Why TxtDropper exists
TxtDropper started as an idea in 2025. Getting a link, a piece of text, a photo or a document from a phone to a computer usually means emailing yourself, opening a messaging app, or uploading the file to a cloud service and signing in on both devices. It should take seconds and it should not require an account.
How it works
You generate a 6-character code (or a QR code) on the sending device and enter it on the receiving one. A small connection server helps the two browsers find each other, then your data flows directly from one to the other through an encrypted peer-to-peer connection (WebRTC). When the two devices cannot reach each other directly, for example on some mobile networks, the encrypted traffic goes through a relay that cannot read it. Nothing you send is uploaded to or stored on our servers.
Limits you should know about
- Both devices must stay online. Data goes straight from one browser to the other, so both pages must stay open, and on a phone the screen should stay on, until the transfer is complete.
- Resuming has a time window. After a connection drop, a transfer resumes where it stopped only if both pages reconnect within about 2 minutes and are still open.
- Size limits. Up to 2 GB per transfer for photos and videos and 500 MB for audio and documents. The receiving device needs enough free memory, so very large files can fail on older phones.
- Folders. Choosing a whole folder works on computers only. It is sent as a single zip file.
- Passwords cannot be recovered. The optional password adds a second layer of encryption. We never see it and cannot reset it. If it is lost, the transfer must be sent again.
- Several receivers. When you allow several devices to join with one code, everyone who has the code (and the password, if any) can receive the files. Share the code only with people you trust.
- My Devices links exactly two devices. The pairing QR code contains a secret. Anyone who scans it can join your room, so keep it private. The secret is stored in your browser, so clearing site data or switching browser unpairs the device.
- Share to TxtDropper. Installing the app and sharing into it from other apps works on Android with Chrome. iPhone and iPad do not support it.
- Saving files. Some phones and tablets, notably iPhone and iPad, cannot save some file types (such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint or zip) straight from the share menu. Use the Open button and save from the viewer, or send them to another app.
- Networks. Some strict corporate or school networks block peer-to-peer connections. A relay is used when possible, but it may still fail on very restrictive networks.
- Codes. A code only works while the sender keeps the page open. After 10 wrong codes, entering codes is blocked for 5 minutes.
- Updates. A page left open from an older version may show an "old version" message. Reload it on both devices.
- Browsers. A recent browser with WebRTC and a secure (https) connection is required.
- No guarantee. TxtDropper is a free service provided as is. Keep the original of anything important until you have checked it arrived.
Principles
- Free and without accounts. Nothing to sign up for, ever.
- Private by design. We do not store or inspect what you transfer. Read the Privacy Policy for the details.
- Supported by ads. Advertising is what keeps the service free to use.
Get in touch
Found a bug or have an idea? Send a message through the Contact page. Messages are read by the person who runs the project.