Transfer files between your phone and PC in either direction.
Volo runs in modern WebRTC-capable browsers on phones and computers, so an Android phone and a Mac, or an iPhone and a Linux laptop, can pair in a browser tab and transfer files directly. What changes from one pair to the next is how the receiving browser saves the file, and that decides how large a file it can take.
Free · No sign-up · Files aren't uploaded or stored
The receiving browser decides the size limit
A modern WebRTC-capable browser can send files of any type, and Volo reads outgoing files in small slices, so the sending device isn't limited by its memory. The receiving side works differently: it either writes the file straight to disk or holds it in memory until it's complete.
Writing straight to disk needs the File System Access API, which desktop Chrome and Edge support. At the time of writing, most mobile browsers don't support saving straight to disk, and neither do Safari or Firefox, so those receive into memory with a 1GB cap.
Phone and PC compatibility by receiving device
| Receiving device and browser | How the file is saved | Size limit from Volo | Where it ends up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows, macOS or Linux: Chrome or Edge | Streamed straight to disk as it arrives | No fixed limit; free disk space applies | The file you name in the Save dialog when accepting |
| Windows, macOS or Linux: Firefox, or Safari on Mac | Held in memory until complete | 1GB | Handed to the browser as a download |
| iPhone or iPad: Safari and other browsers | Held in memory until complete | 1GB | Handed to the browser as a download |
| Android: Chrome and most other browsers | Held in memory until complete | 1GB | Handed to the browser as a download |
Same Wi-Fi or different networks
When the phone and PC share a Wi-Fi network, WebRTC usually finds a direct local route, and that's the most reliable setup. On different networks, for example a phone on mobile data, Google's public STUN servers help each device discover its public address, which often finds a path between them.
Volo has no relay (TURN) server today. If both networks block direct connections, as some strict NAT, corporate and mobile networks do, the devices won't connect, and joining the same Wi-Fi is usually the fix.
QR code, link or room code: three ways to pair
A room connects exactly two devices. A third device that opens the same link is told the room is full.
- Scan the QR code: quickest when the computer creates the room and the phone joins. The code opens the room link directly.
- Copy the link: tap Copy link and get it to the other device however suits you, such as a note to yourself. This works well when the phone creates the room. The link is the only key to the room, so share it only with the device or person you mean to.
- Type the room code: enter the code shown under the QR code into Join on the Volo home page. Handy on a computer with no camera.
Sending text between phone and PC
The room's Text tab sends a snippet, such as a link, an address or a note, to the other device over the same connection. It appears there with a Copy button and isn't kept once you leave the room.
Keeping a phone-to-PC transfer running
- Both devices must stay open and online. If either drops, the transfer stops after about 12 seconds without contact, and there's no resume.
- On a phone, keep the browser in front with the screen on. Locking the screen or switching apps can suspend the page, especially on iPhone.
- Volo asks the browser to keep the screen awake while a transfer runs, where that's supported.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send a file from my PC to my Android phone?
Yes, for files up to 1GB. Android browsers receive into memory, so larger files can't be accepted on the phone. When a transfer completes, the file is handed to the browser as a normal download.
What's the most reliable setup for moving a big video between a phone and a computer?
Make the computer the receiver, using Chrome or Edge, and put both devices on the same Wi-Fi. That setup saves straight to disk and gives the direct connection its best chance.
Why does my phone say the room is full?
Volo rooms connect exactly two devices. If the link was already open in another tab or on another device, close it there, or create a new room and join that instead.
Do I have to install Volo on my phone?
No. Volo works in a browser tab on both devices. You can add it to your home screen if your browser offers that, but it isn't required.
Related guides
- Send large files from iPhone to Windows
A full walkthrough from Safari on iPhone to Chrome or Edge on Windows, including photo format caveats.
- Free file transfer without signup
What Volo does and doesn't keep, and why there's no account to create.
Pair your phone and computer
Create a room on the device that will receive, then join it from the other by QR code, link or room code.