Although Microsoft officially ended support for Windows Phone in 2017, solidifying the current mobile market dominated by Android and iOS, the old Redmond platform continues to attract attention from independent developers.
The most recent news concerns the integration of Google’s local file transfer system. Thanks to a third-party application, devices based on Windows 10 Mobile can now use the Quick Share protocol, allowing users to exchange data without the need to go through cloud services.
LiveDrop brings Quick Share to Windows Phone
The tool that makes this operation possible is called LiveDrop and it was created by the developer known by the pseudonym RetiredLake.
Once the application is installed via sideloading on your Windows 10 Mobile device, users gain the ability to select specific files and send them to nearby compatible devices.
The software integrates into the system share menu, facilitating the operation directly from galleries or document managers. Unlike interfaces on Android systems, LiveDrop does not feature separate tabs dedicated exclusively to sending or receiving.
Among the available options are the ability to change the device name shown on the network, manually search for updates, and select the preferred protocol. The software, in fact, supports both Google’s Quick Share and Microsoft’s Nearby Share, although the author advises against using the latter due to transfer stability concerns.
Performance and limitations
Practical tests show that sending files from older hardware, such as a Lumia 950, to modern devices, including a Windows PC or a foldable like the Galaxy Z Fold 8, works in a functional manner.
However, the operation requires some technical precautions. The receiving device must be set to visibility set to “everyone” and, in some cases, it may be necessary to disable and re-enable this option so that the hardware is properly detected by LiveDrop on the local network.
Additionally, occasionally the names of discovered devices are not shown in a completely precise manner by the application.
However, the most relevant limitation of the current version concerns data reception. At the moment, it is not possible to send files from an Android smartphone or a Windows PC to Windows Phone, as the latter does not appear in the list of devices visible directly on Quick Share.
The developer has confirmed being aware of the issue and is working on a corrective update.
