Google’s Nearby Share was first launched on Android to make file sharing between Android devices easier. Now Google has made Nearby Share available in beta version on Windows and it is widely available for users to try. With Windows support, users can not only share files between Android smartphones but can also share files with Windows devices in a simple way.
Google’s file-sharing technology is similar to Apple’s AirDrop in that it allows you to share local files, links, photos, videos, apps, and more with other nearby devices. In this article, we explain how to use Nearby Share on Android and Windows devices so that you can easily share files between your smartphone and Windows laptop/PC. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
How to Enable and Setup Nearby Share on Android
Nearby Share is part of the Google Play system services and comes pre-installed on most Android devices. But before we start installing and setting up Nearby Share on your Windows machine, we need to make sure it is enabled on your Android smartphone. Follow the below steps to enable Nearby Share on Android devices:
- go to your phone Adjustment
- Scroll down and tap on Google Option
- Now scroll down and click Tools and Sharing
- Enable Nearby Share on the next screen by to start ‘Use Nearby Share’
If you can’t find the Google option for some reason on the device’s system settings, you can also directly access the option to enable Nearby Share settings Android quick setting menu,
- open quick settings on your device by opening notification panel,
- Now long press But Share Nearby icon And you will get Nearby Share setup option. After that, proceed to enable Nearby Share on the device.
If you can’t find the icon, it can usually be found by clicking on the small pencil icon at the bottom of quick settings. In edit screen Drag the Nearby Share icon Activate Quick Settings Tiles By long pressing and dragging it to the active tile section.
Comment: Whenever you want to access Nearby Share, you can simply tap on the Nearby Share icon in the Quick Settings tile and start sharing/receiving files with others.
Change Nearby Share device visibility settings
Now, we have successfully enabled Nearby Share on the smartphone. we need to tweak device visibility Nearby Share service so that other devices can easily find your phone and share files with you.
- go for Nearby Share Settings
- toggle off device visibility But
There are three settings of device visibility – Everyone, Contacts, and Your Device, (You need to tap the device visibility label, not the toggle next to it, to get to these options.) Fret not, the receive request still needs to be approved. However, after some time, this setting will change to ‘Contact’ to protect user privacy. The ‘Contacts’ option, as the name suggests, only lets people in your contact list share files with you. Finally, in ‘Your Devices’ mode, files can only be shared between devices that are signed in to your Google Account.
Incidentally, you can also control data consumption settings From the Nearby Share settings screen. The ‘Data’ option uses your mobile data to send small files, while the ‘Wi-Fi only’ mode lets you share files without using an internet connection. You can also select the ‘Without Internet’ option if you always want to share files offline.
You can also change the device name in Nearby Share settings so that others can easily identify your device when sharing files with you. While you’re at it, make sure show notification option is toggled on So that you get a notification when files are received.
Nearby Share is now ready to use on your Android device.
How to Enable and Setup Nearby Share on Windows
Now that we have set up Nearby Share on Android devices, it is time to install and set up Nearby Share on your Windows machine. To do this follow the steps given below:
- download By clicking on Nearby Share Beta Get started with the beta button on the website.
- establish Share it nearby by double-clicking on the ‘BetterTogetherSetup’ file you just downloaded.
Note: Nearby is available on Windows 10 and above (64-bit). ARM devices are not currently supported.
- When you sign in to Nearby Share, you’ll be asked to sign in to your Google Account on the startup screen. Note that you can also use Nearby Share without logging in to your Google Account.
- change name Device of your choice. This is the name that will appear on the receiving device.
- Next, you want to tweak your device visibility Settings so that other devices can easily find your laptop. By default, this is set to ‘None’; You may want to change this setting to Everyone, Contacts, or Your Device so that you can receive files from other devices. As mentioned earlier, ‘Everyone Mode’ lets you receive files from all nearby devices and the ‘Contacts’ visibility setting lets you receive files from people who are only in your Contacts list (of course, You will need to sign in to your account for this). And you can use the ‘Your devices’ setting to only receive files from your personal devices that are signed in with your Google Account.
- Click Complete When you are satisfied with your preferences.
Nearby Share is ready to use on your Windows device. Remember that you can change all of the above settings at any time, including File Download Location, by going to Settings (the little gear icon in the top left next to the Profile/Sign-in button).
How to use Nearby Share to share files between Android and Windows
Now that we’ve completed Nearby Share setup on both Android and Windows devices, here’s how you can share files between them:
- Open the app you want to share the file with.
- In this example, we are trying to share a photo from the phone’s gallery with a nearby Windows laptop.
- Select image and click share button on your Android phone
- As soon as you click on Nearby Share in the share sheet, it will ask you to grant location permission so that it can scan for nearby devices. Only grant location permission And go ahead.
- nearby share will now Start scanning nearby devices
- When the device you want to share the file with (a Windows laptop in this example) appears on your Android device, click on its name to start sending the file. (Before the file transfer actually begins, you need to accept displayed pin on your laptop.)
(On your laptop side, keep your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on on your laptop. Also, make sure device visibility is set to ‘Receive from all’. When your laptop is ready to receive files from your phone then display a blinking animation with this one ready to receive label At the top.)
- now it will ask you verify code On the next screen on your laptop.
- click on Accept To get the file from your phone.
- file will start downloading On your laptop as soon as you click on accept on your laptop.
- Click Complete on your phone when the file transfer is complete.
How to use the Files by Google app to share files with Nearby Share
If you want a central hub for file sharing, Google File Manager (which comes pre-installed on most Androids) makes it super convenient to share files, apps, music, movies and more with other devices from one central makes. Place. Here’s how you can share using Nearby Share on Files by Google:
- open Install the Files by Google app on your Android device or from the Google Play Store if you don’t already have it on your phone.
- Change On the Nearby Share tab in the Files by Google app.
- After switching to the Nearby Share tab, click Send button.
- The Files by Google app will show you the things you can share. You can share things like downloaded files, installed apps, videos, music, and even photos from your gallery.
- select files you want to share and click next,
- Now Nearby Share will present you with a Share screen where you can choose to send the desired file to other Android devices nearby.
- on the receiving device, open Files by Google app and click Get In the Nearby Share tab to receive the file.
Similarly, you can receive files from devices around you, such as laptops or other Android phones. Note that you do not need to have the Files app by Google installed on your Android device to receive the file as Nearby Share comes pre-installed on most Android smartphones. Just keep the Nearby Share service on, and you should receive a notification to receive the file on your device. If you’ve temporarily disabled Nearby Share on your Android device for some reason, you can click the Nearby Share icon in the notification drawer to enable the service. Or you can also click the Receive button in the Files by Google app to activate Nearby Share.
questions to ask
1. Can I share apps installed on Android device with Nearby Share?
Yes, you can definitely share the apps installed on your phone with other Android devices. In fact, Google has made it very easy to send apps to other devices with the Google Play Store and Files by Google app. You don’t need any apk extractor or third party app so you can share app with friends or family.
To start sharing apps on your Android device, just open it google play store -> click on profile icon -> In the resulting menu, select Manage apps and devices -> Click Send In share apps option , choose apps you want to share and click send icon, Follow the same steps on other Android devices and click Get In the Google Play Store app to get apps.
Can also be shared using apps files by google Application. open Files by Google App -> switch on Share Nearby tab -> Click send button , Switch to the Apps tab -> sselect apps Would you like to share with other devices -> Click next, Now select the device with which you want to share apps on the Share screen to start sending apps.
2. Is Nearby Share available on macOS, Chromebook and other operating systems?
Nearby Share is officially available on windows in betachromebook and android ,Android 6.0+ Device. however only with laptop/pc Windows 10 (64-bit) and above While you can use the service, Windows ARM devices are not currently supported. As far as macOS support is concerned, Google has not officially made the service available on macOS devices. Google may bring support for macOS later but it is still not confirmed. If you want to use Nearby Share, there are third-party solutions available for macOS. you can download and install near the drop Utility developed by Grishka to get partial Nearby Share support on macOS. For now, the tool only lets you get files from other devices.
3. Is Nearby Share safe?
Yes, according to Google, Nearby Share uses end-to-end (E2E) encryption to send and receive files from devices. Furthermore, you will also be asked to confirm before receiving files from any device.
4. Can I share files with devices that are not nearby?
No, Nearby Share is not an online file transfer/storage utility and only lets you send/receive files to/from devices within a 5-meter/16 feet radius.
