How to Use Nearby Share on Android

HIGHLIGHTS

• Nearby Share is a fast and easy way to share files with other Android devices.
• Share photos, videos, documents, and links; no need for the internet.
• How to Turn On and Use Nearby Share on Android.

Nearby Share is quite handy for people using Android, in the sense that it lets people share stuff really fast and easily. Tap, a few taps, pictures, videos, contacts, and much more—you can share them with other Android devices nearby. Now let’s see how to use this feature on Android devices.

What is Nearby Share?

This is like Apple’s AirDrop—an innovation in Google to share content with nearby devices running on the Android platform. Released in 2020, the feature now comes preloaded on many Android phones once you have Android 6.0 or higher (Marshmallow).

 Using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or a mix of both, the transfer speed is quite fast, and you don’t need an active internet connection to complete it.

How to Enable Nearby Share

 You will need to allow it both on the sending and receiving devices. Here’s how to do it in just a couple of minutes:

• Open Settings: Open Settings from your Android device.

• Search for Nearby Share: Find “Nearby Share” using the search bar or navigate to Connected devices > Connection preferences > Nearby Share.

• Turn on Nearby Share: Enabling the feature will take you through some additional setup options related to visibility and permissions.

Share Files with Nearby Share

With Nearby Share turned on, sharing files is a breeze and quick. Here’s how:

• Choose the file to share – Open the file you want to share—perhaps a picture or video, a document, or even a webpage.
• Tap the Share Icon – To share, tap the Share icon, usually at the bottom of the screen, and from the options, select “Nearby Share.”
• Wait for Nearby Devices – Nearby Share will start scanning for nearby devices. When the recipient’s device has appeared on the list, tap on it to trigger the file transfer.
• Accept the file on the recipient’s device – It will prompt an alert to accept the file in the recipient’s account. Once accepted, the transfer of the file shall begin.

Advantages of Nearby Share

• The use of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi allows for offline file transfers in case there is no connection to the Internet.
• You can set private visibility by allowing “Everyone.”
• “Contacts,” or remaining “hidden.” This means you can control who can share files with your device. Cross-Device Compatibility: Nearby Share is available on most Android devices, so you can use it across tablets, smartphones, and even some Chromebooks.

Tips for a Better Nearby Share Experience

• Use Wi-Fi for larger files

Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on if you have large files, as the transfer will be faster. Nearby Share automatically chooses between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi based on whether the file size is large or not.

• Check battery optimization.

Sometimes, optimization settings for the battery interfere with Nearby Share. Switch off optimization for Nearby Share by going through Settings > Apps to prevent interruption.

• Maintain both devices

Unlocked. Keep both of the above devices unlocked and preferably side by side while sharing so the connection is better.

FAQs

Can I share files on non-Android devices?

Nearby Share is currently only available for Android devices and Chromebooks. Sharing is not supported with iOS or other operating systems.

Does Nearby Share have a maximum file size?

There is no strict file size limit, but transferring large files may be slower than sending smaller ones. For the best results with very large files, transfer them using WiFi.

Is Nearby Share compatible with a Chromebook?

It can also work on a Chromebook in order to transfer files between an Android and a Chrome OS device.

Nearby Share will provide easy sharing of photos with friends or quick transfer of work files across Android devices without requiring any use of third-party apps or cloud services. Try it today for fast and private sharing of files with your Android and Chromebook devices!