How to Share Files from Windows 11 to Android with Nearby Sharing

Nearby Sharing is a built-in tool in Windows 11 that shares files with other nearby Windows PCs. It does not send files to Android phones. For that, use Quick Share for Windows (Google’s app) or Phone Link. Quick Share for Windows is the supported way to send files from a PC to an Android phone. Bluetooth 🔷 finds the other device, Wi-Fi 📶 carries the file, and small files arrive in seconds.

To make this work between Windows and Android, you need Quick Share for Windows on your PC and Quick Share on your Android phone. Most current Android phones already have Quick Share built in. Phone Link with Link to Windows is an alternative for file transfer. Use a current Windows 11 version (24H2 or 25H2) for the best wireless transfer reliability.

Check these requirements first. Most “I can’t see my phone” problems come from one of them.

• Bluetooth 🔷 and Wi-Fi 📶 must be turned on for both the PC and the phone. The PC does not need to be on the same network as the phone for discovery, but both radios must be on.
• Keep the two devices close together, ideally within a metre or two while you set things up.
• The phone must be visible to nearby devices. On the phone, open the Quick Share settings and set visibility to Everyone (usually for a limited time) or to your contacts or your own devices. If the phone is set to receive only from contacts or your own devices, sign in to the same Google account on the PC app so it can be recognised.
• The PC needs working Bluetooth 🔷 hardware. A desktop with no Bluetooth adapter cannot discover phones until you add a USB Bluetooth adapter. Bluetooth 4.0 or later with Low Energy support is the practical minimum. To check, open Device Manager and look for a Bluetooth 🔷 category. If it is missing, or the adapter shows a warning icon, install the 💿 driver from your PC maker or adapter maker.
• Turn off Airplane mode on the PC. In Windows 11 Home and Pro the requirements are the same.

Install Quick Share for Windows.

1. On the PC, download Quick Share for Windows from Google’s official Android Quick Share page.
2. Run the installer and follow the prompts. You should see the Quick Share window open when it finishes.
3. Sign in with your Google account, or continue without signing in if the app offers that option. Signing in makes it easier to share between your own devices.
4. In the app’s settings, set the device name and choose who can send to this PC. The PC must also be visible if you want to receive files from the phone.

Turn on sharing on the phone.

1. On the Android phone, turn on Bluetooth 🔷 and Wi-Fi 📶.
2. Open the Quick Share settings. The location varies by phone maker, but it is often under Settings › Google › Devices & sharing You can also use the Quick Share tile in the quick settings panel.
3. Set the visibility to Everyone for now. You should see the phone listed as available to nearby devices. Switch back to a tighter setting once you are done if you prefer.
4. Keep the phone unlocked with the screen on. A locked phone often fails to appear.

Send a file from the PC to the phone.

1. Open the Quick Share app on the PC. It should show a drop area and start scanning for nearby devices.
2. Add your file. Drag it into the window, or choose the option to select files or folders.
3. Alternatively, right-click the file in File Explorer and choose Share or the Quick Share entry in the menu. In Windows 11 the entry may be under Show more options, depending on your version and how the app registered itself.
4. Wait for your phone to appear in the list of nearby devices, then select it. If it does not appear, recheck the requirements above.

Accept the transfer on the phone.

1. Look at the phone. A notification or pop-up asks whether to accept the file from your PC.
2. Tap Accept. The file transfers, and the PC app shows the progress and then a completion message.
3. Open the received file from the notification or from the phone's Files app. If you tap Decline by mistake, just send the file again.

To send the other way, from phone to PC, open the file on the phone, tap Share, choose Quick Share, and pick the PC. Accept the prompt in the Quick Share window on the PC. By default, received files are saved to the Downloads folder on the PC, and you can change that in the app settings.

If Quick Share does not work, Phone Link is a fallback. It needs the Link to Windows app on the phone and a Microsoft account sign-in, and it can transfer files once the two are paired. To undo any of this, uninstall Quick Share for Windows from Settings › Apps › Installed apps, and set the phone's visibility back to Your devices or Contacts.