LibreDrop Documentation

Quick Start

Installation

  1. Download LibreDrop for your platform
  2. Install following platform-specific instructions
  3. Launch the application

First Transfer

  1. Connect devices to the same Wi-Fi network
  2. Open LibreDrop on both devices
  3. Select files on the sender device
  4. Choose recipient from discovered devices
  5. Confirm transfer on receiving device
  6. Wait for completion - files saved to Downloads folder

User Guide

Device Discovery

LibreDrop automatically discovers other LibreDrop devices on your local network using:

  • UDP Broadcast: Devices announce their presence
  • mDNS/Bonjour: Service discovery protocol
  • Manual IP Entry: Connect directly if auto-discovery fails

File Transfer Process

  1. File Selection: Choose files using platform file picker
  2. Recipient Selection: Pick target device from list
  3. Transfer Initiation: WebRTC connection established
  4. Progress Monitoring: Real-time progress and speed display
  5. Completion: Files saved to designated folder

Settings

Transfer Folder

  • Default: Downloads folder
  • Custom: Choose any accessible folder
  • Persistence: Setting saved between sessions

Network Interface

  • Automatic: Let LibreDrop choose best interface
  • Manual: Select specific network adapter
  • Multiple Networks: Specify preferred networks

Privacy Options

  • Device Name: How your device appears to others
  • Auto-Accept: Automatically accept incoming transfers
  • Notifications: Transfer completion alerts

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

“No devices found”

Causes:

  • Devices on different networks
  • Firewall blocking UDP ports
  • Wi-Fi isolation enabled

Solutions:

  1. Verify both devices on same Wi-Fi network
  2. Check firewall settings (allow LibreDrop)
  3. Disable Wi-Fi isolation in router settings
  4. Try manual IP connection

“Transfer failed”

Causes:

  • Network interruption
  • Insufficient storage space
  • File permissions issues

Solutions:

  1. Ensure stable network connection
  2. Check available storage space
  3. Verify folder write permissions
  4. Restart transfer

“Connection timeout”

Causes:

  • Network congestion
  • Distance between devices
  • Interference

Solutions:

  1. Move devices closer together
  2. Switch to 5GHz Wi-Fi if available
  3. Reduce network traffic
  4. Restart LibreDrop on both devices

Platform-Specific Issues

Android

  • Battery Optimization: Disable for LibreDrop
  • Wi-Fi Sleep: Set to “Never” during transfers
  • Storage Permissions: Grant access to file system

Windows

  • Windows Defender: Add LibreDrop to exclusions
  • Network Profile: Set to “Private” not “Public”
  • UAC: Run as administrator if needed

macOS

  • Gatekeeper: Allow app from unidentified developer
  • Network Permissions: Grant in Security preferences
  • Sandboxing: May limit file access in some cases

Linux

  • AppImage: Make executable after download
  • Permissions: May need to run with elevated privileges
  • Network Manager: Some configurations may block discovery

Technical Details

Network Protocols

  • Discovery: UDP broadcast on port 7777
  • Transfer: WebRTC data channels
  • Signaling: HTTP on random port
  • Encryption: DTLS (WebRTC standard)

Security Model

  • Local Network Only: No internet traffic
  • No Central Server: Direct peer-to-peer
  • Ephemeral Connections: No persistent connections
  • No Data Logging: Zero transfer records

File Handling

  • Streaming: Large files transferred in chunks
  • Integrity: Built-in checksum verification
  • Resume: Interrupted transfers can be resumed
  • Cleanup: Temporary files automatically removed

Privacy Features

  • No Analytics: Zero telemetry or tracking
  • Local Storage: All data remains on device
  • Open Source: Verifiable privacy claims
  • Minimal Permissions: Only essential system access

Advanced Usage

Command Line Interface

# Start LibreDrop in headless mode
libredrop --headless

# Specify custom port
libredrop --port 8888

# Enable debug logging
libredrop --debug --verbose

# Send file via CLI
libredrop send --ip 192.168.1.100 --file document.pdf

Configuration Files

~/.config/libredrop/config.json    # Linux
~/Library/LibreDrop/config.json    # macOS  
%APPDATA%/LibreDrop/config.json    # Windows

Network Configuration

For enterprise networks:

  • Ports: UDP 7777 (discovery), TCP random (WebRTC)
  • Firewall Rules: Allow LibreDrop executable
  • VLAN: Devices must be on same broadcast domain
  • Proxy: Direct connections required (no proxy support)

API Documentation

REST API (Future)

LibreDrop will expose a REST API for integration:

GET /api/devices          # List discovered devices
POST /api/transfer        # Initiate transfer
GET /api/transfer/:id     # Check transfer status

Plugin System (Planned)

Extensibility through plugins:

  • Custom transfer protocols
  • Additional security layers
  • Integration with other apps
  • Automated workflows

FAQ

General

Q: Is LibreDrop really free? A: Yes, completely free forever. Open source under GPL-3.0.

Q: How is this different from AirDrop? A: LibreDrop works across all platforms, not just Apple devices.

Q: Do I need internet? A: No, works entirely on your local Wi-Fi network.

Q: Is it secure? A: Yes, uses WebRTC encryption and never leaves your network.

Privacy

Q: Do you collect any data? A: Absolutely zero data collection. See our Privacy Policy.

Q: Can you see my files? A: No, files transfer directly between your devices.

Q: Is the source code auditable? A: Yes, completely open source on GitHub.

Technical

Q: What file size limits exist? A: No artificial limits - depends on your storage space.

Q: Which platforms are supported? A: Android, macOS, Linux, Windows. iOS coming soon.

Q: Can I use this commercially? A: Yes, GPL-3.0 allows commercial use.

Support

Community Support

Contributing

Help improve LibreDrop:

LibreDrop is developed by volunteers committed to digital privacy and freedom. Your support helps keep the project alive.