Transfer files even faster on Windows

Why Windows behaviour matters for P2P speed

From the perspective of a P2P app, Windows is responsible for several critical layers: the network stack, the DNS resolver, the firewall and often the Wi‑Fi or Ethernet drivers. If any of these layers is misconfigured or outdated, your private file sharing sessions can become slower or less stable than they should be. The good news is that you do not need to be a system administrator to get solid results. With a few targeted checks you can unlock most of the available performance.

Because Free Transfer uses WebRTC to transfer files directly between browsers, it benefits from improvements at all these layers. A clean, up‑to‑date Windows machine will negotiate encrypted connections faster, handle packet loss more gracefully and make better use of your bandwidth. The following sections focus on simple steps you can perform in a typical Windows 10 or Windows 11 installation.

Keep Windows, drivers and browsers updated

It might sound obvious, but many performance issues can be traced back to outdated components. Start by checking Windows Update and installing pending security and quality patches. Network‑related improvements are often hidden in these cumulative updates. Reboot the system afterwards so that all changes are applied.

Next, update your network drivers. On a laptop this typically means the Wi‑Fi and Ethernet adapters. You can use Windows Update or the manufacturer's support site to obtain the latest versions. New drivers frequently contain bug fixes for unstable connections, sudden speed drops or compatibility problems with modern routers.

Finally, make sure your browser is current. Free Transfer relies on the browser's WebRTC engine to create encrypted P2P channels. Chrome, Edge and Firefox all ship frequent updates that improve congestion control, encryption performance and memory usage. Turning on automatic updates is the easiest way to stay on top of these changes.

Use wired connections when possible

Just as in any operating system, a wired Ethernet connection tends to be more consistent than Wi‑Fi. On Windows you can often see this difference immediately by comparing a speed‑test result over Wi‑Fi and then over a cable. When you plan to transfer very large files, especially when you rely on no file size limit, using Ethernet can reduce latency, jitter and packet loss, which directly benefits WebRTC streams.

If Ethernet is not an option, consider these Wi‑Fi‑specific suggestions:

• Connect to the 5 GHz band instead of 2.4 GHz to avoid congestion, if your router supports it.
• Place the laptop or PC closer to the router and avoid metal cabinets or thick walls between them.
• Temporarily pause heavy traffic on other devices, such as game downloads or video streaming.

All of these adjustments reduce the number of retransmissions the network stack has to perform, which allows P2P file transfer to run smoother and faster.

Configure Windows Defender Firewall correctly

Windows Defender Firewall is an important security component, but an overly strict configuration can interfere with peer‑to‑peer connectivity. In most cases modern browsers automatically create the necessary firewall rules during installation. However, if you have tightened the firewall manually or use additional security software, it is worth confirming that outbound and inbound WebRTC traffic is not being blocked.

You generally do not need to open specific ports for Free Transfer because WebRTC uses techniques like ICE and STUN/TURN negotiation to find viable paths. The main point is to allow your browser to establish UDP connections to the outside world. If your firewall is set to block all unknown outbound traffic by default, create an exception for your main browser so that private file sharing sessions can be established cleanly.

Optimize background processes and power settings

Windows machines often run many background processes: automatic updaters, cloud sync clients, telemetry tools and more. While each one may consume only a small portion of CPU or bandwidth, together they can slow down your ability to share files at full speed. Before you start a large transfer, quickly review the Task Manager for unexpected bandwidth or disk usage.

Power settings also play a role. On laptops, the default "balanced" plan may reduce CPU frequencies or network adapter performance to save battery. When you are plugged in and want maximum throughput, switching temporarily to a "high performance" power plan can help your system sustain higher transfer rates. Remember to switch back afterwards if you care about battery life.

Use modern DNS resolvers and avoid flaky VPN routes

DNS resolution is the first step in any connection, including the initial signalling phase before a P2P room is created. If your DNS resolver is slow or unreliable, the time it takes to set up sessions increases. You can configure Windows to use reputable, privacy‑friendly DNS providers that offer fast responses. This will not magically double your download speed, but it does make the whole "connect and start" phase more responsive.

VPNs deserve a nuanced look. They can be helpful if your local network blocks certain protocols, but they also add extra hops and encryption layers. If your VPN provider routes traffic through a distant country, the latency added can noticeably slow down P2P streams. When you notice unusually slow transfers only while a VPN is active, try switching to an exit node that is geographically closer, or temporarily pausing the VPN. Because Free Transfer already encrypts your data end‑to‑end, the additional VPN layer is optional from a confidentiality standpoint for many use cases.

Clean up temporary files and ensure enough disk space

Windows relies heavily on local disk storage for temporary data and virtual memory. If your main drive is nearly full, the operating system may struggle to allocate space for incoming chunks during a large download. This can manifest as sudden slowdowns or a system that feels sluggish while you transfer files.

Use the built‑in Storage settings or Disk Cleanup tool to remove temporary files, old downloads and unused installers. Aim to keep at least several gigabytes of free space on the system drive. This not only improves overall performance but also provides room for browsers to buffer data efficiently while maintaining secure file transfer sessions.

Make Free Transfer part of your Windows workflow

Once your Windows environment is tuned, the last step is to integrate Free Transfer into your daily routine. Pin your preferred browser to the taskbar, bookmark the Free Transfer homepage and treat it as the default way to send files secure, especially when they are too large for email or chat attachments. The more consistently you use a single, privacy‑friendly workflow, the easier it becomes to reason about security and performance.

Remember that Free Transfer does not impose a platform‑side file size limit and does not store files on its own servers. Combined with the optimizations described above, this gives you a powerful, Windows‑friendly way to perform private file sharing without complicated setup. You simply open the site, drag your files into the window and share the generated link with the recipient.