The AirDrop feature on Apple devices makes file transfers seamless, quick, and effortless. Until recently, Android devices did not have any feature that could offer similar functionality, but that changed with Quick Share, which now comes preinstalled on Android phones and can be installed on Windows computers, allowing users to transfer files between these devices. To start using it, you will have to first have to set up Quick Share.

Step 1: Install Quick Share on Windows

Two different versions of Quick Share are available for Windows computers.

  1. The version available on the Microsoft Store only works with Samsung Galaxy devices. So, if you have a Samsung phone, you can download and install Quick Share from the Microsoft Store.
  1. If you use a smartphone from a brand other than Samsung, you will need to download Quick Share from Google. You may see a warning that the download is unsafe and has been blocked in your browser, in which case, you will have to opt to download the unverified file.
  1. After downloading Quick Share, install it on your Windows PC.
  1. Once Quick Share is installed, you can follow the same process to set it up, irrespective of whether you are using the Samsung version or the Google version. You can either log in to your Google account or use it without signing in, though the former offers some advantages like customization and privacy options.
  1. On the next page, you will see your device as it will appear to others who can send or receive files to and from it. Scroll down and click on the 'Receiving' option to select who can send files to your computer.
  1. You can select the sender from here. The 'Receive From Everyone' option is recommended to make sure you don't run into any issues while transferring files. Alternatively, you can choose between 'Contacts', 'Your devices', and 'No one'.
Note: While you can select 'Everyone' when you want to transfer files between your devices, make sure to change that and set it to Contacts, Your devices, or No one when not using the feature to ensure privacy.

Step 2: Set up Quick Share on your Android device

Depending on your device, you may have to follow different steps to enable Quick Share on your device.

  1. On devices from brands like Motorola and Redmi, you can swipe down from the top of the screen and tap on the 'Quick Share' toggle in the Quick Settings menu. For devices like those from POCO, the option is present in the Settings menu.
  2. When you turn on Quick Share, it will ask you to enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your device. You can also choose whether to share your contacts with Google, which is required if you want to receive files from other people and not just your own devices. Tap on the 'I agree' button to proceed.
  1. Now, you can choose who can share files with you. Tap on 'Everyone' to allow anyone to send files to your device. If you want, you can uncheck the 'Only for 10 minutes' checkbox.

Using Quick Share to transfer files

Now that Quick Share is enabled on both your Windows PC and Android phone, you can use it to transfer files between them.

  1. To send a file from your Windows computer to your Android device, first make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on both devices. Then you can either drag and drop your file in the space provided in the Quick Share application window, or click on 'Select' and then choose the files you want to send.
  1. Once you select your file, Quick Share will show you a list of devices close by on which Quick Share is enabled. Click on your Android phone when it appears to select it.
  1. A notification asking you to pair your devices will then appear on your Android device. Tap on 'Pair' and then on the 'Accept' button to receive the file from your PC. If you've already paired your devices, you will get a file received notification on your Android phone.
  1. To send files from your Android phone to your Windows computer, select the file and choose Quick Share in the 'Send' option.
  2. Then tap on your Windows PC to select it in the Share menu.
  1. You will see a notification that the file has been received on your Windows PC.

Things to know

  • You should be running at least a 64-bit version of Windows 10 or later and Android 6 or later to transfer files using Quick Share. Both devices should be at least within five meters of each other.
  • You can transfer both files and folders using Quick Share between Windows computers and Android phones. The application lets you transfer several types of files including images, documents, audio, videos, and more, and all the files you transfer using Quick Share will feature end-to-end encryption. Just keep in mind that transferring larger files wirelessly can take a lot of time.
  • The program also lets you customize things like the names of your devices, the location where files will be received, and whether you want the application to start automatically on Windows when your PC boots up.
  • Quick Share is a step in the right direction but not a perfect solution since it does not work as well as Apple's AirDrop. Windows and Android devices often fail to detect each other, especially if you are not signed in to your Google account. This can happen even if you've paired them earlier and Bluetooth is enabled on both devices.