Google Upgrades Nearby Share Feature With Group Transfers

Last Updated on March 11, 2022 by Anu Joy

Google has recently pushed a host of new updates for various apps including Messages, Gboard, Photos, and other Google apps. As part of several features being rolled out widely to all Android devices, the software giant has upgraded the Nearby Share to finally support group transfers. The feature works in line with Apple’s AirDrop for faster file transfers when offline. Until the recent update, it was impossible to send a file to multiple recipients at once.

Nearby Share Now Supports Group Transfers: Here’s How It Works

Google has updated the Nearby Share feature to include group transfers. You will now be able to share a file with more than one recipient or multiple target devices. The beta build started rolling out in March last year and was made available to some users around September.

The new feature was not accessible widely until Google shared in a blog post on March 10, “a new update makes it easy to share with multiple people rather than just one person at a time. Simply tap to add more recipients during a transfer. It’s rolling out now on all Android 6+ devices”.

Also Read: Gboard, Google Messages, Google Photos, And Other Google Apps Get Lots Of New Features: Complete List

Group transfers bring the ability to share a file with multiple recipients in proximity and works just like regular Nearby Share transfers. To share a file with multiple people, open the file and head to Nearby Share from the share menu of the app, you’ll see a list of available devices. Tap on the devices you wish to send the selected file to, and then tap send. By default, your device availability will appear only for contacts who have added you in their contacts. You can change this by tapping the settings button.

While the new upgrade lets you share photos, videos, links and contacts with multiple recipients, there is no clarity on the maximum number of recipients you can share your data with. Reportedly, in the beta testing phase, a maximum of four other devices were allowed.

Have you received the new update for Nearby Share on your device? Do let us know in the comments section below.