How Android’s “Nearby Sharing” works

You have always been envious of users iPhone and their function AirDrop to share files? In June 2020, Google has finally listened to the requests of millions of users and launched a feature called Sharing nearby.

As the name suggests, Sharing nearby it allows to to share easily files, links and even the Wi-Fi password between Android smartphone and Chromebookwithout compression or limits of size (in the case of images or videos). But how works Sharing nearby in 2022? In this article we will explain things and how to best use it, for Android in general and also the version of Samsung (Quick Share).

Until the 2020 the only way to share files, link or other between Android smartphone was to turn to Play Store and download a dedicated app, as there has never been a integrated method native for all android devices. The closest thing was Android Beameven Android 4.0, but abandoned time ago.

In the 2020 however Google has however introduced Sharing nearby to send easily links, files, photos And video. The function uses Bluetooth, Wifi or NFCautomatically determining the best method depending on the situation when a transfer is initiated.

Although it works in a similar way to AirDrop, and serves the same purpose, Sharing nearby it has some unique features. AirDrop in fact it works offline, while Google’s solution is both online that offline, since cellular data and Wi-Fi (peer-to-peer) can be used, as well as Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE and WebRTC.

At the beginning, Sharing nearby it was only available on some Pixel smartphone And Samsung (which then developed its own version called Quick Share), but was later released on all Android phones via an update of Google Play Services, of which it is a part. This made it possible to make available the function on all devices with Android 6.0 and later, as well as allowing updates to always introduce new functions without going through the phone manufacturers.

The newer versions Android also bring new features, such as the ability to share the Wi-Fi password from a phone with Android 12 to one even with an older Android version, while immediate sharing is on the way.

Now that we have seen what is Nearby Sharinglet’s find out how works.

How to turn on Nearby Sharing

Before using Nearby Sharing, we have to activate it, since it is not active by default. There are two ways to do this.

1. From the home main, lower twice the notification curtain
2. Touch the a icon gear shape to enter the Settings
3. Scroll down and click on Google
4. Select Devices and sharing
5. Click on Sharing nearby
6. Next to Sharing nearbyactivated the switch

From this last page you will have access to a series of settings to customize the function.

1. The first is choice Google account to use
2. Then you can change the device name to taste
3. The third option concerns the Visibility of the device. From here you can decide whether to activate it for:
   • All: choose this option if the person you share the file with it is not in your contact list. The feature works if the two phones are close to each other, so you don’t have to worry about getting random requests. You can choose whether to set the mode to temporary, which will restore the app to its default settings after a few minutes, or on always active.
   • Contacts: you can choose to be visible to all contacts or select specific people in the list. This is the best option if the person you want to share with is on your contact list.
   • Hidden: This option will hide the device and prevent anyone from sharing files with you until you change the visibility settings.

1. Another setting is to choose whether to use sharing with i Data, the Wifi or offline.
   • Data: data allows you to use mobile data to transfer files. Best to use this option only if you are dealing with small files, web pages or social media links so you don’t have to incur additional costs.
   • Wi-Fi only: This mode will only use Wi-Fi to transfer files between two phones. It’s easier if both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network. If not, it will set up a connection Wi-Fi Direct.
   • Without the Internet: This mode will use offline methods to transfer the file. It’s slower, so it’s not ideal for large files.

1. The last entry is Show notificationwhich will use Bluetooth to let you know when someone is trying to send you a file, even if nearby sharing isn’t active.

The second method to activate Sharing nearby is through the quick settings.

1. Lower twice the notification curtain in order to fully expand the quick settings. You may have to scroll right to access additional buttons
2. Seek Sharing nearby. For activate the functionyou just have to click on it, while if you hold down you will be redirected to the Settings page described above

If you don’t see the button corresponding to Sharing nearby:

1. Always from the panel of Quick settingsclick on the icon a pen shape
2. A window will open with all the quick settings. Search among the inactive ones Sharing nearby
3. Once you have found it, hold down and drag it between the active quick settings
4. Press the left arrow top left (there may be the inscription Edit)

Send a file using Nearby Sharing

At this point you have all the tools to share a file or link with Sharing nearby.

1. Open the document you want to send (in this case a photo)
2. Click onShare iconwhose position is different depending on the situation:
   1. down
   2. selecting the icon with three vertical dots at the top right
   3. holding down (in the case of a link)
3. A series of options, among which Sharing nearby (bottom left first)
4. After clicking on the icon, the phone will search for the other device

1. Tap the name of the other phone when it appears in the menu
2. The phone will generate a PIN code of four digits that the other person can use to verify that you are sending the file.

1. On the phone of the receiving (with Nearby Sharing enabled), you will receive a notification which will ask you to accept the transfer
2. Click on Accept and the file will be transferred

In case of files, photos or video, you can find them on the receiving phone in the folder Download, that you can browse or via the app Photo or Gallery (in the case of movies or images) or an app like File. The links to Web sites or social media instead will open automatically using thecorresponding app. If you are sharing the Wi-Fi password, the receiving phone yes will connect automatically to the network.

As we have seen, Quick Share is the version of Sharing nearby from Samsung and works with devices with Android 10 and later and One UI 2.0 and later .. The operation is in all respects similar to what has been seen above. For to share a file or a link between Samsung smartphoneyou must first activate Quick Share:

1. Go in Settings
2. Click on Advanced features
3. Select Quick Share

You can enable Quick Share also from Quick settings

1. Lower the notification curtain
2. Locate the icon Quick share
3. Activate it

You can choose with who to share the file or link, if with all or only with contacts. Now you can share a file:

1. Open up the file you want to send (for example a photo)
2. Tap the button Share
3. Select Quick Share
4. The Samsung Galaxy phone will start searching for nearby Samsung Galaxy devices. Devices that have quick sharing enabled will be displayed in the section Share with Galaxy devices
5. Touch the recipient device.
6. After selecting the recipient’s device, a confirmation message.
7. Touch Accept to allow the file transfer. The file will be transferred immediately

The recipient of the file can decide who to accept the share from.

1. Click Who can share with you.
2. Select Contacts only if the sender is in the contact list or Anyone nearby if it is not in the list. Also, be sure to unlock the receiving device to receive the files.
3. Click on Accept