The Android "AirDrop" Nearby Share: How to Use the Nearby Share

 

iPhones and Macs have a handy feature called "AirDrop" that makes it a breeze to share content between devices. Google's equivalent is called "Nearby Share," and it's something you should know how to use. Let's use AirDrop for Android.

What Is Nearby Share on Android?

Nearby Share uses Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC to send content between Android devices, Windows PCs, and Chromebooks wirelessly. It's natively built-in to Android and Chrome OS (Windows need to download the app) making it the closest thing the Google ecosystem has to Apple's AirDrop.

To use Nearby Share, you simply need to find a device that is nearby, has the screen unlocked, and has Bluetooth and location services turned on. A notification will appear on the receiving device asking to become visible to the sender. The sender then selects the receiving device, and off it goes.

Nearby Share also has a number of privacy options. You can choose who you want to be able to see your device for receiving content. Since it's tied to your Google account, you can choose individual people to allow or block, or limit it to only your devices.

                            

Nearby Share: Android's AirDrop Alternative

 

How to "AirDrop" on Android With Nearby Share:

Nearby Share can be accessed from the share menu on Android devices, just like you would share to another app or a contact. Before we start sending stuff, let's make sure Nearby Share is enabled and configured to your liking.

Open the Settings app on your Android phone or tablet and select the "Google" section.

Go to "Devices & Sharing."

First, make sure "Use Nearby Share" is toggled on at the top of the screen.

Next, select "Device Visibility" and choose who you want to see your device.

Now select the section under "Device Visibility" (it will be called "Data," "Wi-Fi Only," or "Without Internet," depending on the selection) and choose how you want content to be sent.

Okay, we're ready to actually use Nearby Share now. The process will look the same no matter what you're sharing. Open the content you'd like to share---photo, document, video, link, etc---and tap the share icon.

Select "Nearby" from the share menu. It may be pinned to the top of the menu.

Now tap the device you'd like to send the content to

The circle around the device will turn green when the share has been successful. Tap "Done" to finish up.

And you just share a file using Airdrop .... oops! Sorry using Nearby share *winks*