File transfer is the transmission of a computer file through a communication channel from one computer system to another. The resulting data is then available to be used by either the source or destination device. File transfer can be a simple process, such as moving a document or photo from your desktop to your laptop by simply copying and pasting, or it can be an elaborate undertaking, such as the sending of large files between locations using cloud storage services.
With file sizes becoming increasingly large, it’s important that your file transfer solutions can move large volumes of data quickly and with little error. Whether transferring batch transactions to an outsourced payroll provider or digital video for a marketing campaign, it is critical that you can send and receive large files without delay.
One of the fastest ways to transfer files is to use a USB drive. Connect the drive to each computer and then move files by copying from the old PC onto the new one. You can also utilize wireless options such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, depending on the devices’ capabilities and proximity (e.g., Windows PCs have Nearby Sharing, and Macs have AirDrop).
For larger transfers, remote desktop software or cloud-based solutions may be the best option. These platforms enable you to upload and download files of any size, including terabytes of data. This can be particularly useful if you want to avoid the limitations of email attachments, which typically have file size limits and can get clogged up with multiple attachments. Send Large Files