Summary

Windows 10 & 11 PCs have the capability to send files, photos, and more, to nearby devices over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

This “Nearby Sharing” or “Near Share” feature works similarly to Apple’s AirDrop feature and has been available since the April 2018 update in Windows 10.

Seamlessly share your files & more with other computers

This is not a new feature by any means, but certainly one of many features that may be overlooked.

This feature allows users to quickly share documents, photos, and more, with other Windows devices nearby, over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Minimum requirements for Nearby Sharing:

• Both PCs must be running either Windows 10 or Windows 11.

• Bluetooth 4.0 (or later) with Low Energy (LE) support in both PCs.

• Both computers should be accessible via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and need to have Nearby Sharing enabled.

• The sender and recipient need to be in close proximity.

How do I enable this?

In Windows 10

1. Open Settings using the Windows keyboard shortcut ‘Windows key + I’.

2. Then, click on ‘System‘ from the main menu.

3. Select Shared experiences from the left pane.

4. Enable Nearby sharing.

In Windows 11

1. Open Settings using the Windows keyboard shortcut ‘Windows key + I’.

2. Then, click on ‘System‘ from the left sidebar

3. Select ‘Nearby sharing‘ on the right pane.

4. Enable Nearby sharing.

How do I share via Nearby Sharing?

Once you have enabled Nearby sharing you can share multiple files, photos, etc. between your device and other enabled devices.

1. To begin the transfer, open File Explorer.

2. Then right click the object of your choice & select share.

**This will show the available devices you can share with.**

3. Select the device you want to share with.

4. The recipient will have a short period of time to accept (1 minute) before the request times out.

Additional Information

For a higher file transfer speed, ensure that the transfer is happening via Wi-Fi rather than Bluetooth.

To do this, ensure that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and set the connection profile to ‘Private’ in both cases.

You can do this by navigating to Settings > Network and Internet > Properties > Private.

Further Information

If you have any questions about this or need assistance, then please contact the GCC Group Support Team on 0345 260 1151 or servicedesk@gccgroup.co.uk

Microsoft 365

In our personal and business lives, we’re becoming more connected than ever. Microsoft 365 is the world-class cloud-based platform which helps you to achieve your goals from anywhere.

Microsoft 365 is a suite of apps bringing together all the greatest Office applications in one cloud-based platform, enabling your people to connect, collaborate and get things done from anywhere.

Applications that help you stay connected and get things done include:

• Word
  Microsoft’s iconic word processing program allows you to create and share documents, now with intelligent document support.

• Excel
  Simplify complex data with the world’s most-used spreadsheet program.

• PowerPoint
  Create and share outstanding presentations.

• Teams
  Bring everyone together with secure video & call conferencing, instant messaging, and collaboration.

• Outlook
  Manage all your emails in one place.

• One Drive
  Save files securely and access them at any time, from anywhere.

• SharePoint
  Create team sites to share information, files, and resources.

Plus, other useful applications such as Exchange, Intune and Azure Information Protection.

Speak to us today to find out how which Microsoft applications could be deployed in your business.