AirBridge

AirDrop-style sharing between Linux, Windows and Android. Files, folders, photos, text and the clipboard go straight from device to device over your own network. No cloud, no cable, no account.

Install

Download from the newest release:

• Android 10+: airbridge-android.apk. Allow installs from your browser or file manager.
• Windows 10/11 (x64): airbridge-setup.exe, or airbridge.exe without installing. Allow it through Windows Firewall on private networks.
• Linux (x86_64): airbridge-x86_64.AppImage. Run chmod +x on it, then start it. Needs GTK 3 and WebKitGTK 4.1.

Then scan the desktop app's QR code from the Android app's Pair with QR Code. All apps update themselves from the releases here.

Windows SmartScreen may say "Windows protected your PC" (click More info, then Run anyway), and Play Protect may warn on Android (tap More details, then Install anyway). The apps are not code-signed with a paid certificate yet. These warnings do not mean a virus was found.

Open ports if a firewall is on: 53317 TCP+UDP (LocalSend), 53318 TCP (browser page), 53319 TCP and 5353 UDP (Quick Share).

What it does

• Finds nearby devices automatically on the same Wi-Fi, and paired devices over Tailscale or any VPN.
• Sends files of any size, whole folders, photos with previews, text, links and the clipboard, both ways.
• Asks before receiving, with a photo preview. Your own trusted devices are accepted without asking.
• Speaks the LocalSend v2 protocol, so it works with the official LocalSend apps (including iPhone and Mac).
• Speaks Google Quick Share on Linux and Windows, so a stock Android phone can share with no app installed.
• Serves a browser page, so a phone with no app at all can send and receive after scanning a QR code.
• Encrypts everything with TLS and pinned certificates. Updates are signed (Ed25519).

Received files go to Downloads/AirBridge on Android and to your Downloads folder on Windows and Linux.

Repository layout

linux/      Rust service, CLI and embedded web UI for Linux and Windows (ui/ is TypeScript)
android/    Kotlin + Jetpack Compose app; core/ is the protocol engine, ui/ the screens
docs/       SECURITY.md, RESEARCH.md, ROADMAP.md

Build

Linux (Rust 1.89 or newer):

cd linux
cargo build --release --features webview,edge   # needs WebKitGTK 4.1, GTK 3, gtk-layer-shell
./packaging/install.sh                          # optional: menu entry, autostart, file manager action

Windows: install Rust with the MSVC toolchain, then run cargo build --release --locked in linux/.

Android (JDK 21):

cd android
./gradlew assembleRelease

After editing a .ts file in linux/ui/src/, run npm ci && npm run build in linux/ui/. The compiled .js files are committed, and CI checks that they match.

Checks

python3 -m unittest discover -s .github/scripts -p 'test_*.py'
cd linux && cargo test && cargo clippy --all-targets -- -D warnings
cd android && ./gradlew testDebugUnitTest verifyPaparazziDebug

Releases

Every successful CI run on main triggers the Release workflow. It picks the next patch version, builds the Android APK, the Windows installer and exe, and the Linux AppImage, and publishes them as a release here, where the apps look for updates. To choose a version, run Release from the Actions tab or push a vX.Y.Z tag.

Required secrets: UPDATE_SIGNING_KEY, ANDROID_KEYSTORE_BASE64, ANDROID_KEYSTORE_PASSWORD.

License

MIT. See LICENSE. Not affiliated with Apple, Google or the LocalSend project.