Google Makes It Easier to Share Files Between Windows and Android

Google has improved Android’s integration with Windows, making it a lot easier to transfer files between Android devices and Windows PC. 

In a blog post(Opens in a new window), the tech giant revealed it had rolled out the beta Nearby Share(Opens in a new window) app which makes it possible to send photos, documents, and files between PCs and Android devices as long as they are within 16 feet of each other.

In 2020, Google launched Nearby Share which enables users to quickly send and receive content across Android phones, tablets, and Chromebooks. Now expanded to include file sharing to Windows, the beta is available to download for 64-bit version Windows 10 and up users directly from the Android website(Opens in a new window). 

As Engadget notes(Opens in a new window), users must switch on their PC’s WiFi and Bluetooth for the feature to work. In order to prevent spam messages or file sending, Nearby Share app users can select who can see their device and send it files. 

In the case of your device screens being off, file sharing will be possible as long as both devices are logged into the owner’s Google account. 

To share files from an Android device to your computer, the Nearby Share Beta app must be running on your PC, then all that’s needed is to drag and drop files into the app, tap share on the content you want to send, and select your PC from the list of available devices on the drop-down list.

The Nearby Share beta is available to download in the US and most countries globally except the EU.