MultiDropQuick Share (Nearby Share) for Linux
Android and Samsung phones have Quick Share built in. MultiDrop makes your Linux PC show up there – send and receive, without a Google account and without an app on the phone.
How it works
MultiDrop implements Google's Quick Share protocol (formerly Nearby Share), which Android and Samsung phones use. Phones find the PC on your Wi-Fi (mDNS), then send the files encrypted over your local network.
Samsung phones
Some Samsung phones only show contacts or devices signed in to the same account. Then scan the QR code tile in MultiDrop with the phone camera and the transfer starts.
Tested with real phones
Quick Share is tested with real Android and Samsung Galaxy phones.
Also on the same PC
The same app speaks LocalSend and – with a supported Wi-Fi card – AirDrop, so iPhones and Android phones can send to the same PC.
How to set it up
- Install MultiDrop (APT repository for Ubuntu and Debian, installer script for other distributions).
- On the phone, tap Share → Quick Share and pick your PC.
- Accept the transfer on the PC. Files land in
Downloads/multidrop.
Questions
Do I need a Google account on the PC?
No. MultiDrop doesn't sign in anywhere.
Can I send from Linux to an Android phone?
Yes. Pick the phone in the MultiDrop window or use Send with MultiDrop in the file manager. The phone must have Quick Share visible to everyone.