There are several ways on Android by which you can share apps with other smartphones. The Nearby Share feature of Android makes app sharing possible without a dedicated app. It also allows you to share all types of files including PDF, image, and other application-related files with nearby users too.
How to share apps using Nearby Share?
Follow these steps to send or receive apps to a nearby smartphone.
- Open the Play Store app.
- Go to the ‘My Apps & Games’ section.
- Open the ‘Share’ menu. You’ll be asked if you want to send or receive apps.
- If you want to send apps, you are directed to a screen that lists all your installed apps.
- Choose the apps you want to share and tap the green button located at the top right.
- Wait for your friend nearby to accept the incoming applications.
- If you chose to receive, you would get a similar interface. However, in this case, you need to accept the incoming apps.

The feature of Nearby Share is a convenient way to send and receive Android apps without requiring a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Sharing to a nearby device is a benefit to those having capped data plans or slow speeds. The Nearby Share feature also allows you to share apps to multiple contacts at once.
Nearby Share also works seamlessly with Chromebooks so you can effortlessly share files between an Android phone and a Chromebook or vice versa. Chromebooks already have the ‘Instant Tethering’ that works well with Android. However, Nearby Share would do that even faster and more conveniently.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date with the Gadget Bridge Android App.