File transfers have never been faster than today. Remember floppy disks and burning CDs? But despite these improvements, file transfers can still feel like they're taking forever to complete.

If you're looking for a quick and easy way to transfer files from phone to phone or between PC and mobile devices, we've got you covered. This article covers five of the fastest ways to get your files from a mobile device onto a computer.

Transferring Files From Windows to Windows

The best method for a Windows-to-Windows data transfer depends on how often you will make those transfers. For one-time file transfers, you're better off using something like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct.

Bluetooth Transfer

Bluetooth options in the Windows 10 Settings menu

For Bluetooth to work, both the sending and receiving Windows computer must be Bluetooth-compatible. To check whether your computer is compatible, press Windows + I to launch the Settings menu, head to Devices, and check whether you have the option to enable Bluetooth under Bluetooth & other devices.

Turn on Bluetooth on both PCs, then click Add Bluetooth or other device to find the other computer.

Wi-Fi Direct

Wi-Fi Direct is similar to Bluetooth, except files are sent and received directly over Wi-Fi instead. Wi-Fi Direct is much faster than Bluetooth, but the downside is that it isn't as universally available across devices like Bluetooth is.

To check whether you have Wi-Fi Direct, press the Windows key + R to launch the Run menu > Enter cmd > click OK, and run the ipconfig /all command. If you see an entry called Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter, then your computer is equipped with Wi-Fi Direct.

Related: What Is Wi-Fi Direct and How to Use It

Shared Folder or External Drive

On the other hand, if you need to transfer lots of files every single day, maybe it's part of your regular office routine or workflow, then it'll be more convenient to set up a shared folder or shared external drive on your network that other computers can access and pull files on demand.

See our intro to network-attached storage drives for details. For copying files on a single computer, we've also looked at how to copy files faster in Windows.

Transferring Files Between Windows, Mac, and Linux

In this situation, the main obstacle is that each PC may have its own unique way of storing file data. For example, most modern Windows computers use NTFS, while Mac computers use APFS or HFS+ and Linux computers use EXT3 or EXT4. Unfortunately, converting data between file systems is not always easy.

But in the case of a Windows-to-Mac data transfer, things aren't so bad. Starting with Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard), Macs have been able to read and write in NTFS format, as long as the user makes one necessary system setting change. This means you can share a folder between Mac and Windows, then use that folder for transferring files.

Related: How to Share Files Between Mac and Windows

The same concept can be applied to Windows-to-Linux data transfers, but the process is a little more involved. Each computer must set up a folder for the other system to access, and you'll need to install cifs-utils on Linux (to access Windows folders) and samba on Windows (to access Linux folders).

Transferring Files Between Windows and iOS

For the most part, you'll rarely need to transfer anything between Windows and iOS except maybe music, in which case you can just go ahead and use iTunes to synchronize your media library; but iTunes tends to be a frustrating mess on Windows. The good news is, there's a better way!

FileApp

FileApp's browser interface

FileApp is an app, available on both iPhones and iPads, that acts as a mobile file manager. With it, you can browse and open any file that resides on the device you're using, including formats like PDF, DOC, XLS, and PPT. (You get to decide which app the file opens in.)

But what we're really interested in is FileApp's ability to share files over Wi-Fi. It essentially turns your mobile device into an FTP server, allowing any computer to connect (using an FTP client) and download files. Just note that anyone who connects will be able to view ALL files on the device!

Download: FileApp (iOS)

Related: How to Transfer Files From PC to iPhone and iPad (And Vice Versa) with FileApp

Transferring Files Between Windows and Android

Like FileApp above, Android has several apps available on the Google Play Store that can turn any Android device into an FTP server. While FTP is active, any computer can connect, browse the Android file system, and download files on demand.

WiFi FTP Server

I prefer to use WiFi FTP Server by Medha Apps. It doesn't look all that special, but it's incredibly simple and allows you to use password-protected SFTP connections, which are more secure than plain FTP.

Download: WiFi FTP Server (Android)

Pushbullet

Use Pushbullet Portal to send files

If you prefer to send individual files rather than opening up your device as a full-blown file server, consider using Pushbullet to send files over the network to any connected computer at the tap of a button. Note that Pushbullet's free plan has a 25MB cap on file size for transfers.

Download: Pushbullet (Android | Chrome | Firefox | Windows)

There are many alternatives to Pushbullet that are worth using, including AirDroid and Send Anywhere.

Of course, you could always plug your Android device straight into your computer with a USB cable, as explained in our guides to transferring files from Android to PC or the opposite, from your desktop PC to Android.

Transferring Files Between Any Two Devices

In addition to all the above methods, there are a few other techniques and services you can use that will likely work regardless of which devices you're trying to bridge.

Dropbox

Dropbox is a strong choice. Dropbox is a cloud storage service that stores your files on their servers, and makes them accessible from any Dropbox-supported device, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and any web browser. Use the provided Public folder for easy sharing of files.

The drawback of using Dropbox, or any other cloud storage service, is that your files must travel through a middleman, which is inherently less secure and less private. Plus, you have to first upload from the source device to Dropbox, then download from Dropbox to the target device. It's a minor inconvenience, but an inconvenience nonetheless. It can rule out sending large videos, though.

Email

Another option is to transfer files over email using a file transfer service for sending large email attachments.

Feem

feem app main screen

But the best alternative is to use a cross-platform direct file transfer app called Feem. This awesome tool is “like Bluetooth but 50X faster”, allowing you to transfer files directly from device to device as long as both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Yes, it works even if the internet doesn't actually work.

Feem is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. The one drawback is that Feem is ad-supported, and costs $5 to remove ads on up to 4 devices or $10 for up to 19 devices.

Download: Feem (Cross-platform)

Any Other Ways to Transfer Files?

If you're frequently shuffling files around, you should go with Feem. If you're working with the same files across multiple workstations, stay in sync using Dropbox. But if you just need a one-off transfer, opt for a device-specific solution.

On the other hand, if you're an Apple user, definitely use AirDrop to transfer files between iOS and macOS. You should now be equipped to transfer any and all files between any two devices.