Google Releases Beta Nearby Share App for Windows

Google has released a beta version of its Nearby Share app for Windows, making it easier for users to transfer files between their mobile devices and PCs. The tech giant had promised to improve Android’s integration with the Windows ecosystem during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022, and Nearby Share is one of the features it had announced.

Users can download the beta Nearby Share app from the Android website, provided that their PC is running the 64-bit version of Windows 10 and above, and is not powered by ARM processors. Once downloaded, users must enable their PC’s WiFi and Bluetooth to use the feature. Users can also select who can see their device and send them files to avoid potential spam messages. The app offers four visibility options – visible to everyone, visible to contacts, visible to own devices only, or invisible.

Android devices can share files with the PC whether the app is open or running in the background, provided that users do not select the "invisible" option. To send files from the PC to an Android device, users can drag and drop the files into the Nearby Share app or right-click on the files and select the Nearby Share option. Transfers are automatically accepted if the devices are logged into a common Google account, even if the recipient’s screen is off. The feature only works if both devices are within 16 feet of each other.

Google has released Nearby Share for the US and most countries worldwide, with some exceptions. While the beta app only works with Android phones and tablets, Google has promised to expand its compatibility across the company’s ecosystem.

This release is significant as it fulfills a promise made by Google at CES 2022 to improve Android’s integration with the Windows ecosystem. The Nearby Share app for Windows will make it easier for users to transfer files between their mobile devices and PCs, and Google's expansion plans suggest that more devices will be able to benefit from the feature in the future.