This article will show you how to share your installed apps on Android using the native Nearby Share feature.
How to Share Apps on Android Using Nearby Share
Sharing installed apps with Android’s Nearby Share feature is simple. And they’re not the only thing you can share. You can also set up and use Nearby Share to send files between Android devices. To use Nearby Share, you don’t need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. The method takes advantage of a couple of protocols to transfer both apps and files, including Bluetooth.
Follow these steps to share installed Android apps using Nearby Share.
First, open the Google Play Store app on the sending device. Tap your profile icon in the upper right and select Manage apps and device from the menu.
Under the Overview panel, tap the Send button adjacent to Share apps, then tap Continue on the next page. After that, tap OK to enable device location and grant the Play Store permission to access your location data.
On the recipient device, follow the same steps, but select the Receive button under Share apps when you are on the Overview panel. Then tap Continue and select OK from the pop-up to enable location and grant the Play Store permission to location access.
Once you’ve granted permission on the sending device, you’ll be taken to an app selection page.
Select the app(s) you wish to share and tap the Send button in the upper right. Next, select the recipient device name from the Select a receiver pop-up.
Nearby Share will then generate a pairing code for connecting the two devices. Confirm if the code on the sending device matches the one on the recipient. If they match, tap Receive on the recipient device.
Nearby Share will immediately start sending the selected apps.
If you wish to share more apps, tap Send more apps at the bottom and select additional apps.
Once the transfer has finished, you can directly install the shared apps on the recipient device. You can install all the shared apps at once by tapping Install all. Alternatively, you can choose to install apps one by one by tapping the adjacent Install button adjacent to the app name and icon until done.
Limitations of Nearby Share
Nearby Share does have its downsides despite providing an easier way of sharing apps between Android devices. You can share any installed apps as long as they are found on the Google Play Store.
If you have any Android app installed on your device that is not officially available via the Play Store, it won’t show up on the list of apps on the app selection page.
Another downside is Nearby Share is only available on Android phones running Android 6.0 or higher. To check your Android version, open the Settings app and go to System > About phone or About device.
But don’t let these setbacks hold you back. There are a variety of Android apps that can help you transfer anything, including large files.
Natively Share Installed Android Apps
There’s no need to download apps on a second Android device if you have another device already running the same apps, thanks to Nearby Share. Instead of downloading, which can take time and requires a Wi-Fi or cellular connection, use Nearby Share to transfer the apps.
The feature has its limitations, but you can’t go wrong with it since you don’t need an additional download, unlike third-party methods. It can also save you from the trouble of downloading apps when switching devices.
