How to Use Nearby Share in Windows 11 and Android?

Do you want to send files from your PC to your Android devices and vice versa? This post will teach you how to use Nearby Share on Windows 11 and Android.

Only Chromebooks and Android smartphones could previously exchange files using Google’s Nearby exchange function. The introduction of Google’s Nearby Share Beta for Windows has altered this, though. It enables seamless photo, video, document, and other file sharing between Android phones and Windows PCs.

Things to Consider

• You need Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capability on your Windows computer in order to use Nearby Share on a PC. Additionally, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth both need to be switched on.
• When utilizing Nearby Share on an Android smartphone, ensure that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and, ideally, are using the same Wi-Fi channel. If not, Bluetooth will be used by default, which delivers sluggish transfer rates.
• Only Windows 11 and Windows 10 with 64-bit x86 architecture support Nearby Share. Currently, ARM-based PCs are not supported. Additionally, a smartphone running Android 6.0 or later is required.
• For Nearby Share to work properly, both devices should be in close proximity, within 5 meters or 16 feet of each other.

So here’s how to use Use Google Nearby Share on Windows 11 and Android

Step 1. Download & Install Google Nearby Share on Windows 11

1. Visit the Google Nearby Share page. Click on Get started with Beta. Choose the download path and click Save.

Get started with Beta

2. To install the Nearby Share application, double-click the BetterTogetherSetup.exe file. Wait for the installation process to be completed.

Install Google Nearby Share

3. Click the Sign-in button. Log in with the Google account connected to your Android device. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish this stage because the authentication procedure can include using your phone.

Sign-in

4. Under Visible to others as, enter a name for your device.

5. Under Receiving, specify who is allowed to share files with your computer: Everyone, Contacts, Your devices, or No one. Click Done.

Step 2. How to Use Nearby Share to Send Files From Android to Windows 11

For the purpose of this guide, we’ll share a file from Windows 11 computer to an Android phone.

Note: Make sure to enable Bluetooth on your Windows 11 PC and Nearby Share on your Android phone.

1. Open the Google Nearby Share app.

2. Click on Select Files.

Select Files

3. Select any file and click Open.

4. On the right side, choose the Android device.

5. If necessary, press the Accept button on your phone.

That’s all. This was the process to use Google Nearby Share on Windows 11 and Android devices. There used to be no easy method to share files between Android and Windows, and the procedure was laborious. Thank goodness, thanks to Google’s Nearby Share software for Windows, all of that has changed.

Read next

How to Make a Call From Laptop Without Phone in Windows 10/11

How to Uninstall Your Phone App from Windows 11 [Phone Link]