Transfer files from Linux to any device
AirDrop is Apple-only, and Google's Quick Share has no Linux client at all. USB cables require physical proximity. Here is what actually works: one curl command, one link, opens anywhere.
The problem
Linux has no AirDrop or Quick Share
AirDrop is macOS and iOS only, and Google's Quick Share has no official Linux client, despite what many guides claim. USB cables work but require you to have the cable, be physically next to the other device, and know which mount point to look in. Email and cloud storage work but require accounts, and you're uploading a file just to download it again a minute later.
curl is available on every Linux system
curl ships in the default install on most distributions, and where it doesn't, it's a one-line install from your package manager. No app stores, no proximity requirement. The recipient doesn't need Linux either. They just need a browser, which everyone has.
Sending from Linux
Upload with one command
Run this in any terminal. You get a download link back in seconds.
curl -F "f=@photo.jpg" https://send.withcapsule.dev/upload
The response includes a link like
https://send.withcapsule.dev/download/made-by-sean. Share that link with whoever needs the file. They
open it in a browser on any device and the file
downloads immediately, no account required on their
end.
Upload from the browser instead
If you prefer not to use the terminal, go to withcapsule.dev, drop the file on the Send tab, and hit Send. You get the same short link and a QR code you can scan from your phone.
Install the CLI for more options
The Capsule CLI adds encrypted transfers, local history, and self-hosting support. On Linux:
curl -fsSL https://withcapsule.dev/install-linux.sh | sh
Or via Cargo:
cargo install capsule-cli. Also
available on Fedora COPR. See the
CLI guide ↗.
Receiving on any device
iPhone or iPad
Scan the QR code with the Camera app, or open the download link in Safari. The file downloads directly to Files. No app install, no Apple ID required on the sender's side.
Mac
Open the link in any browser, or download from the terminal:
curl -OJ https://send.withcapsule.dev/download/[file-id]
Android
Scan the QR code, or open the link in any browser. The file downloads to your Downloads folder. No app required on the receiving end.
Windows
Open the link in a browser, or via PowerShell:
curl.exe -OJ https://send.withcapsule.dev/download/[file-id]
Another Linux machine
Same curl command, works over any network, no proximity required:
curl -OJ https://send.withcapsule.dev/download/[file-id]
Details
How long does the link stay active?
60 minutes from upload time. After that the file is permanently deleted. This is a deliberate privacy boundary, not a storage limitation.
What's the file size limit?
100 MB per file. No account required.
Can I encrypt the file before it leaves my machine?
Yes. The CLI's
upload-encrypted subcommand encrypts
the file entirely on your machine using the age v1
format before upload. The server receives only
ciphertext and never sees the contents. See the
encryption page →