FilelaneBetween your own computers
Sign in to the same Filelane account on your Mac and PC, or on two Macs. Confirm the connection and send to the computer by name. Free includes two of your own computers; Pro includes ten.
MAC ↔ WINDOWS · OVER THE INTERNET
Send files between Mac and Windows.
Send a file or folder from Mac to Windows—or Windows to Mac—over the internet. Connect your computers once, then drop onto the destination. Different networks are fine; no cable or shared network drive needed.
Your computers or a friend’s separate account. See the three ways to share ↓
Mac: macOS 13+ · Apple silicon & Intel
Windows: 10+ · x64 · unsigned publisher beta
✓ Start with 1 GB free✓ Encrypted before upload✓ No card needed
SEE THE HANDOFF
From your Mac to your PC. And back.
Different operating systems. The same steps.
FILELANE IN ACTIONIllustration · timing compressed
Choose Download and save the files. The illustration uses a manual download; auto-download is optional.
Illustrative interface and example files. Transfer times vary with file size and your connection. This demo does not upload files.
Read the walkthrough
- Start with your own Mac and Windows PC connected and their identities confirmed. This example folder contains project files, a PDF preview and a readme.
- Drag the folder onto the other computer in Filelane. Either computer can send; use the direction buttons to see both workflows.
- Keep the sending computer online until upload completes. The files are encrypted before upload.
- On the receiving computer, open Filelane and find the incoming transfer. It can download later, before the transfer expires.
- Choose Download and save the files. The illustration uses a manual download; auto-download is optional.
Set up once. Then drop and send.
These steps connect computers you own. To send to another person, use a person invitation or a public link instead.
Connect your computers
Install Filelane on both computers and sign in to the same account. Name each one, then compare and confirm their fingerprints before your first handoff. See the setup guide.
Drop onto the destination
Open Filelane from the Mac menu bar or Windows system tray. Drag your file or folder onto the other computer. Let the upload finish before closing the sender.
Save at the other end
Open the receiving computer’s Filelane view and download the transfer. Prefer files to save automatically? Enable auto-download for that computer and choose its receive settings.
Your computers. Your friends.
A link for everyone else.
To a friend or coworker
Choose Add computer → Connect a person. Share the invitation and separate access code, then compare the verification fingerprint together. They use their own account. Only the computers you connect become destinations; no shared password is needed.
Connected guest computers do not use your own-computer allowance. Transfers still use the sender’s available storage.
To someone without the app
For files and folders, create a public link. Your recipient downloads without an account. For public downloads above 256 MiB, use Chrome or Edge on a computer; other browsers support up to 256 MiB at a time.
Clipboard handoffs use the app at both ends. Anyone with a complete public link can open its files while it is available.
DIFFERENT COMPUTERS. SHARED WORK.A MacBook here.
A MacBook here.
A Windows desktop there.
Keep the creative work on your Mac and send a finished package to your Windows workstation. Move a presentation back to your laptop. Or deliver exports and source files to a client who works on a PC.
Your computers can be on different networks. Filelane uploads encrypted files to the cloud, so the receiving computer can collect them later, within your plan’s availability window. Each computer needs internet access when uploading or downloading.
For another person’s computer, use a person invitation and verify the connection, or share a public link. Your Free or Pro allowance for your own computers is not a shared team-seat plan.
Which Mac–Windows transfer method fits?
| Your situation | A useful option | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Your Mac and PC are in different locations | Filelane connected computers | Install on both, sign in and confirm identities. Upload now; the other computer can download later. |
| A client needs a folder, without installing an app | Filelane public link | You upload in the desktop app. They open the link in a supported browser before expiry. |
| You want access to shared folders over your network | Built-in SMB file sharing | Configure sharing, account access and the network address. See Apple’s Mac-to-Windows sharing instructions. |
| You are sending to a nearby Apple device | AirDrop | Useful within Apple’s supported devices. Windows is not an AirDrop destination. See Apple’s guide. |
A useful folder to send
For a design handoff, include the editable source, a PDF preview and a short readme. Filelane moves the folder; the Windows recipient still needs software that can open the source format. A preview makes the result viewable even when their tools differ.
Sending it back works the same way
Open Filelane from the Windows system tray, choose the connected Mac and drop the revised files. Use a clear revision name, such as Project handoff v2, so the recipient can distinguish it from the earlier copy.
Can you AirDrop from a Mac to a PC?
AirDrop is for Apple devices, including nearby Macs, iPhones and iPads. It does not provide a Windows receiving app. Apple’s AirDrop guide explains the supported devices.
Filelane is a separate way to send between Mac and Windows over the internet. It does not connect to AirDrop or require both computers to be on the same Wi-Fi. You do not need a cable or a shared network drive.
START FREE. ROOM WHEN YOU NEED IT.Clear limits.
Clear limits.
A simple upgrade.
One storage allowance across your account.
No monthly transfer-count cap.
| Your plan | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $12 USD/month or $120 USD/year |
| Account storage | 1 GB | 100 GB |
| Your own computers | 2 | 10 |
| File availability | 3 days | 30 days |
| Clipboard availability | 1 hour | 1 hour |
| Download sessions per link | 5 | 20 |
Storage includes encrypted data and metadata. Availability starts after upload completes. A download session may count even if saving does not finish. Applicable taxes are shown at checkout.
By the Filelane team · Product details reviewed · Help & corrections
Can I transfer files from Windows to Mac too?
Yes. Once your computers are connected and verified, either one can send. Use the same Filelane workflow from your Mac menu bar or Windows system tray.
Does the other person need Filelane?
For a connected-computer handoff, both computers use Filelane. For a public link, only the sender needs the app and an account; the recipient opens the link in a supported browser.
Can I send folders between Mac and Windows?
Yes. Send the prepared folder with its contents. A public-link bundle is downloaded as a ZIP when it contains folders or multiple files. The recipient can extract it before opening the files.
Will Windows open every file from my Mac?
Filelane transfers files; it does not convert formats or install the software needed to open them. Include compatible exports, such as PDFs or images, when the recipient does not use your creative application.
Do both computers have to stay online?
The sending computer must stay online until upload completes. The receiver can download later while the transfer is still available. Free files are available for three days; Pro files for thirty days.
A guide for the way you work.
Make the next Mac-to-PC handoff easy.
Start free with 1 GB of account storage. Connect your own computers or invite a friend using their own account.
Get Filelane free Mac & Windows downloads ↗