Nearby Share makes your Windows PC and Android phone closer than ever
One of Android’s best features just made its way to PCs.
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What you need to know
Google’s Nearby Share is a popular Android feature that makes it easy to transfer files, photos, and videos between supported devices. Until recently, you had to have an Android phone, Android tablet, or Chromebook to use the feature. That changes with the rollout of Nearby Share for Windows.
Google has been testing Nearby Share for Windows in beta since March, but it is now generally available for anyone to download. 1.7 million people tested the app in beta,according to Google, which indicates strong interest in it. During beta testing, over 50 million files were transferred between PCs and Android devices.
Nearby Share for Windows | Free from Google
This app allows you to share files back and forth between Android devices and Windows PCs. Nearby Share is supported on most Android smartphones, which means you can now easily share content to and from your phone and computer.
In addition to coming out of beta, Nearby Share has picked up some new features on PC:
Nearby Share for Windows works on a variety of PCs and can be installed by anyone, but Google will make it a bit easier to access by having it preinstalled on specific computers. TheHP Dragonfly Prois among the PCs that will ship with Nearby Share on Windows. Google alluded to other devices coming bundled with the app, but it did not provide any specifics.
While Nearby Share is handy, it’s far from the only app to connect Windows PCs and Android devices. Make sure to check out our guidecomparing Google Nearby Share, Phone Link, Intel Unison, HP QuickDrop, and Edge Drop.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
