Those of you who use an Android phone or tablet and want to share files with other devices can take advantage of a handy feature known as Nearby Share. Designed to help you share photos, videos, and other files just like with Apple's AirDrop, the feature initially supported file sharing only with other Android devices. But a new version for Windows, which just emerged from beta, lets you also share files with Windows PCs. Here’s how to get started with Nearby Share.
How to Share Android to Android
To share files between two Android devices, both must be running Nearby Share with Bluetooth and location services turned on. On a stock Android device, go to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Preferences > Nearby Share. Turn on the switch for Use Nearby Share.
On a Samsung phone, go to Settings > Google > Devices & sharing > Nearby Share. Turn on the switch for Use Nearby Share.
On any device, turn on and tap the setting for Device visibility and choose which people and devices you want to include. The option are as follows:
Back at the Nearby Share screen, tap the Data setting to choose whether you want to share files using Wi-Fi or cellular data, Wi-Fi only, or without internet (which uses Bluetooth). Tap the setting for Device name and confirm or change the name that will appear when sharing files. Tap the switch for Show notification to receive a notification whenever nearby devices want to share files.
Send and Receive Files on Android
To use Nearby Share to send files, swipe down twice from the top of the screen to view the quick settings menu and make sure the icon for Bluetooth is on. You can send a file using Nearby Share through any app that supports the built-in Android Share feature, including the Files app, Gallery, and Google Photos, as well as third-party file services like Microsoft OneDrive.
Launch a supported app and open the file you wish to share, such as a photo, video, audio, or document. In some cases, you can just tap the file you want to share without opening it. Tap the Share icon and then select Nearby or Nearby Share. At the Nearby Share screen, wait for any nearby devices to appear, then tap the name of the device to which you want to send the file.
Any nearby device that has Nearby Share activated displays a notification prompting the user to make their device visible. After you tap the name of the device to which you want to share the file, the user of that device taps the Accept button. The file is then sent and received, allowing the person to open the file in its associated app.
In cases where multiple apps can open a file, you’ll need to select the specific app you wish to use. For example, a PDF could be opened with a variety of apps, depending on which ones are installed. Select the app and decide whether you want to use this app to open the file type just once or always. The file then opens in your chosen app.
Troubleshooting Nearby Sharing
Should you run into any trouble with Nearby Sharing between Android devices, Google has a few suggestions for troubleshooting.
How to Share to Windows From Android
To share files between an Android device and a Windows PC, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi must both be enabled in Windows. Nearby Share for Windows is currently available for 64-bit versions of Windows 10 and 11. ARM devices aren't supported.
To kick things off on your PC, browse to the Nearby Share website and click Get started. Run the downloaded BetterTogetherSetup.exe file to install the program. Open the shortcut for Nearby Share for Windows from the Start menu. If you’re not automatically signed in, click the Sign in button to log in with your Google account.
To send a file to your PC from your Android using the Nearby Share app, click the drop-down menu on the left sidebar under your PC’s name and select one of the options for receiving files—Receive from everyone, Receive from contacts, or Receive from your devices. You can set it to Device is hidden when you’re not using Nearby Share.
Make sure the Nearby Share for Windows app is running, either in the foreground or in the background. By default, you can exit the app, and it will continue to run as evidenced by its icon in the Windows System Tray.
On your Android device, open the file that you want to share. Tap the Share icon in Android and select Nearby Share. Select the name of your Windows PC. The first time you do this, you may need to pair your Android device and computer.
After pairing the two, the file is sent to your computer, where you can open it in the associated app.
How to Share to Android from Windows
To send files (or an entire folder) from Windows to a nearby Android device, drag and drop it onto the Nearby Share for Windows screen or select it from File Explorer. Choose the Android device.
On your Android device, tap the notification at the top to become visible. The first time you try to send a file from Windows, your Android device will prompt you to pair and connect with your PC. Tap the requests on your device and your computer to initiate the pairing and connection. Click Accept on your Android device. The file is transferred and you can open it with its associated app.