In their use, smartphones have always had a strong multimedia component, therefore devoted to the production of content and consequently to their sharing. In this article we will explore all the ways available to exchange files and photos between two smartphones, with and without using the Internet.
Transfer files between phones via messaging apps
If you have an internet connection on both mobile phones it is very simple to exchange files, just use one of the messaging apps. WhatsApp and Telegram They now allow you to send via message files of all types. Often we already have them installed on our terminals, so we can avoid installing additional apps to exchange files and photos between two cell phones.
Whatsapp there are limits that vary with the platform, 128 MB maximum size with iOS, 100 MB from Android and 60 from WhatsApp Web. Please take into consideration the fact that sending photos with WhatsApp causes a loss of quality of the photos received as they are resized and compressed.
Telegram it allows sharing on every platform and has a very high limit, you can send files as large as 1.5 GB, furthermore you have the advantage of sending photos with Telegram while maintaining the quality of the original one.
The procedure for exchanging a file with WhatsApp or Telegram is very similar in both cases:
- you need to open the app;
- go to the chat we started with the person we want to send the file to;
- press on the paperclip icon;
- choose the file type and finally the file.
There are other apps that allow the exchange of even large files over the network:
- Fast File Transfer:allows the simple transfer of files of all kinds, once the link has been created via the app (for Android), the download can be carried out comfortably from any device connected to the Internet.
- FotoSwipe: is an app dedicated to the simple transfer of photos and videos, available for iOS.
Use Bluetooth to transfer files between two phones (no Internet required)
This is the most popular way to exchange files locally between two mobile phones when you don't have an Internet connection.
Exchanging data via Bluetooth isn't exactly fast, so it's not a great way to pass large files (for that it's better to use WiFi Direct).
Passing files via Bluetooth is not difficult, the procedure is quite similar on every phone, you need to:
- enable Bluetooth on both devices (make sure the second is detectable, there is often a specific option);
- pair the devices (usually just press on the name of the device) and accept the pairing the second the notification arrives;
- at this point you can select the file and share it via the sharing menu. On Android the most convenient method is to use a good file manager;
- on the receiving device you will need to accept the file;
- at that point the exchange will start.
During the procedure, the phones cannot be moved too far away (no more than approximately 10 metres).
How to transfer data between two smartphones via WiFi direct (no Internet connection required)
Il WiFi Direct it is a significantly faster transmission technology than Bluetooth. The name WiFi might make you think of the need for the Internet for data exchange, but in reality WiFi Direct creates a direct bridge between two devices even if not connected to the network.
The most practical method we know of to use WiFi Direct is the convenient app Send Anywhere which is available for free on the Play Store and App Store. If you often exchange multimedia files with your friends and don't want to use the data connection, we recommend keeping this app installed.
Its use is simple, after installation, to exchange a file simply:
- make sure the app is installed on both devices (sending and receiving);
- on the original mobile phone, select the photos or files to send;
- the app will create a 6-digit PIN code (or a QR code), which will be inserted into the receiving device to start exchanging the files and photos that were selected.
The app also works for transferring files to and from a PC. When exchanging files it is not advisable to move too far away to avoid the transfer failing.
How to transfer files and photos between two Android or iOS devices
