In the endless battle between all things Apple and Android, Google is taking steps to reduce the difference. In the past, only Android devices and Chromebooks could use Google's Nearby Share feature to swap files. But hold on to your hats, because now Google has finally launched the Nearby Share Beta for Windows! That means you can effortlessly pass around pics, videos, and docs between Android phones and Windows PCs. So effectively AirDrop, but make it Android.
What all you need
Yes, we know you want to get in on the action As soon as possible. But, before you dive in headfirst, let's go over a few requirements for making this file-sharing magic happen with Google's Nearby Share app on Windows.To use Google's Nearby Share app on Windows, your PC must have a 64-bit version of Windows 10 or higher. Sorry ARM-powered Windows devices, you're not invited to the party at the moment. If you're not sure which version of Windows you have, don't panic, just read up on how to check if your Windows is 32 or 64-bit.
1. If you want to swap files between your Android phone and Windows PC, your phone must be running Android 6.0 or newer.
2. Make sure both your devices have their Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on. Don't leave anyone out of the fun.
3. Keep your devices close - within 16 feet (5 meters) of each other, and connected to the same Wi-Fi network. No long-distance file-sharing relationships are allowed.
4. Google's Nearby Share app for Windows is widely available across most parts of the world. However, if you happen to live in a few European countries, you might be out of luck. India is on the list so let’s begin.
How to download Nearby Share on Windows
Now that you know the requirements, let’s go over how you can download and set up Google’s Nearby Share App on Windows. If you want to swap files between your Android phone and Windows PC using Google's Nearby Share app, you'll need to download and set it up on your computer. Here's what you need to do:
1. Start by downloading Google's Nearby Share Beta for Windows.
2. Double-click on the ‘BetterTogetherSetup.exe’ file to start the installation process.
3. Once you've got the Nearby Share app installed, click on the ‘Sign in’ button to link your Google account. If you're not feeling the whole "account linking" thing, click on Use without an account instead
4. Give your device a cool name under the “Visible to others as” section.
5. Under Receiving, let the app know who can share files with your computer: Everyone, Contacts, Your devices or No one.
6. Click Done to wrap things up.
How to Use Nearby Share to Send Files From Android to Windows
Once you've set up the Nearby Share app on your PC, it's time to start receiving files from your Android phone. To send files from your Android to Windows using Nearby Share, follow these steps:
1. Open the photo, video, or document that you want to send on your Android device. You can even select multiple files if you want to share a whole bunch of stuff.
2. Look for the share icon and tap on it.
3. Choose the Nearby Share option from the share sheet.
4. Find and select your Windows PC from the list of available devices.
So there you have it, folks. Google has finally brought Android and Windows together with the power of Nearby Share. The setup may seem daunting but you are all pros, so should be simple enough. It's like the Romeo and Juliet of tech, but without all the tragedy. Just make sure your devices meet the requirements, keep them close, and don't forget to give your PC a cool name. And if you're feeling frisky, you can even share multiple files at once. Who knew sharing could be so much fun?