LocalSend works beautifully out of the box — but a handful of small adjustments make it faster, tidier, and even more convenient. These are the tips I've picked up after using it as my everyday transfer tool, from squeezing out more speed to setting it up so it barely asks you anything.
None of these require technical know-how; most are a single setting or habit. Try a few and you'll wonder how you managed without them.
When you're moving gigabytes rather than a single photo, these three changes make a genuinely noticeable difference to how quickly the transfer finishes.
The 5 GHz band is far faster over short distances than the older 2.4 GHz. If your router offers both, connect both devices to the 5 GHz network before sending big files.
Signal strength drops fast through walls and across rooms. For your largest transfers, put the two devices within a metre of each other with a clear line of sight.
If someone else is streaming 4K video or downloading a game on the same network, your transfer competes for bandwidth. Pause heavy activity for the fastest result.
By default everything lands in one folder, which gets messy fast. A couple of tweaks keep your incoming files exactly where you want them.
In the app settings, choose a dedicated download location — a "LocalSend" folder in your Documents, for example — so transfers don't clutter your default Downloads.
Give each device a recognisable name in settings (like "Nadia's Laptop"). It makes picking the right destination instant and avoids sending to the wrong device.
Instead of selecting dozens of files individually, send a whole folder — LocalSend preserves the structure, so it stays organised on arrival.
These are the quality-of-life settings that turn LocalSend from "handy" into "effortless" once you've set them once.
Mark devices you own as trusted, or enable quick-save, so transfers between your own phone and laptop are accepted automatically without a prompt every time.
You don't have to open the app first — send straight from your Photos, Files or browser using the system share menu and pick LocalSend from the list.
When you're somewhere with locked-down Wi-Fi, a phone hotspot is your instant backup network. Knowing this in advance saves you fumbling when discovery fails.
Beam a URL, an address, or a Wi-Fi password between devices as text — far quicker than retyping it on a touchscreen.
Use a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network, keep the two devices close together, and pause other heavy downloads on the network while transferring.
Yes. In the app settings you can set a custom download folder so received files land exactly where you want them.
Yes. Mark a device as trusted or turn on quick-save, and transfers from that device will be accepted automatically.
The beauty of LocalSend is that it's already simple — these tips just remove the last little bits of friction. Set a custom save folder, name your devices, trust your own hardware, and keep a hotspot in your back pocket, and the app all but disappears into your routine, doing its job the moment you need it.
If something ever stops working, our troubleshooting guide has the fix, and if you're just getting started, the beginner's guide covers the essentials.
Written and reviewed by Nadia Karim · July 2026