How to Enable and Use Nearby Sharing in Windows 11? Your Complete Guide

Applies to: Windows 11, Windows 10.

Do you know how to share files on your Windows 11 computer with a nearby device? This page will present you with a complete guide to enable and use the Nearby Sharing feature in Windows 11 to share files to a nearby Windows computer successfully. 

Need a detailed guide? Let's get started.

Nearby Sharing Overview: Features and Benefits

Nearby Sharing is a Windows built-in feature that allows Windows users to share documents, photos, links to websites, and other files with a nearby device via Bluetooth or WiFi.

Can all Windows users use Nearby Sharing to share and transfer files between computers? No, only computers that meet the spec requirements listed here can enable this feature for file sharing:

• Running Windows 11 or Windows 10 (version 1083 or later).
• Both computers must support Bluetooth or WiFi connections.

What can Nearby Sharing do for you? Check the list of features and benefits in Nearby Sharing:

Highlighted Features:

• Transfer photos, documents, videos, links.
• Transfer files between Windows 11, Windows 10 computers.
• Transfer files via Bluetooth or WiFi.

Qiling Editors' Pick: If you need a convenient way to share tiny files within MB size, Windows nearby sharing tool can fully help. To transfer big files in GB size, turning to a professional file transfer tool is more recommended.

So how to use the Nearby Sharing in Windows 11? Go ahead and follow tips in the next part for a guide.

How to Enable and Use Nearby Sharing in Windows 11

How do I activate, set up, enable, or use Nearby Sharing? Here, we'll take Windows 11 as an example to show you how to share and transfer files between nearby Windows devices using this tool.

#1. Activate or Enable Nearby Sharing in Windows 11

• Enable Nearby Sharing via Quick Settings: Press the "Windows + A" keys > Click Nearby Sharing.

• Enable Nearby Sharing via Settings: 

First, click the Start icon, select Settings > System > Nearby sharing.

Next, tick Everyone nearby from the Nearby sharing permission panel.

#2. Use Nearby Sharing to Share Files Between Two Nearby Devices

Now, you can follow the tips here to start sharing files between your computers via the Nearby sharing feature. Here are the steps:

• Press the "Windows + E" keys to open File Explorer.
• Right-click on any file and select "Show more options" > Click "Share".
• Select "Everyone nearby" from the pop-up window.

By following the guide above, you can successfully transfer or share files from your computer to another PC.

Nearby Sharing Alternative Free Download

Due to the limit of Nearby sharing, you may not be able to share apps, settings, or big files to another computer instantly. In this case, you'll need an alternative file transfer software for help. 

Qiling free file transfer software - Qiling Disk Master with its complete file transfer feature makes it outstanding in assisting Windows users in sharing and transferring data, progr

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Check the list and see what can Qiling Disk Master do for free file sharing in replacing Nearby Sharing in Windows:

• Transfer files, documents, big data between computers.
• Transfer apps, programs, installed software to a new computer.
• Transfer personal settings account to a new computer.
• Wireless transfer via WiFi, image.
• Support all computers with or without Bluetooth or WiFi connection.
• Support file sharing in all Windows OS, Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, etc.

So how to use this software to transfer your files, data, and even programs to a new computer? Follow the guide below for help:

Step 1. Open Qiling Disk Master on both of your computers. Choose "File sync" to go to the next step.

Step 2. Connect two PCs via the network by entering the password or verification code of the target PC. Besides, make sure you have chosen the right transfer direction and click "Connect" to continue.

Step 3. Then, choose "Files" to select files to transfer. Select the specific files as you want. What's more, you can click the Edit icon to customize the storage path for transferred data.

Step 4. Now, click "Transfer" to begin to transfer files from PC to PC. The size of the file determines the transfer time. Wait patiently.

Aside from file transferring between Windows computers, Qiling Disk Master also allows you to back up files, move installed programs from C drive to another drive, and even find product keys of installed programs. 

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Bonus Tip: What To Do When Nearby Sharing Is Not Working in Windows 11

Mostly, when the Nearby sharing is not working in Windows 11, it could be the listed reasons that cause this issue:

• The computer is a desktop computer or doesn't support a Bluetooth connection.
• The computer is a desktop computer or doesn't support a WiFi connection.
• The target file is too big for transferring via Nearby sharing.
• Bluetooth or WiFi connection is weak, or inconsistent.

So what to do in this case? Here is your guide:

Step 1. Check and confirm if your computers support Bluetooth or WiFi connection.

Step 2. If yes, reconnect two computers to the WiFi or Bluetooth.

And then retry sharing files via Nearby Sharing again. If Nearby Sharing is still not working, follow this guide for help:

If not, move to the next step.

Step 3. If the computer doesn't support nearby sharing or you can't fix nearby sharing error, turn to Qiling file transfer software for help. 

Qiling Disk Master can bypass the limits of Nearby Sharing in old Windows operating systems, and successfully transfer as many files as you want in a few simple clicks.

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

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