📡 wifi-drop

Upload files from your phone to your laptop — directly, over Wi-Fi — with no internet, no app, and full privacy.

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📦 About the Project

wifi-drop lets you quickly send photos and files from your phone to your laptop over a local Wi-Fi network or mobile hotspot.
No cables. No apps. No internet required.

It works entirely in the browser and stores files directly on your computer.

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🚀 Features

• ✅ Works offline (Wi-Fi or mobile hotspot)
• ✅ No app or installation needed on phone
• ✅ Mobile-friendly UI
• ✅ Skips files that already exist
• ✅ Shows upload progress and time per file

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🛠️ How to Set Up

Here’s how to set up and run wifi-drop locally:

📁 Step 1: Create a Python Virtual Environment (optional but recommended)

mkdir -p ~/envs
python3 -m venv ~/envs/env_python_wifi_drop
source ~/envs/env_python_wifi_drop/bin/activate

📦 Step 2: Install Dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

🚀 Step 3: Start the Server

python3 server.py

You should see a message like:

Server started: http://192.168.1.42:8000

📱 Step 4: Open That Link From Your Phone

Connect your laptop and phone to the same Wi-Fi or mobile hotspot. On your phone, open any browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.) Visit the printed link (e.g., http://192.168.1.42:8000) Select files → Upload → Done ✅

💡 Tip: Use Mobile Hotspot Without Internet You don’t need internet. Just: Enable hotspot on your phone. Connect your laptop to it. Upload directly — offline and private. ✅ No mobile data is used.

📁 Folder Structure

wifi-drop/
├── server.py               # Entry point, starts the FastAPI app
├── config.py               # Constants like UPLOAD_DIR, PORT, etc.
├── stats.py                # Handles stats tracking (load/save/update)
├── upload_handler.py       # Contains all upload and check-existing logic
├── utils.py                # Helper functions like get_local_ip, QR code
├── static/
│   └── index.html          # Upload UI
├── Uploads/                # Where uploaded files are saved
├── upload_stats.json       # Stats file (generated at runtime)
├── requirements.txt
└── README.md

👨‍💻 Requirements

• Python 3.7+
• Works on Linux, macOS, or Windows
• A modern browser on your phone (no app needed)

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

🚀 What Can Be Improved / Future Ideas

• ✅ Add file size limit to prevent huge uploads
• ✅ Show list of uploaded files directly on the webpage
• ✅ Add drag-and-drop file support (improves mobile UX)
• 🔒 Add password or PIN protection for basic security
• Package as a desktop app (.desktop for Linux, etc.)
• Add full authentication (login system)
• Improve upload progress bar and per-file timing
• ⚡ Upload files in parallel for speed (more accurate time estimates needed)
• 📝 Show list of uploaded filenames on the UI
• 🎨 Enhance UI/UX on mobile with more responsive design
• 💾 Let user choose upload destination folder via the webpage (with security)
• Turn this into a Progressive Web App (PWA) for offline use and installation
• Add upload cancellation or retry mechanisms
• Zip files before uploading to save bandwidth
• Auto-detect and display the correct IP address to connect easily
• Implement queuing and resuming uploads in offline mode using Service Workers or similar tech

🤝 Contributing

Pull requests are welcome! If you’ve got an idea for a feature, bug fix, or improvement — open an issue or submit a PR.

💬 Credits & Inspiration

Inspired by the need to move files quickly without third-party apps, cables, or internet.