AirDrop Plus

A file transfer and clipboard synchronization tool between Windows and iOS devices implemented using Python and Shortcuts.

中文

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Requirements

python==3.10.6
flask==3.0.0
psutil==5.9.6
pyinstaller==6.2.0
windows_toasts==1.1.0
pillow==10.1.0
pyperclip~=1.8.2
pystray==0.19.5

Packaging

pyinstaller --add-data 'config;config' --add-data 'static;static' -w AirDropPlus.py

Usage

0. Network

   • Your iPhone and PC must be on the same LAN, or the PC can connect to the iOS hotspot, or vice versa.
   • (It doesn't use data when transferring files via a hotspot.)

1. Install Bonjour on PC (optional)

   • Bonjour allows you to access Windows using the 'hostname.local' instead of an IP address.
   • The latest version of Bonjour may encounter issues accessing 'hostname.local'. Please use an older version instead.
   

2. Set up AirdropPlus

   • Modify the configuration file 'config.ini' to set the file save path and key.
   • The packaged configuration file is located at '_internal/config.ini'.

3. Start AirDropPlus.exe

   Start 'AirDropPlus.exe', and when prompted with the following pop-up, please click to allow.

   

4. Get the shortcut on your iPhone.

   https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/d8ba54ce9e674becaf951a076ac1d967

   

5. Set up the shortcut:

   • host：'hostname.local' (or the host IP address instead)
   • port：The same port number set in 'config.ini'
   • key：The same key set in 'config.ini'
   • simplify：Enabling this will disable the function to send the iOS clipboard
   

6. Set the trigger method of the shortcut:

   1. Set it up in 'Settings-Accessibility-Touch-BackTap' to trigger with a double-tap on the back of the iPhone.
   2. The iPhone 15 Pro series can set it to trigger with the side button.

7. Functionality Testing:

   • Send files:

     Tap the 'AirDrop Plus' shortcut from the file sharing menu.

     

   • Send texts:

     1. Copy the text which you want to send.
     2. Trigger the shortcut, then tap the 'Send' option.
     

   • Receive files or texts:

     1. Trigger the shortcut
     2. Tap the 'Receive' option to receive file or text from PC's clipboard.
     

Issues and solutions

1. Shortcut Timeout:

1. Check if the local area network (LAN) environment is unobstructed. In campus network environments, communication with LAN devices may be prohibited.
2. Verify that the port number set in the config.ini file matches the one set in the shortcut.
3. Ensure that the hostname set in the shortcut is consistent with the PC's hostname (the hostname should not be in Chinese). You can also try changing hostname.local to IP address.
4. Check if the PC's firewall is blocking the port set in the config.ini file. Remove all entries related to AirDropPlus and restart AirDropPlus. After the restart, please allow the pop-up for network requests.
   

2. No notification after startup, but the process is running in the background:

1. It's possible that the PC's system version is too old to support interactive notifications. Try changing to basic notifications in the config.ini file.
   

3. The iPhone sent a Clipboard, but the PC received a file

1. Up to now, the input type obtained via the shortcut depends on the language of the iOS device. I have only considered input types in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. If your iOS device is set to another language, errors may occur.
2. You can try adding the type name of 'Text' in your iOS device's language into the brackets, separated by '|'.
   

API

0. Request Header Parameters

Arg Name	Type	Description
ShortcutVersion	String	The version of the shortcut. It must match the 'version' in the config.ini file.
Authorization	String	The key. It must match the first two segments of the 'key' in the config.ini file. For example, if the config.ini file has a version 1.5.1, this should be 1.5.

1. Send File

Send a file from the mobile device to the PC.

URL

[POST] /file

Request Body: Form

Arg Name	Type	Description
file	File	The File to Send

Return

• Return Type: JSON
• Return Content:

  {
      "success": true,
      "msg": "发送成功",
      "data": null
  }

2. Retrieve File

Retrieve a file on the PC

URL

[GET] /file/[path]

Arg Name	Type	Description
path	String	Base64 encoding of the file path

Return

• Return Type: File

3. Send Clipboard

Send the clipboard to PC

URL

[POST] /clipboard

Request Parameters

• Request Body: Form

Arg Name	Type	Description
clipboard	String	Mobile Clipboard Content

Return

• Return Type: JSON
• Return Content:

  {
      "success": true,
      "msg": "发送成功",
      "data": null
  }

4. Retrieve Clipboard Content

Retrieve the Clipboard Content on PC

URL

[GET] /clipboard

Return

• Return Type: JSON
• Return Content:
  • When the Clipboard Contains Text:

    {
        "success": true,
        "msg": "",
        "data": {
          "type": "text",
          "data": "clipboard_text"
        } 
    }

  • When the Clipboard Contains File:

    {
        "success": true,
        "msg": "",
        "data": {
          "type": "file",
          "data": ["file1_path_base64", "file2_path_base64", "file3_path_base64"]
        }
    }

  • When the Clipboard Contains Image:

    {
        "success": true,
        "msg": "",
        "data": {
          "type": "img",
          "data": "img_base64_code"
        }
    }

5. Test

Test Connection

URL

[GET] /

Return

• Return Type: Text
• Return Content: Hello world!