Share files from your Galaxy phone

Last Update date : Apr 27. 2021
Share files from your Galaxy phone

Tired of sending an endless chain of emails or texts to your friends, just so they can see your photos and other files? What if you could easily share files directly to other compatible phones – no email or messages required? You are in luck because you can do this with the new Nearby Share feature on the your Galaxy phone. However, there is also Quick Share which is similar and can be used with other Galaxy phone models.

Note: Information provided applies to devices sold in Canada. Available screens and settings may vary for smartphones sold in other countries. To share files to your Windows 10 PC, you can use the Link To Windows feature or the old-fashioned way using a USB cable.

Note: The Quick Share feature does not support sharing videos with TVs or with SmartThings supported devices, however you can share photos. To share videos to your TV, you can use the Smart View feature.

Trying to share those awesome vacation photos with your friends? Use Quick Share to quickly and easily distribute your photography. Keep in mind that you cannot use Quick Share if you are using a mobile hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, or Smart View.

First, make sure the Quick Share feature is turned on for both phones. To do this, open the Quick settings panel by swiping down from the top of the screen, and then tap the Quick Share icon. It will be blue when it is activated.

Send and receive files with Quick Share 1

Note: If the Quick Share icon does not appear in your Quick settings panel, you may need to add the button.

Navigate to a file you would like to share. Tap the Share icon, and then tap Quick Share.

Send and receive files with Quick Share 2

Your phone will begin looking for another device. If you are using a Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G or Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, point it at the receiving device.

If you are having trouble connecting to another device, swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick settings, and then touch and hold the Quick Share icon. Depending on your device, tap the switch next to "Show my position to others" to let nearby devices see your device when they are using Quick Share, or tap Everyone to expand visibility to other devices. These options will only show if Quick Share is enabled, and on select models.

When the other device appears, tap its name to send the file. The other phone may require permission before it can receive the file. On your phone, "Sent" will appear under the other device's name when the transfer is complete.

Note: If your phone does not search for the target device or another device never appears when using Quick Share, you can try checking for software updates.

If someone is sending something to you using Quick Share, you will receive a notification on your phone. Tap the notification to view the file. Remember, you need to have Quick Share turned on in order to receive files through this feature.

Note: Before using Nearby Share, make sure to enable your Location, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. To transfer files to a non-Samsung phone, the device needs to have Nearby Share or be compatible with Ultra-wideband technology as found on the Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G and other Galaxy phones. If an LED View Cover is attached to the device, be sure to open the cover before sharing files. Do not fold the cover back.

Want to impress someone with your amazing photography? You can impress them even more by sending them your pictures wirelessly via Nearby Share. Before starting, make sure that you are signed into your Google account.

Then, navigate to a file you would like to share. Tap the Share icon, and then tap Nearby Share. Tap Turn on, if needed.

Send and receive files with Nearby Share

Your phone will begin looking for another device. Hold your phone and the other device close together; make sure both devices are unlocked. The other device will appear under “Looking for nearby devices.” Tap Send when it appears. You will get a message that says “Sending.” When the transfer is successful, “Sent” will appear on your phone.

If someone is sending something to you using Nearby Share, you will receive a notification on your phone. Tap the notification; if prompted, tap Turn on. From there, tap Accept to receive the file from the other device.

Thank you for your feedback!

The coding for Contact US > Call > View more function. And this text is only displayed on the editor page, please do not delet this component from Support Home. Thank you