How to use Nearby sharing in Windows 11 system

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On Windows 11, follow these steps to use nearby sharing to easily transfer files and links to other devices.

“Nearby Sharing” is a feature in Windows 11 that lets you send documents, photos, and other data, as well as links, to other compatible devices that are close to each other via Bluetooth and wireless.

How to use Nearby sharing in Windows 11 system

The functionality is not new, it has been available since Windows 10 (version 1803), but the methods for setting it up in Windows 11 are slightly different due to the new interface.
However, it works the same way as before to transfer almost any type of file across the room or to another user without the need for network file sharing, cloud services, email attachments, or a USB flash drive.

You’ll discover how to activate and use nearby sharing between compatible machines in this Windows u11 article.

How to activate Nearby sharing (Nearby sharing) in Windows 11 system

Follow the steps to enable Windows 11 Nearby Sharing feature.

  1. Open the Settings menu.
  2. Select System.
  3. On the right side, go to the Nearby sharing page.
  4. To enable nearby sharing, select the following option:
    – Off – The feature is turned off.
    – My devices (My devices only) – Only enable file sharing between devices that are connected to the same Microsoft account.
    – Everyone nearby – Allows you to share files with anyone nearby.

You can also enable this feature by opening Quick Settings ( Windows + A ) and clicking the Nearby Sharing option ( Everyone Nearby ).
If the option is not already there, click the Edit button and add it.
There is also an option to enable the feature in the Share interface.

How to change the download folder for Nearby sharing in Windows 11

Follow these steps to customize a nearby sharing download location.

  1. Open the Settings menu.
  2. Select System.
  3. On the right side, go to the Nearby sharing page.
  4. Change the Save files I receive to set by clicking the Change button.
  5. Select the location where the files will be saved.
  6. Select a folder by clicking the Select Folder button.
  7. The files you transfer to the target device will be downloaded to the designated folder when you complete the procedures.

How to transfer files via Nearby sharing (Nearby sharing) in Windows 11 system

The data transfer procedure is simple and works on Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices.

File sharing

Follow these instructions to share a file with Nearby Sharing in Windows 11.

  1. Open the File Explorer program.
  2. Navigate to the location of the file on your computer.
    You cannot select files from the OneDrive folder to share nearby.
    OneDrive sharing will be available instead if you do this.
  3. In the command bar, select the file and click the Share button.
  4. Select the device to transfer the file from the Nearby Sharing section.
  5. To complete the transfer, click Save and Open or Save on the notification on the destination device.

The new file will be downloaded to your Downloads folder if you haven’t changed the default upload destination. If you don’t see the notification, use Windows + N to open the Notification Center and look for a notification that the transfer is complete.

Sharing links

Follow these procedures to transfer a link to another device using Nearby Sharing.

  1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.
  2. To share with another device, go to the website.
  3. Right-click the page and select Share from the drop-down menu.
  4. Select Windows Share Options from the drop-down menu.
  5. Select the device to transfer the file from the Nearby Sharing section.
  6. To access the link in a web browser on the destination device, click the Open button on the notification.

The link will immediately open in Microsoft Edge on the target computer when you complete the instructions.

How to solve problems with Nearby sharing (Nearby sharing) in Windows 11 system

Although nearby sharing is easy to use, occasionally you may not be able to transfer material across your device, which will require debugging to resolve the issue.

Check the Bluetooth driver

Follow these procedures to see if the Bluetooth driver is installed correctly.

  1. Go to Start.
  2. To access the application, search for Device Manager and select the first result.
  3. The Bluetooth category needs to be expanded.
  4. Check if the Bluetooth driver is installed successfully.

The driver has a problem if you see a yellow icon.
The gadget is deactivated if you see the down arrow.
If this is the case, right-click the Bluetooth item and select Enable Device from the drop-down menu.
If Bluetooth is not installed or the driver is not installed, the computer may not have this function.

Activate the Bluetooth adapter

Follow these instructions to activate Bluetooth on Windows 11.

  1. Open the Settings menu.
  2. Select Bluetooth & Devices from the drop-down menu.
  3. Turn on the Bluetooth switch.

The radio adapter should work with sharing nearby after you complete the procedures.
If the function still does not work, the adapter driver may need to be updated.

Make sure your device is Bluetooth compatible

Bluetooth version 4.0 (or later) with Low Energy (LE) capability is required for nearby sharing on Windows 11.
As a result, you must ensure that the device meets the following criteria.

  1. Go to Start.
  2. To access the application, search for Device Manager and select the first result.
  3. The Bluetooth category needs to be expanded.
  4. Select Properties from the right-click menu for the radio adapter.
  5. Switch to the Details tab.
  6. Select the Bluetooth radio that supports the Low Energy Central Role option from the Property drop-down box.
  7. Make sure the value is True.

Regardless of whether the devices are unable to interact, bring them closer to see if they are within Bluetooth communication range.

Test your network connection

Nearby sharing works on Windows 11 and 10 over Bluetooth and local Wi-Fi.
Both devices must be connected to the same network and use the same type of network profile if you want to transfer data quickly.

Examine your relationship

Follow these steps to ensure that both devices can connect.

  1. Go to Start (destination device).
  2. To open the program, search for Command Prompt and select the first result.
  3. To specify TCP/IP settings, type the following command and press Enter :
    ipconfig
  4. Confirm the device’s network address in the IPv4 address column.
  5. Start a command line (source device).
  6. To verify network connectivity between both devices, type the following command and press Enter :
    ping 10.1.4.155

Change the IP address in the instructions to one that matches the destination device.

After completing these procedures on one computer, repeat them on the other and if both computers show a successful response, they will be able to connect.

Nearby sharing should work fine with the firewall on Windows 11.
However, if you have a third-party security solution, it is suggested to disable the firewall for the time being to transfer data between devices.

View your network profile

Both devices must be configured to the Private network profile if you want to use nearby sharing.
If this is not the case, the transfer may take a long time.

Follow these procedures to change the network profile type in Windows 11.

  1. Open the Settings menu.
  2. Select Network and Internet from the drop-down menu.
  3. Select Wi-Fi from the drop-down menu.
  4. Select Network Connection Properties from the menu.
  5. Select the Private option in the Network Profile Type column.

You may need to repeat the procedures on another computer once you have completed the steps.

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