lifehacker lifehacker LifeHacker LifeHacker Google version "AirDrop"!How to use the file transfer function "Near by Share"
In contrast to Apple's "AirDrop", Google's "Nearby Share" can transfer files between devices in the same way.
The good news is that if you have a modern Android device, you can already use near-by-share.
This time, we will introduce how to set up and use Near By Share, which allows you to quickly transfer files between Android devices.
What is Near By Share?
Near by share is like Google's AirDrop for Android.
It is a function to seamlessly transfer files, documents, links, etc. to a nearby Android device with just a few taps. Not only files and photos, but also installed apps can be transferred between Android devices.
Near-by-share also allows you to quickly transfer files to and from your Chromebook.
Eliminate all the hassle of transferring files over Bluetooth or WiFi, simplify the pairing process, and transfer large files in no time.
This is achieved by using Bluetooth, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), WebRTC, and WiFi together. It works offline, but may use mobile data to transfer files between devices.
However, it cannot be used on iOS or Linux. For such devices, Snapdrop allows you to transfer files between Linux, Android and iOS.
Near-by-share is available on almost any device with Android 6.0 or later.
However, don't forget that your Android device's location, WiFi, and Bluetooth settings must be enabled for near-by-share to work.
How to set near-by-share
- On your Android device, go to "Settings> Google> Device Connections> Near By Share".
- Turn on near-by-share at the top.
- You can change it to a more identifiable device name using the device name option.
- In "Device public settings", you can select "All contacts", "Some contacts", or "Private" depending on the settings. All contacts show your device only to those who are on your contact list. Some contacts will only show your device to the selected contacts.
- If you don't want to transfer even small files using mobile data communication or internet connection with near-by-share, disable the "Use data communication" option.
- Setting up near-by-share to find by phone number makes the sharing process even easier.
How to transfer files with near-by-share
Once you've set up near-by-share, you're ready to send and receive files.
- Select the file or document you want to send to someone and tap the "Share" button. The share menu will be displayed, so select "Near by Share".
- The Android device looks for a nearby device that has near-by-share enabled.
- Select the device to which you want to send the file.
- The other device will see a notification that you are about to share a file with near-by-share. Tap the notification screen, then tap "Agree" to transfer the file.
Depending on the file size, you can also transfer files offline or via mobile data via WiFi.
The latter can only be used for small file transfers. It's even safer to make sure that both the send and receive devices display the same PIN for file transfer.
You can also transfer multiple files at once with Near By Share.
File sharing is easier with near-by-share
Near by share makes it easy to transfer large files between Android devices.
The only downside to this feature is that Google doesn't advertise much, so most users won't be aware of it.
Once you know how to use Near By Share, you can't go back anymore. When it comes to local file sharing, it's a lot better than Bluetooth or WiFi.
Original Article: How to Set Up and Use Nearby Share on Android by MakeUseOf
