Android Nearby Share to soon feature group transfer capabilities
Google is testing two new functionalities for Android’s built-in file sharing feature called Nearby Share. If the test goes well, users will soon be able to share files with not just their contacts but any nearby Android smartphone, and have the ability to share to multiple devices at once.
Nearby Share was first introduced into Android last year in August 2020. The feature later received an update which allowed users to not only share files, documents and photos, but also share apps and their updates directly through the Play Store.
Google is now reportedly working on adding two new functionalities for the feature – the ability to share to anyone nearby and the ability to transfer files to a group of devices.
At the moment, users can only share with their contacts and not with any random Android phone nearby. It was designed that way so that users do not get unwanted files, etc. However, to get around this, Google might introduce a temporary toggle which will allow Nearby Share with anyone close by for 5 minutes. After that, Nearby Share would be limited to Contacts only.
Google’s Nearby Share is preparing to add group transfer support. Right now, it seems you’ll be able to connect to a maximum of 4 other devices but can only transfer to 1 at a time. I was able to get it to let me try connecting to two devices but it then fails immediately. pic.twitter.com/8tuaGPUyB6
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) March 12, 2021
The second ability is Group transfer, which was discovered by Twitter user @MishaalRahman to be in an early test phase. It would reportedly allow users to connect to 4 other devices, but only transfer files one device at a time.
Since these features are being tested by Google, it is unclear as to when will they be released to the public.
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