- To enable “Nearby Sharing” on Windows 11, open Settings > System > Nearby Sharing and select “Everyone nearby” to enable Nearby sharing.
- Alternatively, open Action Center (Windows key + A) and click the “Nearby Sharing” button.
On Windows 11, you can enable “Nearby Sharing” in multiple ways, and in this guide, you will learn how. Nearby Sharing is a new feature to share any type of files and web links wirelessly to other devices in the network using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.
The feature is similar to Apple’s AirDrop and comes in handy on those times when you need to quickly send a file or a link to another user nearby. It’s faster and easier than transferring content as email attachments, through cloud storage services, or setting up file sharing.
This guide will teach you the steps to enable Nearby Sharing on Windows 11.
Enable Nearby Sharing on Windows 11
To enable Nearby Sharing on Windows 11, use these steps:
-
Open Settings on Windows 11.
-
Click on System.
-
Click on Nearby sharing.
-
Select the “Everyone nearby” option.
Quick note: You can choose the “My devices only” option to enable sharing only for devices where you’re signed in with the same Microsoft account.
Once you complete the steps, when you click the “Share” button on Microsoft Edge, File Explorer, Photos, and other apps, the interface will show the available devices to share files.
It’s important to note that the “Share” interface should also include the option to enable the feature.
When sharing a file or link, the recipient will have to accept the notification to complete the transfer. All the files will download into the “Downloads” folders. On the “Nearby sharing” page, you can use the “Save files I receive to” option to change the default transfer location.
Enable Nearby Sharing from Quick Settings
To turn Nearby Sharing on from Action Center, use these steps:
-
Open Action Center (Windows key + A).
-
In the “Quick actions” section, click the “Nearby Sharing” button.
After you complete the steps, you can start sharing and receiving content from other devices on Windows 11.
If the option isn’t available, you can edit the Quick Settings to add the action button to the interface.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.