this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2025
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Hey,

I was wondering what folks use to quickly send a file or a link between your PC and android phone in a lightweight and self hosted way.

Currently I use syncthing to copy files around, but I'm looking for something more immediate, and quick than doesn't involve searching for folders in a file manager.

Example use case: Send a file from PC to phone. Notification pops up on phone, tap it to access.

(PC runs OpenBSD)

What lightweight software do you guys use?

Stuff I tried so far:

  • syncthing
  • xmpp
  • tox
  • scp and termux.
  • magic wormhole
  • telegram saved messages
(page 2) 43 comments
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[–] lka1988@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 days ago

FX File Explorer has a local web-access feature. Start it on your phone and access via local IP, then just turn it off when you're done.

Don't use on public wifi, it's http-only.

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

For more manual stuff; Ssh and X-Plore File Explorer.

Internal, sd card, ssh, ftp(s), google drive, dropbox, and a bunch of other cloud providers; treats it all like one big file system that I can casually copy/move files between.

For just syncing files between folders: FolderSync. The 'downloads' folder on my phone is setup as a 2-way sync with a folder on my server. Drop a file in either side, click sync, file is in both places. I use this to keep most of the files on my phone backed up, not just syncing the download folder.

[–] vext01@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I was a dedicated xplore user for years until I saw all the advertising cookies that they stuffed into it. That made me sad and I uninstall it.

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I just paid the whole 4$ for the pro version and to support an otherwise free app I've quite enjoyed.

No ads/tracking anymore.

Devs gotta eat.

[–] vext01@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I also had the pro version. Last time I installed it, it asked me to review a bunch of cookies.

This was about a year ago. Could have changed since then.

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 days ago

I keep a fairly close eye on my DNS traffic; it still does crash reporting through Crashlytics (which I just block), but that's about it.

[–] hperrin@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 days ago

I use QuickDAV and OwlFiles.

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I use Cx file explorer and mount my PC via sshfs in there. It's closed source but it supports a whole bunch of protocols including samba, ftp and webdav. And it can launch a webserver on your phone to offer the phone's files. But sshfs is the most convenient for me.

And for links and other small texts I use either KDEConnect's copy and paste sync or just send myself the text in Signal.

[–] Enkers@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I use pairdrop. I don't personally self host it, but that option is available. It's better suited to more one-off situations, as there's no history kept anywhere.

Selfhost: https://github.com/schlagmichdoch/pairdrop

Open instance: pairdrop.net

[–] vext01@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 2 days ago

Not heard of this one. Thanks.

[–] haverholm@kbin.earth 4 points 2 days ago

I've tried LocalSend for this, but I usually end up using more reliable ways like Syncthing (not instantly transfered, but at a decent speed) or sending myself the file on Element for Matrix (as good as instantaneous).

[–] Fuzzypyro@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

Taildrop works relatively well for most all circumstances. Only thing is you gotta use trayscale or cli currently for sending files from a Linux/bsd machine. I don’t know if opened has a port for trayscale but it definitely has a port of tailscale.

I'd use anything else that is based on rsync over Syncthing

[–] waldek@lemmy.86thumbs.net 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I often spin up a quick python http server. Just go to the folder which has the files you want to transfer and run the following command: python3 -m http.server. This will server the folder content Serving HTTP on 0.0.0.0 port 8000 (http://0.0.0.0:8000/) .... On your phone you can then browse to http://PC_IP:8000 and download what you want/need.

[–] vext01@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 2 days ago

Too much typing, especially if transferring from phone to computer.

Thanks though.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] tehWrapper@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

Yah if it's not to big I use the note to self option in signal

[–] TootSweet@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

My solution is scp with termux. I can't suggest any better alternative.

[–] naeap@sopuli.xyz 4 points 2 days ago
[–] willougr@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Does your PC have Bluetooth? Definitely quick and sort of self hosted.

[–] JTskulk@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

I use SyncMe which synchronizes smb shares to your phone. It's great once you have it set up, but it does take a little setup. Gotta have shares and whatnot.

[–] reddwarf@feddit.nl 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

You got some good replies and I personally am enamored by LocalSend, it is worth checking it out.

However, there is a simple way if a) you use whatsapp and b) the devices involved have access to whatsapp.
This involves not just sending files but you can send text and whatever whatsapp supports and you'll have a history of these chats should you need to have them later again. Probably possible with other platforms but I use whatsapp so that is what I setup for information transfer to myself.
The thing you want to do is create a chat group, add a friend for a very brief moment, remove said friend again after they accepted, enjoy your private group where you can dump any and all info into and pick up from wherever you have whatsapp available. The trick is to add a friend for a couple of seconds. If you create a group you are automatically in it but you cannot use it until you add someone else, then it becomes active and use-able. The fact that you end up alone in that group does not make it unavailable again. Weird but it works.

[–] vext01@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 days ago

Hah. Nice hack!

Also, I love red dwarf.

[–] EisFrei@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

I didn't see it mentioned yet, so I'll throw warpinator in the ring.

Clients are available for Linux, Windows, Android: https://warpinator.com/

[–] ChillPill@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

KDE Connect as another uas suggested.

Only buggy issue I have is that I use a VPN on my phone to access my local network when away from home. I have the VPN set up with Hairpinning so I don't have to disconnect from the VPN while at home which occasionally causes issues on my steam deck as the version of KDE Connect on the steam deck does not appear to have an easy way to connect to device via IP. On my desktop and laptop I run Pop!_OS and use GS Connect which gives me an option to connect to device via IP so I have less issues with my phone just randomly not appearing on those computers.

[–] dbkblk@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

For links, I use Pocket (you can use Wallabag, but I find the interface not efficient at all). For files, you can sync a folder with syncthing (but you only switch it on when you want a quick sync, otherwise keep it off for battery). If you just want to put some file on your phone, install FTP server (free) from F-droid and switch it on when you need it (there's even an optional switch on quick actions). Use Filezilla or any file browser (if on Linux) to exchange your files. Remember to switch the server off once finished, because FTP is not a secure protocol.

[–] doc@fedia.io 1 points 2 days ago

Android -> other I often use Share via HTTP.

https://github.com/marcosdiez/shareviahttp

[–] vext01@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 days ago

This sounds great. Thanks.

[–] Badabinski@kbin.earth 1 points 2 days ago

rsync -avr --progress in termux or a file explorer app built on top of scp or rsync. It doesn't work like your use-case, but I've been happy with it.

[–] knF@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'm using a selfhosted pastebin (microbin) as sometimes I want to transfer text, other files... It's very efficient and in my instance it's using 13MB of RAM, which is fairly lightweight for modern standards

[–] vext01@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 days ago

This is super-cool, just a shame it's unmaintained.

[–] eksb@programming.dev 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)
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