Bluetooth has become an outdated technology. If you’re using a smartphone or a tablet, you should avoid using it for transferring files. Although USB 2.0 and 3.0 can transfer data at a speed within 60 to 100 megabytes/second, transferring large files to the PC or a mobile device over a USB connection may take several minutes. This is because most mobile phone manufacturing companies install low-speed storage hardware in their devices. If you’re using a cheap MicroSD card, the file transfer speed will be low. If you move the same files to a faster MicroSD, the transfer speed will increase two-fold.
To move files at high speed, you don’t have to upgrade your device or buy a new MicroSD card if you own a smartphone. Manufacturers equip their mobile devices with WiFi hardware. The speed of a WiFi connection can reach up to 100 MB/second. Transferring files over WiFi requires you to install a file transfer app on your device. The applications provide a file explorer tool and they let you share multiple files and folders at a time. Here’s the list of the best file transfer apps for Android:
Best Android file transfer apps
Lenovo SHAREit
SHAREit is a lightweight application that supports mobile devices and desktops powered by the Android or Windows OS. It can transfer files of all types from mobile to PC or vice versa quickly. As SHAREit uses WiFi technology instead of a mobile data connection, you can move large files with it in a few seconds.
SHAREit provides a special feature called WebShare. You can use this feature to send and receive images, music, APK, video, and PDF files through a web page. To use this feature, you must select a file that you want to transfer. Once you have chosen the files, you must share the special URL generated by the app with your friend. Then, you must ask him to connect his mobile device to the hotspot created by SHAREit. The mobile phone of your friend will begin downloading the file as soon as he opens the URL.
SHAREit has a “My Share Zone” feature that creates a shared hotspot connection on your mobile device. When it creates a hotspot, users can send files from one device to another. SHAREit blocks other people from accessing your hotspot connection. It supports 25+ languages. SHAREit provides an option to enable hotspot encryption. It supports WiFi direct technology. It allows users to go through the history of successful file transfers. As it is fast and lightweight, ShareIT is one of the best file transfer apps for Android.
Send Anywhere
Like the SHAREit file transfer app for Android, you can transfer files with the WiFi direct technology with this free application. Send Anywhere requires storage access permission. It won’t work if you don’t grant this permission to this application. The app sends the file as it is. It doesn’t modify the file content or result in data loss. To receive files, the user must either scan a QR code or enter the 6 digit number generated by Send Anywhere.
SA supports file encryption. It enables you to preview the files before sending them to another device so that you don’t end up sending a private photo or video. Send Anywhere has a beautiful tabbed interface. It doesn’t require 2G/3G/4G or WiFi to function.
Must check: Best file manager apps for Android
Zapya
Zapya is yet another popular cross-platform file transfer app for Android devices. According to its developers, Zapya has 400+ million users. The application allows users to transfer files to four devices at a time. It generates a unique QR code for a file transfer and displays the hotspot name and its password on the screen. You must share the two details with your friends or ask them to scan the QR code to receive the file. Zapya enables you to specify the WiFi bandwidth it should use. It allows you to chat with friends within a radius of 100 feet in offline mode. If the WiFi module on your phone isn’t working, you can transfer files with Bluetooth.
Like ShareIT, Zapya can generate a special download link that you can share with friends on social networks. Zapya identifies and groups files that users commonly share with their friends. It lets you take pictures from the camera of another smartphone over a WiFi connection. It features a media player tool and a gallery utility. Like ShareIT, Zapya is a cross-platform application.
Xender
Xender lets users manage and explore files saved on the SD card or the phone’s ROM. It lets users create groups. A file shared in the group will be available for all group members. Xender displays two floating buttons on its interface. The buttons allow you to send or receive files. The application has a phone replicate feature which you can use to copy data from one phone to another.
Xender can transfer files to another device at great speeds. To send files, you must install Xender on the device where the file exists. You don’t have to install Xender on the target device. The app supports cross-platform file transfer operations. You can share all types of files with the free Xender app without turning on the mobile data connection. Xender is one of the best Android file transfer apps.
Final thoughts: The above four file transfer apps work great on all types of Android devices. Which application should you use? Well, SHAREit should be your first choice. If you don’t like it or the application isn’t available in your country or you find the app confusing, use one of its alternatives I’ve covered in this article.
AirDroid works great for me