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HP QuickDrop: Transfer Files Wirelessly and Easily
Linsey Knerl
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July 14, 2020
We send and receive so much information these days, from scanning a receipt for our boss to taking a photo of our child’s first dance recital. These files may stay on our devices for far too long, especially if it feels like extra work to send them.
The next time you delay sharing a file because you can’t easily send it from your computer to your mobile device, consider how the new HP QuickDrop technology could save you time and hassle.
What is HP QuickDrop?
HP QuickDrop is a new, wireless way to send photos, videos, text, documents, and more. It allows you to send files to and from your HP computer to your mobile device. It doesn’t matter if you use an Apple or an Android smartphone. As long as you install the app on your devices and pair them, you can instantly share.
How HP QuickDrop changes things
Previously, you needed to have iOS or Android-specific software on your computer to transfer files from phone to computer or vice-versa. As a result, most relied on email, cloud services, or USB cord transfers. HP QuickDrop changes all that, and it makes transferring across devices and ecosystems fast, reliable, and easy.
If you want to transfer files from phone to computer, you can do it without worrying about a Bluetooth connection, which is often not as secure. Those can also disconnect when you step outside a short distance. If you’ve ever dealt with these Bluetooth issues, you’ll appreciate this new way of file sharing.
Who can use HP QuickDrop?
HP QuickDrop is made for anyone with an HP computer using the Windows 10 Home or Pro edition operating system and the HP QuickDrop PC app. Newer computers may already have this software pre-installed, but any HP user can download the app from the Microsoft app store. You’ll also need one of these two smartphone options:
- Android phone or tablet with Android 7 or higher and the HP QuickDrop app from the Google Play store
- iPhone or iPad with IOS 12.0 or higher and the HP QuickDrop app from the Apple Store
In addition, you’ll need access to a wireless network or data connection. You can use HP QuickDrop between one mobile device and one HP computer at a time. While several devices may have the app installed, you can only pair the computer and communicate with a single phone or tablet at once.
As with any new software or app, you may need administrative access on your computer or the app store password to download and install the HP QuickDrop software. It’s free to download, however.
Sharing files vs text
There are times when you'll want to send an entire file, such as a photo you took of your friends or a video of a special event. But what about when you want to send a portion of a text document?
In these cases, the HP QuickDrop app allows you to select, copy, and send just the text you want to share between devices. This is the perfect choice for when you want to send snippets of an email, a text message thread, or a website link.
Regardless of whether you choose to send complete files or text, the receiving device will get the information in a common file format that is easy to save and open, such as .jpg for photos, for example.
How to set up HP QuickDrop
Once you install HP QuickDrop on your computer, open it and move through the prompts to download the mobile version of the app for your phone or tablet.
For easy download, a QR code will show up on your HP computer screen. Scan this code with your phone’s camera to find the app in your device brand’s specific app store. Once the app finishes downloading to your mobile device, launch it.
Next, you’ll be prompted to pair the two devices. Use the QR app or camera on your mobile device to scan the QR code on your HP computer. You’re now paired and ready to transfer files, photos, videos, and text.
How to transfer files from computer to phone
Using the newly-installed HP QuickDrop app, you can start sharing photos, videos, text, and documents between your devices. Choose the file you want to transfer in one of three ways:
- Click on the file from your desktop or folder and drag it into the HP QuickDrop app.
- From within the QuickDrop app, click on the file attachment icon (paperclip) and browse for the file you want to attach.
- From anywhere on your computer, right-click on the file you want to share, click “share,” and select the HP QuickDrop share options.
Once you select the files you want to transfer, they will appear in your HP QuickDrop app feed. This shows a history of the files you have recently shared. You can click on the three dots in the corner of any item in your share feed to get options for sharing, opening, or removing the file from the feed. You can also retry any failed transfers and cancel pending transfers from this feed.
All of your items will remain in your feed for the duration of the session. When you close the app, the history will be deleted to help protect your data.
How to transfer text from computer to phone
If you just want to share text, use one of the three following ways:
- From within the text document or screen, select the text you want to share, and right-click to share via the HP QuickDrop selection.
- Copy and paste the text directly into the QuickDrop app feed.
- Type the words you want to share into the QuickDrop feed window.
You can then share, cancel, or retry just as you would a file.
How to transfer files and text from phone to computer
Doing the reverse is very much the same. Use the attachment icon to select a file, photo, or video you want to share to your computer. You can also type directly or copy and paste to share any selected text from your device that you want to send to your HP computer through the app. Check the status of your shares in the feed, and then cancel or retry as needed.
Additionally, you can share directly from your mobile device’s files or photos folders. Select the files you want to transfer, then choose “share” and scroll to find HP QuickDrop in the options. You can even take a photo or video right in the QuickDrop app by tapping the attachment icon and selecting the “camera” option.
Troubleshooting HP QuickDrop
The HP QuickDrop app is designed to send files, photos, and text over any distance, as long as both devices are connected to the internet, have the apps installed, and are paired. If you experience any problems sending items, check your internet or data connection first.
Initial set up issues
Other issues may occur during the initial set up and pairing of devices. When this happens, it's often related to the QR scanning and your phone's camera. Be sure that you place the camera level with the surface of the code and that the code appears clear in your camera view.
If the code is blurry, your phone may be too close or too far away. Try moving back or forward slowly until the code comes into focus. Some phones will focus on a portion of the camera view when you tap on the screen, so tap the QR code directly to let your phone know where to focus.
Inactive mode
The HP QuickDrop app goes into inactive mode if you don't use it for a while. Check the status of the app by looking for a notification bar at the bottom of the feed. A yellow or pink bar will tell you that the device is offline and needs to reconnect. Wait for reconnection before trying to resume sending.
Benefits of using HP QuickDrop
HP QuickDrop allows you to quickly and easily transfer files between your HP PC and your mobile device, regardless of your operating system ecosystem. The HP QuickDrop app uses wireless connectivity, which is secure and has more range than when you send files via Bluetooth.
Only the computer and phone that have been specifically paired can send and receive files, so your documents, photos, and videos won’t get into the wrong hands.
It’s a fast process, and you can easily manage pending files as well. For those looking to send files through WiFi, this app gives you a consistent solution for almost every file type, all from within a single app.
Why choose HP QuickDrop
Consumers have been sending files between devices for decades, but think about how complicated some of the options have been. Sending an email requires you to log in, attach a file to your message, send it, and then download it from your other device. USB is impractical since most people have no way to access these files from a phone.
The native file-sharing programs that come with your phone often don't work between platforms. HP QuickDrop is one solution for all of your updated devices, whether they run on Android or iOS.
About the Author: Linsey Knerl is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Linsey is a Midwest-based author, public speaker, and member of the ASJA. She has a passion for helping consumers and small business owners do more with their resources via the latest tech solutions.
