Offline file transfer
Send files without internet
No Wi-Fi password, no data, airplane mode, or the network's just down — you still need to move a file. BIShare sends it directly device-to-device over your local Wi-Fi or a phone hotspot, end-to-end encrypted, at full speed with no internet. And when there's no network at all, QR Beam streams a small file via QR codes the other camera scans.
Why you don't need the internet
Most "share" tools upload your file to a server and back — useless the moment you're offline. BIShare doesn't: on the same network the file goes straight between devices and never touches the cloud, so it works on a hotspot with no data, on a plane, or when the internet is down. Nothing to upload means nothing to wait for — and nothing a server could read.
Three ways to send offline
Same Wi-Fi or a hotspot
Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi — or make one a personal hotspot with mobile data turned off. BIShare finds the other device and streams the file directly, end-to-end encrypted, at full local speed. No internet required, no size limit.
No network at all? QR Beam
When there's no Wi-Fi, hotspot, or Bluetooth, QR Beam turns a small file into an animated stream of QR codes on one screen; the other device's camera scans them to rebuild it. Purely screen-to-camera — great for text, keys, and small docs.
On any platform
iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, and Linux — offline transfer works in every direction, including the one AirDrop can't do: iPhone to Android.
Bluetooth vs Email vs BIShare
| Bluetooth | BIShare | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Works with no internet | |||
| Send iPhone ↔ Android ↔ PC | |||
| Fast for large files | |||
| End-to-end encrypted | |||
| Works with zero network (QR Beam) |
Offline file transfer: FAQ
Can I really send files without internet?
Yes. On the same Wi-Fi or a hotspot, BIShare transfers directly between devices and never uses the internet — the file never touches a server. For a small file with no network at all, QR Beam sends it via a stream of QR codes.
How do I share files offline between two phones?
Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi, or turn one into a personal hotspot (mobile data off is fine). Open BIShare on both, pick the file, and send — it streams directly, encrypted, no internet needed.
Can I send large files offline?
Yes — over local Wi-Fi or a hotspot there's no size limit and it runs at full network speed. QR Beam is only for small files (text, keys, small docs), since QR codes carry very little data.
Does offline transfer work between iPhone and Android?
Yes. Unlike AirDrop, BIShare is cross-platform, so you can send offline from an iPhone to an Android (and any other combination) over the same Wi-Fi or a hotspot.
Is it still encrypted when offline?
Yes. Local transfers are end-to-end encrypted (X25519 + AES-256-GCM) whether or not you're online. Being offline actually means the file never leaves your local network at all.
Send your next file without the internet
Local, encrypted, and free — works on any network, or none at all. Grab BIShare for your phone or computer.