Google Nearby Share is Android’s version of Apple's AirDrop, allowing you to quickly transfer files between devices. However, a new upgrade is supercharging that function, allowing you to send files out to multiple devices at once. So, if you have a bunch of photos or a video you want to share with a group of friends, you don’t have to send to them one by one – just use the Nearby Share option and give them all the files.
The function is already available for Chromebooks (OS 89) but Xda-developers has shown that it will soon be available on Android devices too. This allows you to set your visibility to just contacts or everyone and will stay visible for a few minutes from selecting. You can also keep this on permanently if you wish. Now when you go to share a file or group of files you can hit the Nearby Share function and send an alert to all Android phones (and Chrome devices) in close proximity.
For users to actually receive the file, you need to manually approve the transfer on your device, and currently, only four transfers can take place at any one time. However, these requirements could be changed by the time this feature goes live.
- Samsung will turn your old Galaxy phone into a smart home device for free
- Dell Latitude 7320 detachable is the Surface Pro 7’s new nemesis
- Google Pixel 5a is coming soon, new leak confirms
Nearby Share is a handy feature for sharing content between computers and phones, as well as sending files quickly to friends. While most of us are unlikely to need to send to multiple people all the time, there will be uses – especially once we’re able to meet in larger groups again.
Though no timescale has been given from Google as to when we can expect this feature to be made live, it seems that Google’s I/O developers event in May is a potential date.
-
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: what's the difference?Motorola's latest enters the fold, but how does it compare to Samsung's offering?
-
Sony Xperia 1 IV vs Sony Xperia 5 IV: what’s the difference?Big phone, little phone - find out which is the best Sony
-
Sony Xperia 5 IV review: a small but mighty smartphoneThe Sony Xperia 5 IV is a 6.1-inch smartphone that still manages to pack flagship-level hardware
-
Motorola Razr 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: top folding phones go head to headBoth are smartphones that fold in half, but which one comes out on top?
-
Motorola Razr 2022 review: a nostalgic flip phone reaching new heightsThe Motorola Razr 2022 is a performance-driven folding phone that is actually quite reasonably priced
-
5 things I wish I knew before buying the Google Pixel 7You need to read this if you're thinking about buying the latest Pixel phone
-
Google Pixel 7 review: yet another smartphone success storyThe Google Pixel 7 has just about everything you could want from a smartphone in 2022 - and it's reasonably priced too
-
Google Pixel 7 camera features you need to know aboutYou don’t need to splash out on the most expensive phone to get advanced camera features
