Found a link on your phone that you need on your PC? Wrote something on the PC that you want on your phone? A lot of people email or message themselves. It works, but every time you open the chat, send, open it again on the other device, copy… it adds up.
This page compares ways to move notes and links between your phone and PC without messaging yourself.
The usual ways
- Message or email yourself: works everywhere, but takes several steps each time and leaves the content on someone else's server.
- A cloud notes app: handy once both devices share an account, but you need the account and you wait for sync.
- Built-in OS features: Universal Clipboard between iPhone and Mac, or Phone Link between some Android phones and Windows. Easiest when your devices match; unavailable when they don't.
Just copy (AirBoard)
AirBoard moves copied text, photos and files directly between devices on the same Wi‑Fi (LAN). It works across Windows, iPhone, iPad and Android, with no account.
- Copy on PC → paste on phone: copy as usual on the PC and it arrives on the phone's clipboard (on iPhone, while AirBoard is open).
- Copy on phone → paste on PC: copy on the phone, open AirBoard, and it's on the PC clipboard. Press Ctrl+V.
- Keep things you reuse on the Board: pin addresses, phone numbers and meeting links and copy them with one tap.
- Find it later in History: sent, received and copied-here items in one list, filtered by text, file or copy.
To start, install AirBoard on both and connect them on the same Wi‑Fi. Step-by-step guides: iPhone and Windows, Android and Windows.
Which should you use?
- Send one thing now and then → messaging yourself is fine.
- Devices from the same maker (iPhone and Mac) → the built-in feature is easiest.
- Mixed devices (iPhone and Windows, Android and Windows) many times a day → something that delivers as soon as you copy, like AirBoard.
AirBoard works only within the same Wi‑Fi. It can't send to a device somewhere else; in return, nothing you copy is left on an outside server. If office Wi‑Fi blocks the connection, see how to connect through a hotspot.
More guides
- Copy and paste between iPhone and Windows
- Send iPhone photos to a PC without a cable
- Share the clipboard between Android and Windows
- Office Wi‑Fi blocking devices? Use a hotspot