Transfer large files and folders between two PCs via Ethernet cable.
No router required. EtherTransfer is a simple, open-source utility designed to move massive datasets directly between computers. No internet or network configuration needed.
Why EtherTransfer?
Zero Configuration
Just plug in an Ethernet cable and open the app on both computers. There are no IP addresses to type, no settings to tweak, and no routers required.
100% Offline
All files go directly through the cable from one computer to the other. It works completely offline, meaning you don't need an internet connection.
Keeps Folders Intact
Transfer entire folders full of files at once. The app keeps everything perfectly organized exactly the way it was, without you needing to zip anything first.
Windows & Linux
Easily send files between different operating systems. The app automatically handles all the technical differences behind the scenes.
Visual Guide
Connect the Ethernet Cable
Plug a standard Ethernet cable directly into the network ports of both the sending and receiving computers. No crossover cable or router is needed.
Launch & Discover
Launch EtherTransfer on both PCs. They will automatically find each other and populate the "Discovered Devices" list.
Acceptance Dialog
When you click Send, the receiving computer instantly gets an Incoming Transfer request. They can review the file size and choose where to save it before accepting.
Transfer Progress
Once accepted, the transfer begins immediately. You'll see real-time progress, transfer speed, and remaining data as your files stream directly across the cable.
Speed & Method Comparison
Why direct Ethernet transfer is the fastest, most reliable method for moving massive files and intact folder trees between computers.
| Transfer Method | Real Transfer Speed | Time for 100 GB | Internet / Router Required? | Setup Complexity | Folder Trees Intact? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EtherTransfer (Direct LAN)
Recommended
|
115 – 1,150 MB/s | ~1.5 to 13 mins | 100% Offline (No Router) | Zero Config (Plug & Play) | Yes (Exact Structure) |
| Local Wi-Fi Sharing (SMB / AirDrop) | 15 – 45 MB/s | ~45 to 90 mins | Requires Wi-Fi Router | Network permissions & IPs | Often fails on deep trees |
| Cloud Storage (Drive / OneDrive) | 5 – 25 MB/s (Upload capped) | ~3 to 6+ hours | Requires Fast Broadband | Upload & download accounts | Zipping required |
| USB 3.0 Flash Drive / External SSD | 40 – 90 MB/s (2x copy) | ~40 to 60 mins (2 steps) | No | Physical copy-paste twice | Yes |
Get EtherTransfer
Choose your platform below to download the latest version.
Windows
Available for Windows 10 and 11. Choose the version that matches your system architecture.
Linux
One unified script automatically handles installation across all major Linux distributions.
curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/divyviradiya2/ethertransfer/master/install_linux.sh | sudo bash
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about transferring files between computers via direct Ethernet cable.
Simply connect a standard Ethernet cable between the network ports of both PCs and launch EtherTransfer on both computers. The app automatically discovers the connected PC using link-local discovery (APIPA) without needing a router, switch, or manual IP configuration. Select your files or folders, click Send, and the receiving machine accepts to begin streaming data across the cable at full Gigabit speed.
A regular, standard Ethernet cable (Cat 5e, Cat 6, Cat 6a, Cat 7, or Cat 8) works perfectly. All modern PC network cards support Auto-MDI/MDIX, which automatically reconfigures the internal transmit and receive lines so a specialized crossover cable is never required. Legacy crossover cables are also 100% supported.
Yes! EtherTransfer works both point-to-point (1-to-1 with a direct cable) and across unmanaged or managed Ethernet switches (multi-device). When multiple PCs running EtherTransfer are plugged into the same switch, they automatically discover each other via UDP broadcasts and populate the Discovered Devices list for selective peer-to-peer transfers.
Any standard USB-A, USB-C, or Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet adapter/dongle (Realtek RTL8153, ASIX AX88179, etc.) works out of the box with zero drivers needed. Direct point-to-point Thunderbolt 3/4/USB4 networking cables are also supported via link-local virtual IP interfaces.
Yes. EtherTransfer operates 100% offline. Data streams exclusively through the physical Ethernet wire from PC to PC. No internet connection, Wi-Fi router, cloud servers, or external telemetry are involved, making it ideal for air-gapped systems and sensitive data.
Yes. EtherTransfer provides full cross-platform compatibility between Windows (10 and 11) and Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, CentOS). Directory paths, deep folder structures, and file metadata are automatically normalized during the transfer.
Direct Gigabit Ethernet achieves transfer speeds of 115 MB/s to 125 MB/s (~1 Gbps), and 10GbE reaches over 1,000 MB/s. A 100 GB dataset transfers in roughly 13 minutes on Gigabit Ethernet, compared to over 1.5 hours on typical Wi-Fi and 4+ hours on cloud storage.
No. EtherTransfer uses automatic peer discovery over link-local IPv4 addresses (APIPA 169.254.x.x). There are zero IP addresses to configure, zero network adapter settings to change, and zero router port forwards required.