How to send files on a local network
Connect both devices to the same network. Select the files on the sender, then use the QR code, private link, or room code on the receiver. Compare the security code and approve the receiver.
Sharing the same network does not grant access. The sender must still approve the receiving device before file details or data are sent.
Why the same Wi-Fi may not create a local connection
Guest, hostel, college, hotel, and company Wi-Fi often blocks devices from talking to each other. Both devices may have internet access while a local transfer is still blocked. A VPN, private-relay feature, mesh network, or hotspot setting can also change the route.
AllFileGo shows “Local network” only when the browser provides enough evidence. A “Direct internet” label means no relay is used, but it does not prove that the file stayed inside the local network.
What affects local transfer speed
An internet speed test measures the route to a test server, not the route between your devices. Local speed depends on Wi-Fi signal, interference, the router or hotspot, both devices, both browsers, and how quickly storage can read and write.
A phone hotspot often receives and sends the same data over one radio, so it may be slower than a router. Transfer direction also matters: a phone may read files from an SD card or cloud-backed folder more slowly than it can receive them.
How to improve a slow local transfer
Check the route label first. Keep both devices awake and close to the router or hotspot. Turn off battery saver and use files stored on the device, not in a cloud-backed folder. If possible, test both directions and try a private network to rule out device isolation.
- Prefer 5 GHz or 6 GHz Wi-Fi at short range when both devices support it
- Keep the transfer page visible on phones and tablets
- Avoid VPN, data-saver, and battery-saver modes during the test
- Use local device storage instead of a cloud-backed file provider