Pocka / AirDrop for Windows
AirDrop for Windows? Here’s what works.
A PC can’t join Apple’s AirDrop, but it can still get the file: with Microsoft’s own tools, iCloud, a local Wi-Fi app or the browser.
Short answer: Apple does not make AirDrop for Windows. To move a file between an iPhone and a PC, use Microsoft Phone Link, iCloud, a local Wi-Fi app such as LocalSend, a browser handoff, or a cable.
Why AirDrop doesn’t work on Windows
AirDrop is built into iOS and macOS. It finds nearby devices over Bluetooth and sends files over a direct Wi-Fi link using Apple’s own protocol, and Apple has not released it for any other system. No Windows app can make a PC appear in the AirDrop sheet. Apps that promise “AirDrop for Windows” use their own transfer method and need their own app or site on both ends.
AirDrop alternatives for Windows: compare the routes
| Route | iPhone | What you need | Size | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocka (browser) | Yes | A browser and internet on both ends; a Pocka account | 10 MB per item | Nothing to install, any network. The item leaves once you take it. |
| Phone Link (Microsoft) | Yes | Windows 11, Bluetooth LE, a Microsoft account | Not stated | Microsoft is rolling it out gradually, so it may not show up on your PC yet. |
| iCloud Drive | Yes | An Apple Account; iCloud for Windows or iCloud.com | Your iCloud storage | Leaves a synced copy in iCloud. Apple’s setup steps |
| LocalSend | Yes | The free app on both devices, on the same local network | No app limit stated | Open source, no account, works without internet. Not across different networks. localsend.org |
| Quick Share (Google) | No | 64-bit Windows 10 or later, Bluetooth, the same network | Not stated | Google lists Android phones only. Google’s requirements |
| USB cable | Yes | The cable, and for iPhone Apple’s import steps | Device storage | Best for large photo and video libraries. |
| Cloud drive | Yes | The app or site on both devices | Your plan’s storage | Sync takes time and leaves a permanent copy. |
Which route fits?
- A whole album or a long video: USB, or LocalSend if both devices are on the same Wi-Fi.
- A screenshot, PDF or note, on any network: a browser handoff like Pocka.
- You already use iCloud: iCloud Drive in File Explorer.
- Windows 11 and you want it built in: check whether Phone Link offers Send Files yet.
iPhone or Mac to Windows in the browser, in three moves
- Open pocka.app on your iPhone or MacSign in and drop the file onto your shelf.
- Open pocka.app on your PCSign in to the same account. The file is already on the shelf, even while it is still uploading.
- Take itIt downloads to your PC and leaves the shelf.
For Photos, Files and HEIC tips, see how to transfer files from iPhone to PC, step by step.
Windows to iPhone: the other direction
AirDrop is missing both ways, so the same routes work from a PC to an iPhone:
- Pocka: put the file on your shelf on the PC, then open pocka.app in Safari on the iPhone and take it. Safari saves downloads to the Downloads folder in the Files app by default.
- Phone Link: where it has rolled out, use Send Files from the Start menu.
- iCloud for Windows: drop the file into iCloud Drive in File Explorer, then open it in the Files app on the iPhone.
- LocalSend: open it on both devices on the same Wi-Fi and pick the iPhone as the receiver.
Why not just email it to yourself?
That works too. A shelf is quicker when you do it often: nothing piles up in your inbox and the item disappears once it’s taken.
AirDrop for Windows FAQ
Is there an official AirDrop for Windows?
No. Apple has not released AirDrop for Windows. Microsoft Phone Link is the closest built-in option, and its iPhone file sharing is still rolling out.
Is Phone Link the same as AirDrop?
No. It is Microsoft’s own link between your phone and a Windows 11 PC over Bluetooth LE, set up from the Start menu. It can send files, but your PC still won’t appear in the AirDrop sheet.
Can I AirDrop from a PC to an iPhone?
Not with AirDrop itself. Use Pocka, Phone Link, iCloud Drive or LocalSend, as described in the Windows to iPhone section above.
Will Pocka make my PC appear in AirDrop?
No. Pocka runs in the browser and does not use Apple’s AirDrop protocol.
Do I need Bluetooth or the same Wi-Fi?
Not for Pocka: both devices only need an internet connection, on any network. LocalSend and Quick Share need the same local network; Phone Link needs Bluetooth.
Can I send to a friend?
Pocka is for your own devices. There are no public share links.