Quick answer: On a Mac, use AirDrop for an Apple device in the same room, Mail Drop in Apple Mail for attachments up to 5 GB, or iCloud Drive to share a link if you have the storage. To send to anyone, on any device, without using your iCloud storage, upload the files at Share Large Files Free (up to 20 GB) and send the download link.
Which method to use
| Method | Size | Recipient | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirDrop | No fixed limit | An iPhone, iPad or Mac nearby | Moving files between your own Apple devices |
| Mail Drop (Apple Mail) | Up to 5 GB per message | Anyone with email | Big attachments; the link lasts 30 days |
| iCloud Drive link | Your free iCloud space (5 GB on the free plan) | Anyone with the link | Files you already keep in iCloud |
| Download link from this site | Up to 20 GB per transfer | Anyone, on any device | Everything else; no account needed |
AirDrop: fastest when the other person is in the room
- Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices, and make sure the receiver can be discovered (Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes).
- In Finder, right-click the file, choose Share and then AirDrop, or open AirDrop in the Finder sidebar and drag the file onto the person.
- The receiver accepts, and the file lands in their Downloads folder (on iPhone, in the matching app or Files).
AirDrop sends the original file with no compression, but it only reaches Apple devices close by. It cannot send to Windows or Android, or to someone in another city.
Mail Drop: big attachments from Apple Mail
When you attach a large file in the Mail app with an iCloud account, Mail offers to send it with Mail Drop. The attachment is uploaded to iCloud and the recipient gets a download link instead of the file. Mail Drop handles attachments up to 5 GB, the link works for 30 days, and it does not count against your iCloud storage.
Things to know: it only works from Apple Mail, big uploads can be slow to start, and some recipients' mail systems or spam filters treat the link with suspicion. Files over 5 GB need another way.
iCloud Drive: share a link to a file you already store
Move the file into iCloud Drive, right-click it in Finder, choose Share and then Collaborate or Send copy and pick how to share the link. The file has to fit into your iCloud storage first, and the free plan has only 5 GB, shared with your photos and backups. Remember to remove shared files afterwards, or they keep using your space.
Send to anyone with a link, without iCloud
- Open Share Large Files Free in Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
- Drag in your files or a whole folder from Finder: up to 1000 files and 20 GB per transfer.
- Choose Link to copy a download link, or Email to have it sent to your recipients.
- Keep the tab open until the upload finishes, then share the link in Messages, email or any chat.
The recipient needs no Apple device and no account, the file is delivered byte for byte, and the link expires after 1 day so nothing lingers in your storage. Folders with many small files transfer faster as one ZIP: right-click the folder in Finder and choose Compress, or use the free zip tool.
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest file I can send from a Mac?
AirDrop has no fixed limit but only reaches nearby Apple devices. Mail Drop allows up to 5 GB per message. With a download link from this site you can send up to 20 GB per transfer to anyone.
How do I send a large file from a Mac to a Windows PC?
AirDrop does not work with Windows. Upload the file here and send the download link, or use Mail Drop in Apple Mail for files up to 5 GB.
Does Mail Drop use my iCloud storage?
No. Mail Drop attachments do not count against your iCloud storage, and the links expire after 30 days.
Why is AirDrop not showing the other device?
Check that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on for both, that the devices are close, and that the receiver allows AirDrop from Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes.
Will my files be compressed?
Not with AirDrop, Mail Drop or a download link from this site: all three deliver the original file.
Ready to send?
Drop your files, get a link, done. Free up to 20 GB — no account needed.
Send files free