HomeHow to transfer files using Android Nearby Share

How to transfer files using Android Nearby Share

Are you interested in Nearby Share for Android? Want more information about that? Then you may be in the correct location.

Google has officially released AirDrop – Android Nearby Share for Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) and later smartphones. Once you are close to sharing your smartphone, you can activate this service from the Quick Settings menu on your phone. After a dedicated QS toggle appears requesting permission, you can access this service.

But before we get started, let’s define Android Nearby Share.

What is Android Nearby Share?

Android’s Nearby Share is a feature that simplifies data transfer for Android users. It is a long-awaited Android feature for rapid file sharing. After several years of work, this instantaneous sharing capability has been made public. Due to this, the nearby Share feature is accessible on Android 6.0 and later. Therefore, Android Nearby Share encourages a simple and quick method for Android phones to share data and files. Android Nearby sharing is a function of AirDroid for Android mobile devices.

The service provided by Nearby Share is simple. The sender selects the file to be shared using Android Nearby Share. When the device of the sender detects the target Receiver’s machine, the sender initiates the transfer by tapping on the Receiver’s avatar.

Why use Android Nearby share?

The effort of opening an app, searching for a contact, searching for a file, and then tapping the Share or Send button is eliminated with Android Nearby Share. This enables you to swiftly and immediately share over a list of devices in the immediate vicinity. After you have made your selection of the file and the Receiver, you will be notified to whom you will transfer the file and whether or not the Receiver will accept the file.

Because of this, Nearby Share will select the method that allows for the quickest and easiest sharing possible, whether it be via Bluetooth, Low Energy, WebRTC, or Peer-to-Peer Wi-Fi. Even when you are not connected to the internet, you can still transfer data via nearby shares.

Comparing Android Nearby share with Xender, Shareit & other file transfer apps

Xender

When it comes to transferring files from one Android device to another, Xender is an excellent alternative to Android’s Nearby Share feature. Because it can connect to both Wi-Fi and mobile hotspots, there is no need for you to worry about wasting your mobile data when you are transferring huge video files from one device to another.

However, the free edition of Xender includes a large number of unwelcome advertisements and pop-up windows, which can be somewhat irritating. It also has some issues when it comes to connecting the various models.

SHAREit

SHAREit is not only one of the most widely used and oldest file-sharing programs for Android, but also one of the best. It is also cross-platform, allowing you to transfer data from your Android handset to your iPhone, other iOS devices, or your Windows computer.

This program for quick file transfers is available for free on a variety of platforms, but it is supported by advertisements and other services that are supplied by the authors of the app, which can be frustrating at times. This application had several problems with its security. This platform also contains a large number of advertisements and a restricted set of functions.

You should avoid using that apk and instead switch to Android Nearby Share as a result of this reason.

How to use it (turn on, send, receive, etc)

You can send images, web pages, and other types of material to other Android devices by using a program called Nearby Share, which is an immediate file transfer tool. Nearby Share makes it simple to simply share files online or offline by utilizing Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or WebRTC while transferring any type of media.

Make sure, however, that both the person sending the file and the person receiving it have a nearby share enabled on their respective devices for the file transfer to go well.

Let’s see how to turn on Android Nearby Share

  • Go to settings
  • Find Google and then Device Connections.
  • Now click on Nearby Share.
  • After that, turn the toggle ON.
  • Then, click on Device Visibility
  • Here you can select a few contacts of your choice, you can see. 

In addition, you have the option to adjust the settings and either share your smartphone with all of your contacts or with a subset of references, or you can conceal it entirely.

You don’t need to worry about anything because you’ll still be able to freely transfer files to other people, but other people won’t be able to share anything with you using nearby shares.

How to use Nearby Share on your Android phone

Let’s examine how to initiate a Nearby Share with a contact on your mobile device. It is as simple as sharing anything on your mobile device with any other app. Observe the procedure.

  • Tap on the share icon to share something. (It looks like three dots connecting with a line vertically).
  • Swipe up on the Android share menu. 
  • Tap on the nearby share icon. 
  • After that, tap on the turn on to enable nearby Share.
  • Nearby Share will give you a contact list to share your link. 
  • Available phones will appear on your phone’s screen. (As an example, it’s Nick’s phone)
  • Tap on the contact you want to share with. 

On your phone, you can use nearby shares to share links, files, and other items, so feel free to experiment and use it to share a variety of things. Additionally, you can share files and objects with the best Chromebook and Android devices.

How to accept a Nearby Share on your Android phone

That way, you share something with someone else, but what does the whole process look like from another angle? If you receive a file via nearby Share, that is how you will see it. 

  • Tap on a nearby share notification pop-up.
  • Tap on the turn on
  • Your phone will search for what is being shared with you
  • Tap on the Accept to accept the shared item. 

Again, we’re dealing with a spotless and straightforward user interface, making the Nearby Share surprisingly easy to use. 

How to send apps via Nearby Share on your Android phone

Recent additions to Nearby Share include the ability to deliver Google Play apps to nearby Android users.

  • Open the Google Play app from the phone you want to share.
  • After that, tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
  • Then tap on the Manage apps & device.
  • Tap Send next to the app sharing option. 
  • But for the Receiver’s phone, follow the same steps as above, but then tap on the Receiver. 
  • Select the apps you want to send from the sender’s phone and tap the green send arrow in the upper right corner.
  • After that, select the Receiver you wish to send apps from the sender’s phone.
  • The Receiver must then confirm the pairing code.
  • The Receiver will choose which app(s) to install.

Now the apps will quickly reach from the sender to the Receiver. And after all, you don’t have to be on the same Wi-Fi or cellular network to share apps – it all works via Bluetooth! 

How to Download Nearby share for android

As you can see, the Nearby Share feature of Android comes installed by default. If it does not come pre-installed on your device, either your phone does not support that feature or you need to make some adjustments to the settings for the feature. when your device does not have the feature of nearby Share installed on it. There is no alternative method that can be utilized to install it. You should try some tips and techniques to make it work if your device is capable of running that apk but you are having issues with it, such as it not functioning properly for you or not being available on your phone.

Make sure the feature is available for you.

There are a large number of different devices, as was mentioned earlier, that do not enable Android Nearby Share. This feature is supported on all Google Pixel phones and on some Samsung devices, although not all of them. In the device’s Settings menu, you may check very fast to see if it has a nearby sharing capability. In the event that it is not, there is no need for concern. Google just made an announcement that Nearby Share will be available in the “coming few weeks” for virtually all Android smartphones that are running Android 6.0 or a later version.

A second important point to keep in mind is that in order for shared shares to function properly, both devices must have the appropriate functionality accessible.

Make sure no one else is sharing content to the devices

It’s possible that one of your devices is currently participating in active sharing with another phone. During that time, Google did not support the sharing of numerous devices with other users who were nearby.

And if one phone is busy sharing content on another device (without even sharing nearby), you won’t be able to make a connection with that busy device using the “Nearby Share” feature since you won’t be able to see the busy device in your list of nearby devices. In this manner, you are responsible for making certain that no one else is presently sharing content with the device that is being given or received.

Check Device visibility settings.

If you are unable to use nearby shares, there is a good probability that you have altered the visibility settings for the devices that are used for nearby sharing. Google gives you the choice to select one of three different settings for the visibility of your device: All contacts, some contacts, or Hidden. If you have previously decided to conceal the visibility of your device, none of your friends or other users will be able to recognize it in the list of nearby shared items that are available to them via Nearby Share. In this method, for the sharing process to go well, you need either add the relevant sender who is trying to share the item with you via Nearby Share or alter the visibility of the device to read “All contacts.” You will have access to it if you navigate to nearby Share and then tap on the visibility box on the device.

Make sure both devices are close enough.

The sending and receiving devices for a nearby sharing need to be in close proximity for it to function properly. According to Google’s support page, both smartphones need to be within 30 centimeters (11.81 inches) of each other for the Nearby Share feature to function properly. The sender should be able to identify the phone that is receiving the file transfer, establish a connection, and continue to transmit files without being interrupted by the device.

Update Google Play services

In most cases, Google Play services will automatically update themselves as you continue using them. However, there are situations when this does not occur for some unknown cause. It is necessary for you to manually upgrade the Google Play service. If this is not possible, you should investigate the many other possible solutions to the problem of the Play Services not being updated.

Clear cache for play services

Clearing cache and data is a useful and effective way for fixing a problem. However, remember that emptying the cache will not destroy any of your phone’s files.

To clear the cache:

  1. Go to the settings and then the app.
  2. Find Google Play services on it.
  3. Tap on it.
  4. Tap on the storage and then clear the cache. If the problem persists, tap on Clear Data or Clear Storage, depending on the options available.
  5. Restart the phone. 

Rather than that, you can also try

  • Restart your device
  • Enable Bluetooth and location services
  • Check whether nearby Share is on or not
  • Turn ON Airplane mode and then OFF

Conclusion

Try joining up for the beta version of the Nearby Share function that is offered through Google Play Services if you are still interested in testing out the Android Nearby Share feature. Be aware of the potential difficulties and risks associated with using the beta program.

To put it succinctly, is Nearby Share exactly the same as AirDrop for Android? This is something that we are able to state because it enables users to wirelessly share files, images, and URLs with other Android devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (as AirDrop does to other Apple devices).

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About Author

Samuel Afolabi is a lazy tech-savvy that loves writing almost all tech-related kinds of stuff. He is the Editor-in-Chief of TechVaz. You can connect with him socially :)