You No Longer Need Third-Party Apps Like Xender, Shareit To Share Files on Android

Before now, Android users rely on third-party apps like Xender and Shareit to share and receive different files. These apps have really save us the time of sending files over Bluetooth which can take several minutes especially when you’re sending a large file.

While apps like Xender and Shareit are great file sharing apps, Google has now introduced a better solution that protects users data information from third-party sharing apps that collects user data, it is called Nearby Share.

What is Android’s Nearby Share?

Google’s Android Nearby Share is similar to the AirDrop feature on iPhone, it allows users to easily share file between device without any special setup. Android Nearby Share comes with three sharing mode, data mode, Wi-Fi mode and offline mode and also requires Bluetooth, location and Wi-Fi hotspot (temporarily) to transfer files like third-party apps.

This feature is available for all Android devices running 6.0 or higher and what’s more interesting is that users can share files with Chromebooks as well the same way iPhone users can share files between their smartphones and Macbooks using Airdrop.

Android users can share pretty much everything from files, images, links, contacts, text (you can simply copy a text from the web and share, no need to save as .txt or .doc) and other types of items between all Android devices.

How does Nearby Share work?

How to Use Android’s Nearby Share to Send Photos and Files

• To use the new Android sharing feature, you need to be running Android 6.0 upward and have the latest Google Pay Service.
• Once you’ve updated Play service, you’ll find a new option under your connected device which is Nearby Share.
• Now, tap on the new option and you’ll be taken to a Nearby Share settings page. On the page, you can choose an account to associate with Nearby Share if you have multiple accounts signed-in, change your device name, set the visibility and choose whether to send files over data, Wi-Fi or offline.
• Once you’re done with the settings, simply tap on any file you want to share and choose Nearby Share from the share menu. Note: The receiver should have also completed the setup.
• The receivers screen must be on during this process and would receive a notification to either accept the incoming file or decline.
• The recipient accepts the file, the transfer will begin automatically and will open on the receivers device once completed.

Nearby Share automatically chooses the best protocol for fast and easy sharing using Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, WebRTC or peer-to-peer WiFi for the file sharing. Google says, no personal information are shared during this connection which is great.

So, that’s it. You can now send and receive files seamlessly on Android using Nearby Share and not rely on third-party apps like Xender and Shareit.

What do you think about this? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.