[ Web Proxy ]
URL:
Viewing: https://blog.google/products/android/nearby-share/ [Back]  [Original]
Instantly share files with people around you with Nearby Share
Skip to main content
Google [Google]

Instantly share files with people around you with Nearby Share

Instantly share files with people around you with Nearby Share
[]
Subscribe
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Products & Platforms
  3. Platforms
  4. Android

Instantly share files with people around you with Nearby Share

Aug 04, 2020

|

Daniel Marcos Schwaycer

Product Manager, Android

Share

The Android community has long asked for a way to quickly share content with each other from their devices. So after years of development, Android is launching Nearby Share, a platform to enable reliable and easy sharing across thousands of Android phone models and billions of people.

Nearby Share is rolling out to Android 6.0+ phones today, making it easier to instantly share files, links, pictures and more with people around you, all while protecting your privacy.

Easily share content both online and offline

When you just want to quickly share something with a friend or someone nearby, it can be a hassle to open your messages, find a contact and then find the file youd like to attach. Nearby Share allows you to cut down on that time with simple taps and see a list of devices in your proximity with which you can share content. Once you select the receiver, they will be notified with the option to either accept or decline the file. Nearby Share then automatically chooses the best protocol for fast and easy sharing using Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, WebRTC or peer-to-peer WiFi allowing you to share even when youre fully offline.


Safely share and receive files with those around you

Nearby Share was built with privacy at its core, so you can share and receive files with peace of mind. Now you dont have to worry about exchanging contact information, because Nearby Share allows you to both send and receive files anonymously. It also allows you to adjust your privacy settings from your phones Quick Settings at any time. You can be hidden, visible to some contacts or visible to all contacts, so you never receive files that you didnt ask for.

A screenshot of device visibility settings [A screenshot of device visibility settings]

Works smoothly with Chromebooks

In the coming months, Nearby Share will work with Chromebooks so you can swiftly share files between an Android phone and a Chromebook, and vice versa. Chromebooks already have features that make them work especially well with Android, like Instant Tethering, and Nearby Share will make Android and Chromebook work even better together.

A Chromebook and Android phone side-by-side using Nearby Share [A Chromebook and Android phone side-by-side using Nearby Share]

Select Google Pixel and Samsung devices will be the first smartphones to receive Nearby Share starting today. We will continue to work with our partners to bring Nearby Share to more smartphones in the Android ecosystem over the next few weeks. Visit our support page to learn more about how to enable Nearby Share and adjust your visibility settings.

POSTED IN:

Related stories

[]
Chrome

Tap into the power of Gemini in Chrome on Android.

By Charmaine Dsilva
[]
Android

Sharing between Pixel devices is now just a tap away.

[]
AI

The latest AI news we announced in July 2026

By News from Google Team
[]
Android

Switch to Android easily and bring your data with you.

[]
Android

3 Google updates from Galaxy Unpacked 2026

By Menaka Shroff
[]
Android

Designing emoji for the way we communicate today

By Jennifer Daniel
Web Proxy Viewer  |  New URL  |  Original Page