For years, iOS users have had the advantage of being able to quickly share photos, videos, and just about any file between Apple devices thanks to AirDrop. Therefore, many Android users wonder how to have AirDrop on Android?
There have been AirDrop alternatives for Android before, but they require you to install an app. Now, thanks to the Google ecosystem, Android phones have their own version of AirDropespecially the function Nearby Share.In today’s article we are going to talk about this new native functionality from Google, and we will also show other alternatives to AirDrop that are compatible with the Android operating system. Go for it!
What is AirDrop for Android?
The equivalent of AirDrop for Android is «Share Closely», Nearby Share. With this new Android Nearby Share feature, file sharing is now more convenient and accessible than ever.
It is a relatively new feature for Android devices that allows users to send links, files, photosvideos and almost any type of files between Android devices that are close to each other.
It’s basically like Apple’s AirDropbut this time for the Android ecosystem.
To use the new function, the first thing you must do is select the files you want to send, slide your finger up from the bottom of the screen, so that the option appears. Share in Nearbyand touch that option.
From there, you can send files to someone near you who has an Android device. Even you can send and receive photos, videos and other files anonymouslyor make yourself invisible to other users, and not receive any files.
Nearby Share allows you to share files through the most appropriate method for each moment, so that it works as quickly as possible between two mobile devices, P2P Wi-Fi, WebRTC, Bluetooth Low Energy or Bluetooth, and all this is done automatically.
What Android phones are supported?
The service is compatible with all Android devices running on Marshmallow/Android software version 6 or higher, if you bought the phone in 2015 or later, the service would already be integrated into your device, natively, you won’t have to do anything.
Therefore, make sure that Google Play services are updated to the latest version.
You should know that Nearby Share is also compatible with Chromebooksso it’s similar to AirDrop compatibility between an iPad an iPhone and a MacBook.
What can be shared via Android AirDrop?
With AirDrop for Android, you can share almost any file, including links, videos, photos, and documents.
Whenever you want to send a file to a relative or friend who is nearby, you simply have to access the button “Share”.
In the said menu, you must locate and touch to activate the function “Share nearby”at which point your Android phone will begin to search for devices near your range.
The person you want to share the file with must be relatively close. Both to the person who wants to send files and to the person who wants to receive it, you will be prompted to activate “Location Services and Bluetooth”.
Once activated, the recipient must accept the file sharing request. And that’s it!
The process will be carried out automatically, and in a few seconds the recipient will have the file on their device.
How to use Nearby Share on Android?
The first thing we should do would be to check if we have the function active on our Android device. To do this, we will follow these simple steps:
Go to the app Settingon your Android device.
Once you are in the Settings application, click on the option Google.
If you scroll down, you will see the option “device and sharing” and click on this option.
If the legend appears “Share near” (Nearby Share) in the menu, since you already have it implemented on your device.
If on the contrary, Nearby Share is not showing in the menu, then your mobile device does not have Nearby Share functionalityand you can’t “activate” it on your own.
How to set up the Android AirDrop service
Once the previous step has been carried out, and verified that we have the service, we are going to configure it to our liking.
To do this, follow these steps:
On your Android device, open Settings.
Now tap the menu Google.
click onDevice connections > Nearby sharing.
To activate Share in Nearbyactivate the function.
Choose he Device Name.
enter your preferred name, it will be the way in which other users will identify you.
Once done, choose one device visibility specific to configure your preferred privacy settings. With device visibility, you can choose between three options: “All contacts” so anyone in your contact list with Nearby Share enabled can see your Android device when it’s unlocked or the home screen is on, the “some contacts”, where only the contacts selected by you can see your Android device, and finally “hidden”, your device simply won’t show up.
In the event that our Android device can detect someone nearby, and has activated “Share”, we will receive a notification asking us to start Nearby Share.
If you have selected some contacts, you will individually choose a recipient from one of your contacts. To do this, scroll through the list, and choose the recipient you want to trust to share files.
Now we go to the menu where we have selected the device visibility and we play Data.
We choose the transfer method and once done click on Update.
How to send and receive on Android
When both users have Nearby Share enabled and configured, they can easily receive and send files, links, videos, and photos.
If you are going to share files with someone, Both of you must have the phone unlocked and the screen must be active.
With both devices activated, these are the steps to send a file, in this case we will use a link as an example, with Nearby Share.
Open your Android web browser.
Go to the website whose link you want to share.
Now play the three dots iconlocated at the top right of the screen.
and touch the button Share.
In the section “Share via”locate and touch share near.
Depending on the Android device you have, the Share icon may also appear as a shortcut for easy access.
It will now start searching for nearby devices.
If you are the recipient, you will receive a message notifying you that a nearby device is sharing. Touch the notification that appears to you so that you can be visible.
Once the receiver is already visible to share files, the sender can touch the name of the receiving device from the Share Nearby list.
As a receiver, click on the button Accept.
And finish the process in a few seconds.
The process is exactly the same for sharing any type of file, be it photos, videos, or anything else.
Receivers will always be asked to make themselves visible to share files and accept the request to share files.
Can it be used between Android and iPhone?
Nearby Share is an exclusive feature of data transfer between Android devices and Chromebook as we have said above.
Unfortunately does not work in other ecosystems outside of GoogleTherefore, it is impossible to send files between an Android phone and an iPhone using Nearby Share.
Actually, we can’t even share files between these devices using Bluetooth today.
How to transfer files between Android and iPhone?
It is a task that we still cannot transfer files natively between Android and iPhone, so we still need to use third-party applications that solve this problem for us.
It is true that there are many applications that allow us to share files between these devicesbut there is nothing better than doing it natively, more naturally.
Still, if you need to share files between these devices with different operating systems, I recommend these applications, ShareIt, MobileTrans and Send AnywhereAlthough there are many more options.
Summary
As you have seen, the AirDrop-style file sharing process on Android is now very similar, even so much so that it has some limitations typical of the Cupertino boys’ ecosystem.
It is true that for some users it may be a bit late, the fact that Android now applies this new function, since AirDrop arrived on Apple devices nine years ago.
But that does not mean that it is still a very useful function for file transfer between Android devices, even if it has certain limitations.
Today, with so much work in multitasking, and even between devices, where we start working in one team and finish the task in anotherit is necessary that functionalities such as this one are implemented every day to facilitate our work in our day to day.
As always I hope you liked the article. Let us know in the comments if you usually use AirDrop in your daily life, this new Android feature, or third-party apps like the ones mentioned above.
