Important: Nearby Share is now Quick Share. Look for the new name and icon to share with nearby Android devices, Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Sharing is still compatible for some devices that still have the old feature name.
You can share text, images, files or web pages with other Android and Chromebook devices that are nearby. You can also receive and connect to saved Wi-Fi networks sent from Android devices.
What you need
- Chrome OS version 91 and up. Learn how to update your Chromebook’s operating system.
- Android version 6.0 and up. Learn how to check and update your Android version.
Important: If you use your Chromebook at work or school, you may not be able to use these features with your phone. For more help, contact your administrator.
Set up sharing
Important: By default, Quick Share is off. To send or receive files nearby, turn on Quick Share on your device.
- On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
- Select Settings
.
- On the left, select Connected devices.
- Next to “Quick Share,” select Set up.
- Choose a name for your device and select Done.
- Select your Device visibility.
- Choose your options:
- Your devices: Your device is visible to nearby devices signed into the same account.
- Contacts: Your device is visible to your nearby contacts while your screen is on and unlocked.
- Hidden: Your device is only visible when someone tries to share content and you make your device visible.
- Available to everyone: Your device is visible for 10 minutes.
- Select Confirm.
Tips:
- To turn sharing off, go to Settings
- If you encounter issues with Quick Share:
- Turn Quick Share off, then on.
- Or, you can restart your device.
- If the screen is off or locked, the device is automatically in “Your devices” visibility. You can’t set visibility in these states.
- On your Chromebook, open Files
.
- Right-click the file you want to share
- Select Share
Quick Share.
- To share multiple files: Press Ctrl, then select the files
- To share multiple files: Press Ctrl, then select the files
- Select the device you want to share your file with
- Once the receiver confirms the share, your file is sent.
When you use Quick Share with any Android or Chromebook that's logged in to the same Google Account, transfers are automatically accepted.
Share content from Chromebook to Android
- On your Chromebook, open Files
- Right-click the file you want to share.
- Select Share
- To share multiple files:
- Press Ctrl, then select the files
- Press Ctrl, then select the files
- To share multiple files:
- Select the device to share file with
- On your Android device, you'll find that you received a file from your Chromebook.
- When the file is transferred, you’ll get a notification on your Chromebook and on your Android device.
Share content from Android device to your Chromebook
- On your Android device, open Files
- Select a file you want to share.
- Select Share or Send
- Select the device you want to share your file with
- When the file is transferred, you’ll get a notification on your Android device and on your Chromebook.
- If your Chromebook is locked, you’ll still receive the file being transferred.
You can also share files from inside apps.
- At the bottom left corner of your screen, select Launcher
.
- To find all of your apps, select Up
.
- Select the app that contains your content and find your content within the app.
- Select Share
- Select a device
- Once the device that receives the content confirms the share, your content is sent.
.
.Get content from someone
Important: To get files from someone, your device must be visible to them. To make your device visible temporarily, on your Chromebook, select the time Quick Share. Temporary visibility mode is on for 10 minutes, after which the device is no longer visible to nearby devices.
Quick Share. Temporary visibility mode is on for 10 minutes, after which the device is no longer visible to nearby devices.- You get a notification that someone wants to share content.
- Select your Device name and Device visibility.
- Select Turn on.
- To get the content, select Accept.
Choose who can share content with you
- On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
- Select Quick Share.
- To open Quick Share through the Settings, select Settings
- To open Quick Share through the Settings, select Settings
- Choose your options:
- Your devices: Your device is visible to nearby devices signed into the same account.
- Contacts: Your device is visible to your nearby contacts while your screen is on and unlocked.
- Hidden: Your device is only visible when someone tries to share content and you make your device visible.
- Available to everyone: Your device is visible for up to 10 minutes.
Tip: If the screen is off or locked, the device is automatically in “Your devices” visibility. You can’t set visibility in these states.
Turn on sharing temporarily
Important: To make your device temporarily visible to everyone nearby, you can turn on Quick Share from quick settings.
- On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
- Select Quick Share.