Here’s how you can use Nearby Share to quickly send files on Android

Whether you’re looking to share photos, links, files or other content with people nearby or across your different devices, there’s a solution for you. Apple users benefit from AirDrop, letting them easily send a wide range of items to nearby Apple devices with just a few taps.

Android users, on the other hand, have their counterpart in the form of a feature called Nearby Share by Google. This versatile feature works seamlessly on Android phones, Chromebooks, tablets, and even Windows computers.

Nearby Share takes the hassle out of file sharing by discovering nearby devices and selecting an appropriate protocol based on what you’re sending and your current connectivity. For example, if you find yourself completely offline, Nearby Share will use peer-to-peer Wi-Fi.

Additionally, it supports various sharing protocols including Bluetooth, Hotspot, WebRTC, and others, ensuring flexibility in different scenarios.

Establishment of nearby shares

Before diving into file sharing, it’s important to make sure that your Android device supports Nearby Share. Here’s how you can check and customize the settings:

Go to your phone’s Settings. Scroll down and select Google. Tap Device Connections. See Nearby Share option on the next page. Tap Nearby Share to customize settings. Turn Nearby Share on or off as needed. Select your Google account and set the device name. Adjust device visibility and control data usage according to your preferences. Use Nearby Share to share files:

Once Nearby Share is set up, sharing files becomes a straightforward process. Whether you want to share photos, videos, apps from Google Play, or share your location from Google Maps, Nearby Share has you covered.

Follow these steps to share files using Nearby Share

Open the file you want to share on your Android device. Tap the share icon within the file or app. Select Nearby Share from the sharing options. Your phone will start searching for nearby devices when Nearby Share is enabled. Receiver stages:

Nearby Share must also be enabled on the Android device of the person you’re sending the file to.

Once your phone detects the receiver’s device, their name will appear in the list of available devices.

Tap the receiver’s device name to initiate the transfer.

Additionally, the receiver needs to tap ‘Accept’ on their device to initiate the file transfer.

Completion of Transfer:

Within a few moments, depending on the file size, the transfer will be completed.