Google’s Nearby Share feature on Android is a convenient way to share links, photos and more with friends and family. Now, you can also take advantage of a new feature that will allow you to easily share Android apps.
First announced in late 2020 and widely available today, Nearby Share lets you share Google Play apps with other Android users. The cool thing is that you don’t need a cellular or Wi-Fi connection for Nearby Share to work.
“Just open Google Play, go to the ‘Share apps’ menu under ‘My apps and games’, select the apps you want to share and allow your friend to accept the apps you’ve received,” said Google in December.
Screenshots via 9to5Google
Nearby Share is a smart way to share your favorite apps and games with friends and family. It’s the kind of quality of life feature that takes the friction out of fumbling with menus and worrying about wi-fi connections. It’s thanks to features like this that Google’s Nearby Share has become a great alternative to Apple’s AirPlay.
According 9to5Google, which was able to test the new Nearby Share feature, sending apps to friends is “shockingly fast” and can be faster than sharing over the home Internet connection. After sharing an app with someone, they can install it without leaving the sharing menu. You can then disconnect devices.
Whether you’re not near a Wi-Fi connection or close to your mobile data limit, using Nearby Share to send apps is a great option. Of course, the person you are sharing with must be around. The next time you have a meeting with your closest friends and family, try sharing one or two apps. And, don’t worry, you can choose to share which contacts (all, some or none) can see you immediately when the feature is activated.