How do I turn on nearby share?

Go to Settings then Google then Devices and sharing then Nearby Share. Turn it on and choose your visibility: Contacts or Everyone.

How do I prepare the receiving device?

The other person should also have Nearby Share enabled and set to "Everyone" or "Contacts." Bluetooth and Location must be on for both devices.

How do I select content and tap share?

Open the photo, file, or link you want to send. Tap the share button (three connected dots or a share icon) and select "Nearby Share" or "Quick Share."

How do I choose the recipient?

Your phone scans for nearby devices. When the other device appears in the list, tap their name to start the transfer.

How do I accept on the receiving device?

A notification appears on the receiving device. Tap "Accept" to receive the file. Photos go to the Gallery, other files go to Downloads.

How do I adjust privacy settings after sharing?

If you switched to "Everyone" to receive a file, switch back to "Contacts" or "Your devices" when you are done to protect your privacy in public.

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Nearby Share (also called Quick Share on Samsung phones) is Android's answer to Apple's AirDrop. It lets you wirelessly share photos, videos, files, links, and more between Android phones, tablets, and Chromebooks. The transfer uses a combination of Bluetooth, WiFi, and your internet connection, so it is fast even for large files.

Both devices need to have Bluetooth and Location turned on. The devices should be within about 15 feet of each other. Nearby Share is built into most Android phones running Android 6 or later — no app installation needed.

To set up Nearby Share, go to Settings then Google then Devices and sharing then Nearby Share (or Settings then Connected devices then Connection preferences then Nearby Share). Turn it on and choose who can see your device: "Your devices" (only your own Google account devices), "Contacts" (people in your contacts list), or "Everyone" (any nearby Android device).

To share something, find the content you want to send — a photo, file, or link. Tap the share button (usually three connected dots or a square with an arrow). In the sharing options, look for "Nearby Share" or "Quick Share." Tap it. Your phone searches for nearby devices. When the other person's device appears, tap their name.

The receiving device shows a notification asking to accept the file. Once they tap "Accept," the transfer begins. Small files transfer in seconds; larger files may take a minute or two.

On Samsung phones, this feature is called "Quick Share." The process is the same — tap the share button on any content and look for "Quick Share" in the options.

Nearby Share also works with Chromebooks. To enable it on a Chromebook: click the clock area then Quick Settings then Nearby Share. Files shared from a phone to a Chromebook appear in the Downloads folder.

For privacy in public places, set your visibility to "Your devices" or "Contacts" so strangers cannot see your device. Switch to "Everyone" temporarily when you need to receive from someone new, then switch back.