When Google launched Nearby Share in 2020, Android users everywhere rejoiced. They finally have a tool that rivals Apple’s AirDrop, an easy way to move files between devices without attaching them to an email or uploading to Google Drive, just downloading them again on a new device They can.
Now, ahead of Google I/O, some users have noticed an upgrade lurking in Google Play Services that makes nearby sharing easier.New “Self-Sharing” modes such as Discovered by Mishaal Rahman of Esper (pass android police), which appears to let you send files between your devices with just one tap. The feature has been rumored for months, but now it appears to be closer to being ready.
Nearby Share’s “Share to Self” mode lets you quickly share files to other devices signed in to the same Google Account without requiring approval to share.
As far as I know, this isn’t out yet, but it exists in the latest version of Google Play Services. pic.twitter.com/wdtxoiE2oz
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) April 19, 2022
Google has so far required recipients of the share to accept it, which is a very good idea for security and trolling reasons, but when all you want to do is send a photo from your phone to another laptop , which is an annoying extra step to the room. The new seamless sharing is only available on devices that have Nearby Sharing enabled, are physically close to you, and are signed in to your Google account. Anyone else not on your account must still accept every share on your device.
Nearby Share is an important feature for Google, especially as the Android ecosystem continues to expand across devices. If Google is going to get into your phones, laptops, TVs, speakers and smartwatches, it needs to make it easy for users to move content between all of those devices. Apple keeps showing what’s possible here with features like AirDrop and Universal Control. Getting it right can be tough, though: For every magical second-screen experience Apple offers, it also offers the ability to switch your AirPods from phone to laptop at the worst possible time.
But both companies know that a successful ecosystem requires not just making things, but making them work together, and both seem to be working toward that goal. (In a perfect world, these would also be cross-platform features, but don’t hold your breath.)
There’s no word yet on when the Nearby Share update will be released, but with Google I/O scheduled to begin on May 11, it might not be far off.
