Nearby Share is a functionality developed by Google that allows data to be transferred between devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It is available on Android and ChromeOS, as well as Microsofts Windows. Nearby Share uses Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, WebRTC, UWB, and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi to allow users to share files and links between devices. It allows for the sharing of files and links, such as images, videos, text, contact info, directions, YouTube videos, and other data. It can be configured to only share with specific contacts or with anyone nearby. Nearby Share is not to be confused with Microsofts similarly-named "nearby sharing" feature, which is only available for PCs running Windows 10 or later and uses Microsofts own proprietary protocol.
Nearby Share was officially released for devices running Android Marshmallow and later on August 4, 2020. In June 2021, Nearby Share was released for ChromeOS with the same features and options as the Android version. During CES 2022, Google announced Nearby Share for Windows. On March 31, 2023, the beta version of the Nearby Share App was released for Windows PCs allowing cross-platform file transfers.
To use Nearby Share, users need to turn on Bluetooth and location on their device, and then select the files or apps they want to share. They can share up to 500 files, and when they reach the maximum number of files to share, they are notified. A Nearby Share half sheet pops up where they can find Android devices near them. They can select the person they want to share files with, and after the files or apps are transferred, they will be redirected to the “Nearby Share” tab.
In summary, Nearby Share is a feature that allows users to share files and links between devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It is available on Android, ChromeOS, and Windows, and can be configured to only share with specific contacts or with anyone nearby. It is a convenient way to share content between devices without the need for cables or the internet.
