Digging out a USB cable to move a photo from your PC to your phone is a solved problem — if you have the right tool. HomeServer2 turns your Windows PC into a local file server in one click, so any phone, tablet, or laptop on the same WiFi can instantly browse and download your files through a regular web browser.
Works on phones, tablets, laptops · No app needed on the receiving device
Getting a file from your PC to your phone should take seconds. In practice, most people are still working around these frustrations.
Finding the right cable, unlocking the phone, dismissing the "trust this device" dialog, opening File Explorer, navigating to the right folder — all to move a single video clip. It works, but it takes longer than it should and the cable is never where you left it.
Uploading a 2 GB file to Google Drive or Dropbox just to download it again on the same WiFi network is absurd — it wastes time, burns through your internet quota, and means your files pass through someone else's servers. Some files you simply don't want in the cloud.
Bluetooth works in a pinch for small files, but transfer speeds are painfully slow for anything larger than a photo. A folder of RAW images or a short video can take minutes over Bluetooth when your home WiFi could move the same data in seconds.
No router configuration, no port-forwarding, no accounts. Just your local WiFi and four steps.
Download the free Windows installer and run it. It takes under a minute — no accounts, no sign-up, no nonsense.
Click Add Folder and choose the folder, or just drag it from Windows Explorer straight into the app window.
The app instantly shows a local network URL and QR code. Your file server is now live on your home WiFi.
Scan the QR code with your phone camera or type the URL into any browser. Browse your folders and tap to download any file — instantly.
HomeServer2 is designed specifically for the task of getting files from your PC to any nearby device — quickly and privately.
Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Samsung Internet — it doesn't matter. Any device with a web browser can connect and browse your shared folders. No app to install, no account to create on the receiving side.
As soon as your server starts, HomeServer2 displays a QR code for the local URL. Open your phone's camera, point it at the screen, and you're in. No typing, no copying long IP addresses.
Scan & goThe file sharing works both ways. Enable uploads in Settings, set a 7-digit PIN, and your phone can send photos, videos, or any files directly to your PC over WiFi. Rate limiting blocks brute-force attempts after 3 wrong tries.
Security built-inHomeServer2 does not use any cloud servers, relay services, or external APIs. Your files travel directly between your PC and your phone over your local WiFi — and nowhere else. There is no account, no telemetry, and no internet connection required.
Everything you need to know before you download.
Does my phone need to install any app to access files?
No. Your phone only needs a web browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or even the built-in browser that came with your phone all work perfectly. HomeServer2 runs on your Windows PC and serves files over your local network as a standard web page. The receiving device just opens a URL, and that's it. There is nothing to install, no account to create, and no permission to grant on your phone.
Does it work with both Android and iPhone?
Yes, it works with both Android and iPhone — and with any other device that has a web browser, including iPads, Windows laptops, Macs, and Chromebooks. Since HomeServer2 serves a standard web interface over your local network, there are no platform restrictions on the receiving side. If the device is on the same WiFi and has a browser, it can access your files.
Is it safe? Can someone outside my home access my files?
HomeServer2 only works over your local network (your home WiFi or LAN). It does not connect to the internet, does not use any cloud relay, and does not expose your files publicly. Only devices that are physically connected to the same WiFi router as your PC can reach the server. Your neighbours, your ISP, and the internet at large cannot see your files. For the upload feature, an additional 7-digit PIN is required, and the app blocks repeated failed attempts automatically.
Can I also send files from my phone back to my PC?
Yes. HomeServer2 includes a PIN-protected upload feature. Enable it in Settings, set a 7-digit PIN, and choose which folder on your PC should receive uploaded files. When your phone opens the server URL, it will see an upload button. Enter the PIN to unlock it, then send photos, videos, or any files directly from your phone browser to your PC — no cables required. Upload limit is 500 MB per file.
What is the file size limit?
For downloading files from your PC to your phone there is no size limit — files of any size can be downloaded through the browser. For uploading files from your phone to your PC, the current limit is 500 MB per file, which covers most photos, short videos, documents, and ZIP archives. Transfer speed depends on your home WiFi — on a typical modern router, a 1 GB file transfers in around 15–30 seconds.