How to quickly share files with people nearby
Want to share content with people around you? With Quick Share – previously called Nearby Share – it’s never been easier to send friends files (or, more importantly, cute pics of your dog) across devices.
Available on Android 6+ devices, Quick Share uses end-to-end encryption to help you securely and effortlessly share photos, videos, documents, links, Wi-Fi passwords, audio files, or entire folders between nearby Android devices – including Chromebooks – and Windows PCs.
Here’s what you need to know to start using this time-saving tool.
Available on Android 6+ devices, Quick Share uses end-to-end encryption to help you securely and effortlessly share photos, videos, documents, links, Wi-Fi passwords, audio files, or entire folders between nearby Android devices – including Chromebooks – and Windows PCs.
Here’s what you need to know to start using this time-saving tool.
Choose who can share with you
To set up who can share content with you, first go to your Quick Share settings, which you can access by swiping down twice from the top of your phone or tablet, then tapping “Quick Share.”
From here, select either “Everyone” to be visible to any nearby Android device, “Your devices” to limit sharing to devices belonging to you, or “Contacts” to only receive files from existing contacts.
Whenever someone wants to share something to your device, you’ll see a sharing request from them on your screen. To receive the content, just tap "Accept," then “Open.” Not sure about the file or sender? Hit “Decline” to reject it.
From here, select either “Everyone” to be visible to any nearby Android device, “Your devices” to limit sharing to devices belonging to you, or “Contacts” to only receive files from existing contacts.
Whenever someone wants to share something to your device, you’ll see a sharing request from them on your screen. To receive the content, just tap "Accept," then “Open.” Not sure about the file or sender? Hit “Decline” to reject it.
Tip
On a Pixel device and can’t find Quick Share in your swipe-down Quick Settings? Just tap the Edit button, then hold and drag tiles to rearrange or add them.
Quick Share settings
Share content from your phone or tablet
1. Turn on your device’s Bluetooth.
2. Open the content, such as a photo or webpage.
3. Tap the Share icon, then select “Quick Share.” Want to share multiple photos or videos at once? After tapping the Share button, you can use the checkboxes to select as many items as you’d like to send.
4. Make sure the device you want to share with is nearby, within 16 feet (five meters).
5. Your device will then start looking for others nearby. Tap the name of the device you want to share with – whether it’s just one, or up to five at a time. After the content has been sent, tap “Done.”
2. Open the content, such as a photo or webpage.
3. Tap the Share icon, then select “Quick Share.” Want to share multiple photos or videos at once? After tapping the Share button, you can use the checkboxes to select as many items as you’d like to send.
4. Make sure the device you want to share with is nearby, within 16 feet (five meters).
5. Your device will then start looking for others nearby. Tap the name of the device you want to share with – whether it’s just one, or up to five at a time. After the content has been sent, tap “Done.”
Tip
Can’t see the name of the device you want to share to? Just tap “Use QR code,” then ask the other person to scan it with their Android phone or tablet instead.
Share to your other Android devices
If you share content between any of your own devices sharing the same Google Account, the device receiving the content will automatically accept the transfer, even when your screen is off.
Tip
Devices are automatically named after their owner and model number, making them easy to recognize when sharing, but you can rename yours at any time in your Quick Share settings: Tap your device’s name next to “You’ll share as” at the top of the Quick Share sending screen.
Share content from your Chromebook
1. Click the time in the bottom-right corner of your screen, then click the Settings button.
2. Next, select “Connected devices” in the Settings bar on the left, followed by “Set up” (next to Quick Share).
3. Choose a name for your device, then click “Done.”
4. Select who can share content with you – “All contacts,” “Some contacts” (you’ll choose which nearby devices can share with you), or “Hidden” (no one can see your device) – then click “Confirm.”
Once you’re all set up, you’ll be able to send content by right-clicking on a file, or by going to your Chrome browser settings, then clicking Save and share > Quick Share. Select the device you want to share with, then wait for it to be accepted by the receiver.
2. Next, select “Connected devices” in the Settings bar on the left, followed by “Set up” (next to Quick Share).
3. Choose a name for your device, then click “Done.”
4. Select who can share content with you – “All contacts,” “Some contacts” (you’ll choose which nearby devices can share with you), or “Hidden” (no one can see your device) – then click “Confirm.”
Once you’re all set up, you’ll be able to send content by right-clicking on a file, or by going to your Chrome browser settings, then clicking Save and share > Quick Share. Select the device you want to share with, then wait for it to be accepted by the receiver.
Tip
On your Chromebook, you can deactivate Quick Share at any time by opening your Settings, going to “Connected devices,” then turning off Quick Share.