For more than a decade, AirDrop has been a source of pride for Apple users and a pain point for many who wanted a simple solution for sharing files between Windows and Android. But after years of struggling with different standards and technologies, Google and Microsoft have finally figured it out: Google’s Nearby Share protocol brought AirDrop-like file sharing to Android devices back in 2020, and the same functionality is available for Windows PCs thanks to a new beta version that anyone can download.
Quick note: Since this new Google app is currently in Beta, it’s a bit of a pain to install. However, it works well, so if you’re interested, it’s totally worth taking the time to set it up.
How to install the Nearby Share app on Windows
First navigate to Android’s Nearby Share page. Click the Start button to download the Windows app. Once installed, launch the app and sign in with your Google account.
On the Settings screen, name your PC and click the Receive box. By default, it is set to No One, which defeats the purpose of the entire application. Click on the drop-down menu to make several choices. We recommend that you use Your Devices, as it limits the application to the devices associated with your Google account. You can also restrict it to your contacts or make it available to everyone. Press Done to complete the setup.
Before continuing, make sure everything is up and running on Android. Oddly enough, Nearby Share is not an OS option; it is a feature in Google Docs that should already be installed on your device. If not, you can download it here. Open Google Docs, click the menu button, go to Settings > Nearby Share, and turn on Use Nearby Share.
How to use Nearby Sharing to transfer files between Android and PC wirelessly
Image from the article titled There’s Finally An AirDrop for Windows and Android Users
Image: Google
Open a file on your Android smartphone and select a file (either a photo or a large video file), then click the Share button. Click the Nearby button below the file preview and you will see a list of available devices. Right here, select your PC and wait for the magic to happen. The file will be transferred to your PC immediately, and by default it will be saved to the “Downloads” folder.
Doing things the other way around is just as easy, but requires that you first use the Nearby Share application. Open the application and select the files you want to share. Then, select your Android phone from the list and wait until you receive a notification on your Android phone that the transfer is complete. You’ll find the file in the Downloads folder of the Files app.
