Nearby Share - A New Way to Share Files Between Android and Windows
A New Way to Share Files between Android and Windows
Nearby Share, the file transfer service that Google introduced to its Android phones earlier this year, is now available for Windows. It lets you transfer photos, files, and links between your phone and computer without a USB cable.
Using Nearby Share is similar to how you would send files over Apple's AirDrop; both devices must be unlocked, and the Bluetooth and Nearby Share services must be enabled. In addition, both devices must be within five meters of each other for the connection to work.
This is a very convenient feature that allows you to quickly and easily transfer files between your phone and computer. It's a great way to quickly edit photos or organize digital folders on a larger screen and keep your information safe.
Enabling it is easy and takes less than a minute to get up and running, and you'll be able to access it via your Android's Quick Settings menu at any time. You can also create shortcuts to Nearby Share so you'll have it readily accessible from anywhere on your device.
Privacy is key with Nearby Share and you can control who sees your device from your Quick Settings. The default option is Everyone, so you'll be visible to anyone nearby who has the app open; choose Contacts or No one to limit it to your contacts only.
There are a few issues users run into with Nearby Share, including the fact that it's very hard to find someone else's device once you've selected it. If you're unable to find your device or the other person's, try adjusting your device visibility settings and make sure that you've selected Everyone or Contacts instead of Hidden.