How to Nearby Share files between Android and Windows PC

Google’s Nearby Share on Android and now available on Windows PCs in beta lets you seamlessly transfer files between the two platforms. You can send and receive images, videos, and documents using this feature. Here’s how Nearby Share works.

Nearby Share between Windows and Android: Details

Nearby Share gets support for 64-bit x86 architecture-based Windows 10 and above versions. 

The feature is not currently available in markets like Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Donbas, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Also, ensure, Bluetooth and WiFi are turned on both devices, preferably on the same network and channel. Nearby Share works within a 5-meter radius.

How to set up Nearby Share on Windows

1. Download Nearby Share for Windows from this link.

2. Install and set up the downloaded file. You can sign in using your Google Account. However, that’s not mandatory. You can get by without an account too.

3. You will have to assign a name for your system, by which you’ll be visible to others.

4. You may untick the data-sharing checkbox at the bottom of this dialog box.

5. The app also lets you choose whom you want to send and from whom to receive. In the Device Visibility settings, you can enable 

• Everyone mode visible temporarily or all the time.
• Contacts-only (Need to be signed in with your Google Account)
• Your devices (Need to be signed in with your Google Account) or
• No one

Either way, the files sent to the PC are saved on the PC only when the receiver approves the request. 

Additionally, within the Nearby Share app, go to the Settings (the one with the cog icon) menu and you can change the location wherein the received files through Nearby Share are saved. By default, it will be set to the Downloads folder on the Windows File Explorer.

How Nearby Share works between Windows and Android

1. Nearby Share app stays in the system tray on the Windows taskbar. So, you can access it from there or open the app from the Start Menu. If you want to share something with the Android phone, you can either 

• Open the Nearby Share app and select files and folders from within it.
• Or select all files from the Windows file explorer or desktop and share them via the ‘Send with Nearby Share' option on the right-click context menu.

2. On the other hand, when you send from the phone, you do it via the Android share menu. You’ll receive the request to accept it within the Nearby Share app. As already mentioned, you know where to access the app.

Well, that’s about it. The transfer speeds have been quite fast. In my short time using it, it has worked without any issues.