Since Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the ‘Nearby Share’ function can be found in Android. However, not every user is familiar with the existence of this very handy function. Sharing files between Android devices is very fast with this.
Close sharing on Android
Transfer some photos from your old phone to your new phone, share a (PDF) file with someone else in the house or send a whole bunch of photos via WhatsApp, which in turn leads to a loss of quality. That should all be easier. That is certainly possible. We’ll introduce you to the Nearby Share feature, which is also known as Nearby Share. This is a very, quite unknown function that makes sharing files a lot easier. Not only files but also, for example, links to Google Maps or a website.
What is Sharing Close?
Share Closely allows you to exchange files between multiple Android devices. This can be a smartphone, but also a tablet or a Chromebook. A connection is established between two devices. The function itself looks at what is the most convenient to use. This can be Bluetooth, but also WebRTC, WiFi or another way. The feature also works when you’re offline.
The function is comparable to AirDrop that Apple offers on the iPhone, iPad and MacBook. Because different connections are used, this is much faster than manually transferring via cables and the PC, or via Bluetooth. Also, no quality is lost, as is the case when you send it via WhatsApp, for example.
How it works – send a file
In this example, we are sharing an image with another (Android) phone. In the gallery, we found a photo that we would like to share. We send it in the usual way, by pressing the familiar share icon. Then we choose ‘Close sharing’ directly at the top of the panel. The nearby phones that have nearby sharing enabled can now be found. Then we select the phone to which we want to send the photo. You select that phone. You will then see a PIN code, if it matches, the exchange can start. It is also possible to immediately send several files.
How it works – receive a file
Do you want someone else to be able to send a file via ‘Share close’; then you only have to perform a small action. We list them below.
- Go to phone settings
- Use the search bar, and search for ‘Share nearby’. Then choose that option and you will arrive at the Share close settings screen.
- If the function is not already enabled, turn it on. You can also adjust the name or visibility here. In the settings, you can adjust a small amount of data
- The mobile network may be used. Please note that sending and receiving could take a little longer.