Android's AirDrop Rival Nearby Share Is Here – What To Know

Google is finally rolling out its answer to Apple's AirDrop. The new feature, called Nearby Share, is designed to do what the name implies – allow users to share files and documents with other Android device users nearby.

In a blog post, Google announced that Nearby Share is now available for devices running on Android 6.0 and newer. And while the feature arrived about nine years after Apple launched AirDrop for iPhones and other iDevices, The Verge noted, it's worth celebrating due to the fact that it's the Mountain View tech giant's response to the Android community's continuous demands for a secure file sharing platform.

As per Google, Nearby Share will let users share files easily and without any worry regarding their privacy. It offers some privacy and security features that fans will like.

Here's a quick rundown of some of Nearby Share's features:

Online and Offline sharing

Nearby Share lets users share a variety of files using different protocols – Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, WebRTC or peer-to-peer WiFi – so that users can send and receive files anytime and anywhere. Users also won't have to worry about going online to share files.

Anonymous file sharing

Nearby Share lets users send and receive files anonymously. It won't require users to exchange their contact information with others, which means they won't need to worry about their personal details being passed on from one person to another. This especially applies to people who are sharing files with someone who's not necessarily a family member or a friend.

The feature also allows users to select who will be able to see their device, effectively filtering out the people from whom they don't want to receive files or documents. Users can set Device Visibility to “All Contacts,” “Some Contacts” and “Hidden” to keep their device safe.

Works with Chromebooks

Google said Nearby Share will allow Android device users to share files and documents with Chromebooks in the near future. The feature isn't available at the moment, but Google said it will arrive “in the coming months.” This feature will make Android devices and Chromebooks work together better.

Google has published a comprehensive guide on how to enable and use Nearby Share. Those with compatible Android devices can access the guide here.