Do my files go to any server?

Absolutely not. PairDrop establishes a direct WebRTC tunnel between your devices. Data travels from point A to B through your local WiFi router, without touching the public internet.

Why don't I see my other devices?

Ensure both are connected to the SAME WiFi network. If you use a VPN, disable it temporarily as it hides your local IP. On corporate or guest networks, AP Isolation might block the connection.

Is there a file size limit?

No. You can send 50GB files if you want. The only limitation is your WiFi speed.

Secure Local P2P Transfer (AirDrop Alternative)

The Walled Garden Problem

Apple has AirDrop. It's magical, but only works between Apple devices. Android has QuickShare (formerly Nearby Share), but only works between Androids. What happens if you want to send a full-quality photo from your iPhone to your Windows PC? Or from your Android tablet to your iPad?

People resort to terrible workarounds:

Emailing yourself: Slow, limited to 25MB.
WhatsApp/Telegram: They compress the image, destroying quality and metadata.
Uploading to Dropbox/Drive: You have to wait for the upload and then the download. A waste of bandwidth.

The ZenUtils Solution: We use a boosted and maintained version of the Open Source project Snapdrop/PairDrop. It leverages modern browser capabilities (WebRTC) to bridge the gap between operating systems.

How does WebRTC Magic Work?

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is the protocol that makes Google Meet or Zoom possible in the browser. PairDrop uses it ingeniously:

Handshake: When you open PairDrop on two devices, both connect to a signaling server (very lightweight). This server only tells them: "Hey, IP 192.168.1.45 is here too".
Direct Tunnel: Once devices know their local IPs, the server disappears. A direct encrypted Peer-to-Peer connection is established.
Transfer: File bytes travel through the air of your room, from your mobile's WiFi antenna to your router and then to your laptop. They don't leave for the internet.

Gigabit Speed in Your Air

Since the transfer is local, speed depends solely on your router. On modern WiFi 6 networks, it's common to see transfer speeds of 60-100 MB/s (MegaBytes, not Megabits). That means you can transfer a 2GB 4K video in less than 30 seconds. Wireless.

Security & Privacy: Who sees my files?

This is the most important question. When using services like WeTransfer, your files reside on their servers (legally under their jurisdiction) for days. With PairDrop:

Ephemeral: Stream data is written directly to the receiver's memory/disk. Not saved in any intermediate cache.
TLS Encryption: Even if someone were "sniffing" your WiFi with Wireshark, they would see nothing but encrypted noise. WebRTC enforces end-to-end encryption by default.
Pairing Control: To avoid spam (someone in your coffee shop sending you unsolicited photos), you have to explicitly "Accept" each transfer. Plus, you can permanently pair devices with a 6-digit code.

Troubleshooting Guide

Being a technology that depends on the local network, sometimes firewalls get aggressive.

I don't see my other device: 99% of the time it's because they aren't on the SAME WiFi network (e.g., one is on 2.4GHz and another on 5GHz, or one is on 4G).
Using VPN: VPNs create a tunnel that "removes" you from your local network. To use PairDrop, you must pause your VPN or configure "Split Tunneling" to allow LAN traffic.
iPhone - Screen Off: iOS is very aggressive saving battery and cuts WiFi when the screen turns off. Keep the web open and active during transfer.

PairDrop vs AirDrop vs Bluetooth

Technology	Speed	Compatibility	Requires Internet
PairDrop	Very High (WiFi)	Universal (Web)	No (LAN Only)
AirDrop	Very High (WiFi Direct)	Apple Only	No
Bluetooth	Extremely Slow	Universal	No
Telegram/WhatsApp	Variable (Internet)	Universal	Yes

In short: If you live in a mixed ecosystem (have an iPad and a Gaming PC, or an Android and a Macbook), ZenUtils PairDrop is the only tool that unifies your workflow without friction. Bookmark this page on all your devices and forget about USB cables forever.