[Bug] Some devices can’t see each other—Windows 11 24H2 involved?

[danyonline64]

Some devices are unable to detect each other on the network. This issue started recently and affects specific machines, including one running Windows 11 24H2.

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

Open Pairdrop on device A (e.g., Windows 11 24H2).
Open Pairdrop on device B (another device on the same network).
Attempt to detect device B from device A (or vice versa).
Devices fail to see each other.

All devices on the same network should detect each other and allow file sharing via Pairdrop, as they did before.

OS: Windows 11 24H2
Browser: Chrome/Firefox
Version: last

Bug occurs on official PairDrop instance https://pairdrop.net/
No

Bug occurs on self-hosted PairDrop instance
Yes

Self-Hosted Setup

Proxy: Nginx
Deployment: Docker Compose
Version: v1.10.10

Additional context
The issue seems to be new and might be related to changes in the Windows 11 24H2 update. Other devices on the same network (using the same Pairdrop instance) work fine. Could this be related to networking or compatibility issues with this OS version?

Thanks :)

[schlagmichdoch]

As PairDrop is a web app it should not be OS but browser specific but there might be some firewall or vpn settings that affect visibility.

What do your browser logs on the affected device say? Does it try to connect but ultimately fail?

Have you deployed your own TURN server via RTC_CONFIG env var or do you use the default settings?

[JonSnow88]

I have the same issue but both devices are running 23H2, weirdly both devices can see my phone. So was able to transfer from Windows > iOS > Windows.

It's just these two devices that cannot see each other; the rest are fine.

[schlagmichdoch]

@JonSnow88:

• Only on self-hosted instance or also on pairdrop.net?
• Have you deployed a turn server?
• Do you deploy your turn server via ipv6?

[JonSnow88]

This is self-hosted, have not tried pairdrop.net.

No turn server installed, but one of the Windows hosts does have a VPN installed. Although this does not explain why the VPN Windows host can see my Phone, but the two Windows host cannot see each other. My phone can see all Windows host without issue.

The VPN is setup to pass local traffic, RDP, SMB etc. all work with the VPN enabled.

[schlagmichdoch]

Just try https://pairdrop.net on both devices. If it works there but not on your self hosted instance you will need a TURN server.

Also, what do the browser console logs say when you try to connect those two windows machines?