Google has officially launched its Nearby Share app on Windows, following a successful beta period that commenced in March. While Nearby Share has long been a built-in feature on Android, limited to file transfers solely between Android devices, its expansion to Windows now enables seamless file transfer across platforms. By leveraging local wireless connections, Nearby Share eliminates the necessity for an internet connection and offers faster speeds compared to conventional Bluetooth transfers.
In conjunction with the app’s full release, Google has introduced several notable enhancements to the Windows version of Nearby Share. Users now have the ability to preview shared images upon receiving a sharing notification, ensuring the correct file is received. Additionally, during the transfer process, the app provides an estimated completion time, enhancing user experience by eliminating uncertainty.
Moreover, Google has forged partnerships with select Windows original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to integrate the Nearby Share app into specific Windows PCs. The recently-launched HP Dragonfly Pro, available in both Chromebook and Windows versions, is among the devices that will feature this integration. This collaboration is set to amplify the availability of Nearby Share, potentially making it one of the preferred methods for inter-device file sharing. Notably, the beta version of the app has already amassed over 1.7 million downloads, indicating a strong user interest.
Interestingly, this development poses a challenge to Microsoft’s native nearby sharing functionality, which is integrated into Windows 11 and Windows 10. While Microsoft’s solution has been available for a few years, its limited compatibility to the Windows ecosystem restricts its utility in transferring files from mobile devices. Although third-party Android apps can fulfill this role, Microsoft has not ventured into providing such functionality, allowing Google to seize the opportunity. Google’s collaboration with Windows OEMs further diminishes the likelihood of users relying on Windows’ nearby sharing feature, assuming more manufacturers adopt the pre-installation of Google’s app.
For those interested in experiencing Nearby Share, the app can be downloaded from the official website. Android users, on the other hand, can directly access the feature as it is natively integrated into recent versions of the operating system, requiring no additional installation steps.