v0.1.2 · free & open source

Beam files across the nearby.
Fast. Secure. Reliable.

OpenNearby moves files between devices on the same WiFi at full network speed no cloud, no account, no signaling server ever standing in the middle. The host is one lightweight install; guests just open a browser, nothing to install at all.

Download for free View on GitHub
Fast
Direct LAN transfer at full network speed no cloud round-trip
Secure
PIN-gated sessions, nothing ever leaves your network
Light
One small native binary, no background bloat
No ads, no tracking
No analytics phoning home, no telemetry, nothing to opt out of
OpenNearby host window showing the QR code, PIN, and nearby devices list

Why OpenNearby

Built to stay off the internet

One running process is both the native host and the browser server — no signaling server, no cloud, ever, by default.

No cloud, ever

Files travel straight over your LAN. No relay server, no upload, no account required — by default, and non-negotiably.

Nothing to install for guests

Any phone or laptop on the same WiFi opens http://<lan-ip>:port or scans a QR code — same UI, no app store, no download.

mDNS peer discovery

Two OpenNearby installs on the same network find each other automatically — no typing IP addresses, no pairing dance.

PIN-gated access

A random 6-digit PIN gates every new device before it can browse or upload — shown right next to the QR code, changeable anytime.

Live transfer progress

Drag-and-drop upload and one-click download both show real percentage progress, not just a spinner.

Cross-platform — or just a browser

Native builds for macOS (Apple Silicon), Windows, and Linux, plus an Android app for share-sheet sending to a desktop host. Don't want to install anything at all? Any device with a browser — iOS included — can join as a guest with zero install.

A look inside

One window: QR code, PIN, and nearby devices

The host panel, the drag-and-drop send zone, and per-device transfer history.

OpenNearby Receive tab with QR code, PIN, and nearby devices
OpenNearby Send tab with drag-and-drop upload zone
OpenNearby History tab and nearby OpenNearby devices

On a phone — no app needed

Guests just open the link or scan the QR code. Same PIN gate, same UI, straight in the browser.

OpenNearby PIN entry screen open in Chrome on a guest phone, no app installed
OpenNearby Settings tab open in Chrome on a guest phone
OpenNearby Send tab open in a plain browser tab on a guest device

Or the native Android app

For share-sheet sending to a desktop host, in either theme.

OpenNearby Android app, dark theme, Receive tab with QR code and PIN
OpenNearby Android app, light theme, History tab

Under the hood

How it works

A Rust axum server binds to 0.0.0.0 inside the Tauri process and serves the same static frontend to the desktop webview and to every LAN browser guest.

Host starts a server

The desktop app spins up a local HTTP server and mDNS advertisement — no setup, no ports to forward.

Guest scans or discovers

A QR code and a plain http://ip:port link cover browser guests; mDNS covers other OpenNearby installs.

PIN approval

The guest enters the 6-digit PIN once; the server replies with a session cookie so downloads work like normal link clicks.

Send or receive

Browse and download the host's shared folder, or drag files in to upload — both with live progress.

Design principles

What OpenNearby will never do

Learned from watching other LAN-sharing tools quietly change their data path.

01

No third-party server in the data path

No cloud relay, no analytics phoning home, no signaling server for LAN discovery — by default, period.

02

Works fully offline

mDNS discovery and the LAN HTTP server never depend on internet access to function.

03

Cross-network access is opt-in

Any future relay or remote-access feature will be clearly labeled and off by default — never a silent default change.

Get started

Download OpenNearby

Pick your platform. Every build is free, and the source is right there on GitHub.

Windows
v0.1.2 · 10 / 11 · x64
Windows 10 Windows 11
MSI installer .msi · 4.3 MB
Not code-signed yet, so SmartScreen may flag it. Click "More info" → "Run anyway" to continue.
macOS
v0.1.2 · Apple Silicon
Apple Silicon
Download for macOS .dmg · 5.8 MB
Not notarized yet — macOS will say it's "damaged." Run xattr -cr /Applications/OpenNearby.app once.
Linux
v0.1.2 · x86_64
AppImage .deb .rpm
AppImage 76.7 MB .deb Debian/Ubuntu · 5.4 MB .rpm Fedora/RHEL · 5.4 MB
Android
v0.1.2 · universal APK
Share-sheet
Download APK 50.2 MB
Not on Google Play — you'll need to allow installs from this source. Acts as a guest/sender, not an always-on host.

Free, open source, forever.

OpenNearby is MIT-licensed. Read the code, file an issue, or send a pull request — it's all on GitHub.

MITlicense
4platforms
0cloud servers
Star on GitHub