Preface

I think one of the problems that everyone has a headache with is file sharing between different devices: between mobile phones and computers, between mobile phones and iPads, and between computers (same or different operating systems). The problem I encountered most often in the past was file sharing between iOS and macOS. Although Apple itself has some solutions, they are generally limited and must meet many conditions (turn on Bluetooth, or WiFi, or whether they are contacts or even the distance). As a result, there was a period of time when I was at home. The most common way to transfer text and files between different devices (between iOS and macOS, or between macOS and macOS, or between macOS and Win) was to use WeChat's file transfer assistant or copy to the shared directory of NAS first, and then copy to the shared directory on another device... It was quite uncool and the experience was extremely poor. Later, I was forced to study some LAN transmission methods, such as localsend:

It can be used in theory. As long as the devices that need to transfer files to each other in the LAN are equipped with the corresponding client, the client supports many platforms:

Just do some simple initialization on each client: for example, start up with the system, set the default folder for receiving files, turn on the automatic receiving function, etc.:

Then you can select the file (or text) in the Send function menu, and then click on a discovered device to send it:

On the computer, you can choose to send to one person or multiple people at the same time, and even send files or links:

But the problem is that it only works in the local area network! What if I want to transfer files to my home device when I am outside? Moreover, this transfer method is not a seamless one: after all, you need to operate several times in localsend, and you also need to install the client and perform initial configuration first.

Is there a more convenient way to share files across devices that is basically straight forward and not restricted by distance?

Of course! Otherwise, this article of mine wouldn’t be worth writing!

Copy and paste text (and images) across devices

Actually, Apple's ecosystem itself is still OK. Copying and pasting between devices under the same iCloud account (shared clipboard) is still usable for text, but sometimes it is not so sensitive or there is a delay. I copied it here, but it may not appear immediately there. Moreover, after a certain version, as soon as it detects that there is content in the clipboard, the app in the phone starts asking whether to allow pasting, which annoys me. There is no switch at the system level to turn off this function globally. It can only be turned off one by one in each app. It is very inhumane. In the end, I gradually stopped using this function, and the text transmission between mobile phones and computers returned to WeChat's file transfer assistant.

But now this situation has changed, thanks to the cross-device function of WeChat input method:

After using it for a few months, the experience is very good. Now I rely on it to copy text between win, mac and ios. The embarrassment of copying text on a remote device through jump desktop but not being able to paste it locally is finally gone. At the same time, there is no problem copying a link on a computer and then pasting it directly into the browser on a mobile phone for access.

In addition: At that time, I was already dissatisfied with the Sogou input method and was planning to replace both my mobile phone and computer. But then the "cross-device" function of the WeChat input method came out, which was like a pillow given to me when I was sleepy.

Client support is pretty good at the moment:

All you need is Linux. Keep working on it, young man!

Cross-device file transfer

There are many ways to meet this requirement online, such as web-based or app-based, the most commonly used one is WeChat-based, which I will not cover this time. The app I will introduce this time is not an app specifically for this type of requirement, but its main function is actually for virtual networking (of course, it can also be used for intranet penetration): it is Tailscale, which is based on the Wireguard protocol and is used for multi-device virtual networking.

I won’t waste time introducing the role of virtual networking here. Friends who are interested can read my other article:Application of virtual networking technology in home data center seriesToday, I will mainly introduce the cross-device file transfer function that comes with Tailscale.

For my usual applications, in order to achieve the requirement that I can use my mobile phone or iPad to access important devices at home for operation and maintenance at any time when I am outside (see my other article for the reasons for choosing the operation and maintenance method:Home Data Center Operation and Maintenance Tools Series), my mobile phone, iPad, MacBook, MacMini, all Win virtual machines, Qnap NAS, Linux virtual machines, 2 Apple TVs, ASUS AC86U for science, and even my Tencent Cloud host have TailScale installed:

So for me, TailScale is already a part of the must-install software, and I rely on the built-in functions of TailScale to transfer files between these devices. Taking my MacBook to MacMini as an example to demonstrate the required operations, I only need to:
1. Right click on the file and select Share:

2. Then select Tailscale:

3. Select the target you want to transfer from among all the online devices, such as mac-mini in this example:

4. Success:

Now it's time to go to the "Downloads" folder on the Mac Mini and see the transferred file is there:

Moreover, with this kind of sharing, no matter where your device is in the world, as long as it can connect to Tailscale, you can transfer files at will. Isn't this much better than other methods? Moreover, if you have the need for intranet penetration (such as connecting the cloud host and your own home intranet environment, and publishing home applications through the cloud host's reverse proxy), software such as Tailscale is also a must-install. What's more, Tailscale is too powerful. The virtual networking resources of different users can be shared with each other, and it can also be used to connect the intranet environments of different network segments (equivalent to site-to-site VPN), etc. These functions are simply not comparable to some simple intranet penetration software. . . The key is that these functions are still free. Isn't it annoying? ?

At the same time, the client supported by TailScale is also very complete, basically covering all commonly used terminal devices:

Hey, why am I talking too much? This time I just introduced cross-device file transfer. Never mind, I will use a dedicated article to introduce it systematically next time.

Summarize

At present, if you want to copy and paste text and pictures across devices, the best experience should be the "cross-device" function that comes with the WeChat input method. If you are using tailscale, then the most convenient cross-device file transfer should be tailscale.

However, no one is perfect, and no gold is pure. Tailscale has a huge shortcoming, which directly blocks most Chinese people who use Apple products, that is: the domestic area of the iOS and macOS app store is no longer available (it seemed to be available at the beginning of last year~~~), so if you want to experience this function and use Apple devices, you need to have advanced skills, that is: have and know how to switch to a non-domestic area ID; if you are a Windows or Linux user, you are not subject to this restriction, but it seems that visiting the official website of Tailscale is also more about appearance, so you may also need to have advanced skills in science or magic. . . .

Nowadays, even if you want to experience the free products of the normal world, you may not be eligible if you do not have advanced skills, such as Tailscale and Cloudflare. . . . So, brothers and sisters, work hard to learn technology, strive to break through the technological blockade of the United States, and win glory for our country!