Cut the wire between your phone and laptop for data transfers

Apple’s AirDrop functionality, that lets you wirelessly share files between Apple devices like the iPhone 14 Pro and the MacBook Air is a prime example of the capabilities of a close-knit ecosystem. However, if you have a premium Windows laptop like the productivity-focused HP Envy 13 or a gaming powerhouse like the Lenovo Legion 5, you know there’s barely an ecosystem to share with Android smartphones.  

Thankfully, there’s a tool to quickly (and wirelessly) share files between your Windows laptop and an Android smartphone. The answer is Google’s Nearby Share tech, something already available for Android phones, that you can now also officially install in Windows-based machines to share files between the two.  

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Nearby Share is handy if you have a lot of photos, videos or other files that you want to transfer over to your laptop without using a wire or a cloud-based solution. When you’re not on an envy-breeding trip, the tool is also useful to quickly transfer work files (or pretty much any other files) over to your phone. Here’s how to get started.  

How to install Nearby Share on your Windows PC

Before getting started, you’ll need to have Nearby Share on both your PC and your Android mobile device. Most Android devices will already have the functionality built in. On Windows, you’ll have to download and install the service from here.  

Double-click on the downloaded file to install it and give it a few mins to install. When set up, you’ll need to log in from a Google ID to make things more seamless. Proceed by adding your Google Account and you should reach the main Nearby Share screen. Remember to also have both your Android device and the Windows PC connected to the same Wi-Fi network for best results.

How to share files from Windows PC to Android device 

To share files to your Android device, open the Nearby Share program on your Windows machine and simply drag and drop a file or folder on the windows. It will start looking for Android devices around and show you a list of available devices. Select the desired device and your transfer should begin smoothly.

If you don’t see your Android device, make sure it is connected to the same network, and also check if your Nearby Share is turned on. Lastly, check your visibility settings on the Android device to make sure the PC can detect your device.  

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How to transfer files from Android device to Windows PC 

To send files from a phone or tablet to a Wondows laptop or desktop, begin by navigating to a file or folder from a file manager or gallery app of your choice. Look for a share button and try long pressing the file/folder if you don’t see one immediately. Tap on the Share button and choose Nearby Share on the subsequent screen.  

In the device selection screen, find your Windows PC and tap on it to begin sending the file across.  

There you go! You can now easily send files between Android and Windows devices without the hassle of wires.