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Using Android AirDrop and Nearby Share

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Using Android AirDrop and Nearby Share

Do you often find yourself needing to quickly share files between Android devices? Look no further! Android now offers two built-in features for seamless file sharing: AirDrop and Nearby Share. In this tutorial, we will guide you through using both AirDrop and Nearby Share on your Android device.

Prerequisites

  • Android device running Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or newer
  • Wi-Fi or Bluetooth enabled on both devices

AirDrop

AirDrop is a feature available on Apple devices that allows you to wirelessly share files between Apple devices. While it is not natively available on Android, you can use third-party apps to achieve similar functionality.

Step 1: Install a File Sharing App

To use AirDrop-like functionality on Android, you'll need to install a third-party file sharing app. Some popular options include:

  • ShareMe (MiDrop) by Xiaomi: Download and install ShareMe from the Google Play Store (link). This app is lightweight, easy to use, and offers quick file transfers.

Step 2: Set up AirDrop-like File Sharing

Follow these steps to set up AirDrop-like functionality using ShareMe:

  1. Launch ShareMe on both devices.

  2. On the sender device, tap the "Send" button in ShareMe's app interface.

  3. Select the files you want to share. You can choose files from various locations on your device.

  4. Tap the "Send" button again and wait for ShareMe to search for nearby devices.

  5. On the receiver device, tap the "Receive" button in ShareMe's app interface.

  6. Once ShareMe finds the receiver device, tap on it to establish a connection.

  7. The sender device will then start transferring the selected files to the receiver device.

  8. Once the transfer is complete, you'll receive a confirmation on both devices.

Congratulations! You have successfully set up AirDrop-like functionality on your Android devices using ShareMe.

Nearby Share

Nearby Share is a native feature available on Android devices running Android 6.0 or newer. It allows you to share files, links, and other content with nearby devices using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Step 1: Enable Nearby Share

Follow these steps to enable Nearby Share on your Android device:

  1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.

  2. Scroll down and tap on "Google".

  3. Tap on "Device Connections" or "Connected devices" depending on your device.

  4. Under the Device Connections settings, tap on "Nearby Share".

  5. Toggle the switch to enable Nearby Share.

Step 2: Use Nearby Share to Share Files

Once you have enabled Nearby Share, you can follow these steps to share files with nearby devices:

  1. Open the file you want to share (e.g., Photos, Files, or any other compatible app).

  2. Tap the share button (usually represented by a share icon).

  3. From the share menu, find and tap on "Nearby Share".

  4. Your device will start searching for nearby devices with Nearby Share enabled.

  5. Once the device you want to share with appears in the list, tap on it to initiate the transfer.

  6. On the receiving device, a notification will appear asking if you want to accept the file transfer. Tap "Accept" to receive the file.

  7. The file transfer will begin, and you'll receive a notification on both devices once it's complete.

And there you have it - you've successfully used Nearby Share to share files between Android devices!

Conclusion

With the help of third-party apps like ShareMe and the native Android feature - Nearby Share, you can now share files effortlessly between Android devices. Whether you prefer to use AirDrop-like functionality or rely on the built-in Nearby Share feature, sharing files has never been easier on Android!