If your question isn't here, we haven't thought of it yet — which is honestly a you-helping-us situation. Get in touch.
What is TVDrop?
A free file receiver for Android TV. The TV displays a QR code; phones and laptops scan it and send files from a browser. Local network only — no cloud, no signup.
How do I install an APK on Android TV?
With YD TVDrop: install & open it on the TV → scan the TV's QR code with your phone → send the APK from the browser → the TV shows package info → confirm, and the system installer finishes the job. No PC, no cable.
Which devices are supported?
Android 8.0 (API 26) and newer — Android TVs, Google TVs and boxes (Xiaomi, Mi Box, Nvidia Shield, generic boxes…), across arm64/arm32/x86. Senders: anything with a browser.
Is it free? Any ads?
Free. No ads, no in-app purchases, no subscriptions. v1.3.0 is fully free.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. There's no cloud server. Files go from your device through your router directly to the TV.
Is it safe? Can strangers push files to my TV?
Every new connection must be approved on the TV with the remote; the 6-digit pairing code rotates every 2 minutes; wrong-code spam gets rate-limited. One sender at a time, and a new device only takes over if you approve it. You can stop receiving anytime.
Do the TV and my phone need the same Wi-Fi?
Yes — same router (TV on Ethernet counts). If the page won't load after scanning, it's almost always the router's "AP isolation" or a guest network. Turn those off.
Can I send from an iPhone?
Yes. The sender is a web page — Safari on iPhone/iPad, plus Chrome/Edge/Firefox on Windows, macOS and Linux.
How big can files be?
No artificial limit. 8 MB chunked streaming, resume support and SHA-256 verification — multi-GB 4K videos are fine.
What happens if a transfer is interrupted?
It resumes from where it stopped — no starting over. If the TV reboots mid-transfer, unfinished tasks are marked failed and can be re-sent; completed files are untouched.
Installing an APK says "parse error" — why?
Three usual suspects: ① corrupted transfer (compare the SHA-256 shown in TV file details against the original); ② the APK has only a legacy v1 signature, which Android 11+ rejects (rebuild with v2+ signing); ③ the APK doesn't match the TV's architecture or OS version. TVDrop shows package info upfront to help you judge.
Can two devices connect at once?
No — one sender at a time. When a new device pairs, the TV tells you it will disconnect the current one; approve to switch. Less confusion, more safety.
Does it use background data or auto-start?
No. The receiver runs only while the app is open (or until you stop it); no background daemons, no heartbeats, no splash-screen ads.
How is this different from LocalSend?
LocalSend is a great all-platform transfer tool — but both ends need the app installed. TVDrop does one thing, the TV side: senders install nothing (scan and go), the TV UI is built for D-pad remotes, and APKs show package info before install. If you often send files to other people's TVs, TVDrop is much smoother.
Where are files stored on the TV?
In the app's private directory (Android/data/com.tvdrop.app/files/Received). Uninstalling the app removes them — copy out anything important first.
Will it become paid later?
Core transfer stays free. A possible future enterprise edition (device fleets, remote management) is separate and won't affect what you use today.