I recommend it if you need a solution like this.