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Quick Share moves photos, videos, documents, folders and other files directly between an Android device and a Windows PC. On Android, use the built-in Share menu; on Windows, install the Quick Share app, make the PC visible, choose the files and approve the request on the receiving device. Both directions work without emailing files to yourself or plugging in a cable.
For reliable discovery, keep Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) enabled, put both devices on the same network and keep them within 5 metres (16 feet). The sections below cover setup, each transfer direction, privacy controls, file locations and fixes for devices that cannot find one another.
What you need before using Quick Share
Quick Share is included on Android 6.0 and later. Windows does not have the feature built in: you need the Quick Share for Windows application. Google’s Windows requirements specify a 64-bit installation of Windows 10 or later. ARM-based PCs require Windows 11 or later. If the computer is a Samsung PC, use Samsung’s Quick Share app from the Microsoft Store rather than Google’s Windows package.
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| Requirement | What is required | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Android | Android 6.0 or later | Some Android instructions apply only to Android 13 and later; Galaxy menus can differ. |
| Windows PC | 64-bit Windows 10 or later | ARM devices need Windows 11 or later. |
| Samsung PC | Samsung’s Quick Share app from the Microsoft Store | Use Samsung’s edition instead of Google’s Windows app. |
| Wireless and network services | Bluetooth plus Wi-Fi or Ethernet on both devices | Both devices should be on the same network. |
| Distance | Normally within 5 metres (16 feet) | For troubleshooting, move them within 30 centimetres (1 foot). |
| Windows account | Sign in to the Google Windows app | Google says not to run the app as administrator. |
| Availability | Supported country or region | The Google Windows app is unavailable in Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria. |
A managed office or school network may prevent devices from communicating with each other even when they have internet access. That limitation is separate from your internet speed and can make a correctly installed Quick Share setup appear offline.
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How Quick Share connects the two devices
Quick Share uses Bluetooth to discover nearby devices and Wi-Fi or Ethernet to carry the file. Discovery is controlled by each device’s visibility setting. The sender chooses a nearby recipient, and the recipient normally sees an approval prompt before the transfer starts. Files shared between devices are encrypted according to Google’s documentation.
Android and Windows expose different controls. Android offers Your devices, Contacts and Everyone for 10 minutes. The temporary Everyone setting automatically returns to the previous choice after 10 minutes. Android also has a Receive mode that makes the phone visible to nearby users while that screen remains open. In the Windows app, Device visibility offers Everyone, Contacts, Your devices and No one.
When both devices belong to you and are signed in to the same Google Account, the receiving device can accept automatically. Otherwise, expect to confirm the incoming request on the recipient.
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Set up Quick Share on Windows
Install the correct application
- Download the Quick Share for Windows installer from Google’s Android website.
- If the computer is a Samsung PC, open the Microsoft Store and install Samsung’s Quick Share app instead.
- Complete the installer and launch Quick Share. Do not choose “Run as administrator”; Google’s guidance says the app should be used normally.
Sign in and name the PC
- Sign in when Quick Share opens. Signing in unlocks all available options.
- Choose the device name that other people will see when they search for the PC.
- Set who can share with the computer. A name that identifies the room, desk or person is easier to recognize than the default name when several PCs are nearby.
Set Windows visibility
- In Quick Share, open Settings.
- Select Device visibility.
- Choose Your devices for transfers among your own signed-in devices, Contacts for people in your contacts, Everyone when you intentionally need broader discovery, or No one to stop discovery.
Google recommends signing in and using Contacts or Your devices for a more private default. You can temporarily broaden visibility when needed and restore the narrower setting afterward.
Send files from Android to a Windows PC
1. Open the Android sharing controls
- Open the photo, video, document or other file on the Android device.
- Tap Share. In some apps you may need to select one or more items before the Share button appears.
- Choose Quick Share from the share sheet. On some phones it may appear as a row of nearby devices or under another sharing option.
2. Select the PC
Wait for the Windows computer’s device name to appear, then tap it. If it is missing, leave the Quick Share Windows app open, check its Device visibility setting and verify that the PC is nearby with Bluetooth enabled.
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3. Approve and wait for completion
The Windows recipient normally receives a prompt. Accept it and leave both devices awake until the progress indicator finishes. Large videos or batches of photos take longer than a single document because the transfer has to complete before the files are usable on the PC.
Where Android-to-Windows files go
Quick Share saves incoming files on Windows in DownloadsQuick Share. Open File Explorer and browse to your user profile’s Downloads folder, then open the Quick Share subfolder. You can move the files elsewhere after the transfer finishes.
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1. Add the files in Quick Share
- Open the Quick Share app on Windows.
- Select files or folders in the app, or drag them into its window.
- If drag-and-drop does not work, right-click a file in File Explorer and select Send with Quick Share. You can repeat the command for additional items.
2. Choose the Android device
Select the phone or tablet from the nearby-device list and choose Share. If Quick Share displays a PIN, compare it with the PIN shown on the Android recipient before proceeding. A mismatch means you should cancel rather than approve the request.
3. Accept on Android
The Android device displays an incoming request. Tap the approval control and keep the phone close to the PC until the transfer completes. For your own devices signed in to the same Google Account, approval may happen automatically.
Where Android receives the files
The exact destination can vary by file type and the receiving app. Check the notification or open the file manager and look in the device’s Downloads area after the transfer. Photos and videos may also appear in the gallery once the media index updates.
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Android-to-Windows versus Windows-to-Android
| Detail | Android to Windows | Windows to Android |
|---|---|---|
| Where you start | Open the file on Android and tap Share, then Quick Share. | Open Quick Share on Windows and select or drag files. |
| Recipient selection | Tap the Windows PC in Android’s nearby-device list. | Select the Android device in the Windows app. |
| Approval | The Windows recipient normally accepts the prompt. | The Android recipient normally accepts the request; a PIN may need confirmation. |
| Windows destination | Incoming files are saved in DownloadsQuick Share. |
Not applicable. |
| Common discovery control | The receiving device must be visible, Bluetooth must be on, and both devices must have Wi-Fi or Ethernet access on the same network. | |
Control who can discover and accept transfers
Use the narrowest practical visibility
- Your devices: best for moving files between your own phone, tablet and PC signed in to the same Google Account.
- Contacts: useful when sharing with people you know without making the device broadly visible.
- Everyone: appropriate for a deliberate transfer with someone who is not in your contacts; on Android, the documented Everyone option lasts 10 minutes.
- No one: prevents incoming discovery on Windows until you change the setting.
Visibility does not silently hand files to strangers. Incoming requests generally require the recipient to accept, and a PIN can provide an additional identity check in the Windows-to-Android flow. Still, change Everyone back when the transfer is over so the device is not needlessly discoverable.
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When another person needs to send you a file, open Quick Share’s Receive mode on Android. The phone remains visible to nearby users while that screen is open. Close the mode after the transfer if you do not want to remain discoverable.
Troubleshoot missing devices and failed transfers
Work through these checks in order. The first four resolve most discovery failures without reinstalling anything.
1. Confirm Quick Share and visibility are enabled
- Open Quick Share on Windows and verify that Device visibility is not set to No one.
- On Android, open Quick Share or the Share menu and choose Your devices, Contacts or the temporary Everyone option as appropriate.
- Keep the receiving app or Receive mode open while testing discovery.
2. Check Bluetooth, network and distance
- Turn on Bluetooth on both devices.
- Make sure both devices have Wi-Fi or Ethernet available and are connected to the same network.
- Move them within 5 metres (16 feet), then within 30 centimetres (1 foot) while troubleshooting.
Internet access alone is not enough. Quick Share needs local device-to-device communication, which some guest, corporate and school networks block.
3. Bypass a network that blocks local sharing
If the devices still cannot see each other on managed Wi-Fi, Google suggests a phone-hotspot workaround: turn off Wi-Fi on the phone, enable the phone’s hotspot, connect the Windows PC to that hotspot, and try Quick Share again. This places both devices on the phone’s local network rather than the restricted office or guest network. Mobile-data charges or hotspot limits may apply, so disable the hotspot when finished.
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4. Release the receiver and restart the connection
- Check that another Quick Share transfer is not already using the receiving device.
- Close and reopen Quick Share on Windows.
- Toggle airplane mode on the Android phone, then turn Bluetooth and Wi-Fi back on.
- Restart both devices if the nearby-device list remains empty.
5. Fix missing Windows notifications
If the PC is visible but no approval prompt appears, turn off Focus Assist or Do Not Disturb in Windows and enable Quick Share notifications in Windows notification settings. A hidden notification can make the sender appear to be waiting indefinitely.
6. Check Bluetooth Low Energy advertising support
Google notes that some Windows PCs do not support Bluetooth Low Energy extended advertising. On certain networks, other devices may then be unable to find or share with that PC even when ordinary Bluetooth appears enabled. If the PC lacks that capability, try the hotspot workaround and the restart steps; replacing hardware is not identified as a general requirement for Quick Share.
7. Separate discovery problems from transfer-speed problems
If the device appears but a transfer is slow, first move the devices close together and stop other transfers using the receiver. A congested wireless network, a large video or many selected files can extend the progress time. Do not close the app or lock the receiving device until the completion message appears.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Privacy and security considerations
Quick Share’s practical privacy protection is the combination of visibility controls and recipient approval. Keep Windows on Your devices or Contacts, use Android’s temporary Everyone setting only for a specific handoff, and verify a displayed PIN when Windows asks you to do so. Google states that shared files are encrypted, but that statement is product documentation rather than an independent security assessment.
Automatic acceptance is convenient only when the devices are yours and signed in to the same Google Account. On a shared household or workplace computer, choose a narrower visibility setting and require manual approval so another nearby person cannot accidentally become the recipient.
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Common questions
Can Quick Share send folders?
Yes. In the Windows app you can select folders or drag them into the Quick Share window. On Android, whether a folder can be selected depends on the file manager or app supplying the Share command; if the app offers only individual files, select the contents or use a file manager that supports folder sharing.
Do both devices need to be connected to the internet?
They need Bluetooth and Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and Google’s setup guidance expects the devices to be on the same network. They do not need to email files through a cloud account. A phone hotspot can provide the local network when office Wi-Fi blocks device-to-device traffic.
Why does my Android phone see the PC but the PC cannot see the phone?
Discovery is directional only in the interface, so check the receiving device’s visibility first. On Android, open Quick Share or Receive mode; on Windows, open Device visibility and ensure it is not No one. Then confirm Bluetooth, same-network connectivity and distance.
Can I use Quick Share with a Samsung phone?
Yes. Galaxy settings and menu labels can differ, but Android 6.0 or later is the documented minimum. The separate Samsung app requirement applies to Samsung PCs, not to every Samsung phone.
Is a cable, USB drive or special adapter required?
No dedicated cable, storage device, Wi-Fi adapter or Bluetooth adapter is identified as a general requirement. The supported Android version, Windows app, Bluetooth and network conditions are the relevant prerequisites.
Quick Recap
Quick checklist before you start
- Android is version 6.0 or later.
- The PC runs 64-bit Windows 10 or later, or Windows 11 or later on ARM.
- Samsung PC users installed Samsung’s Quick Share app from the Microsoft Store.
- Bluetooth is on for both devices.
- Wi-Fi or Ethernet is available and both devices are on the same network.
- The devices are within 5 metres, or within 30 centimetres while diagnosing a problem.
- The receiving device’s visibility setting allows discovery.
- The Windows app is signed in and is not running as administrator.
- Windows notifications are enabled and Focus Assist or Do Not Disturb is not hiding approval prompts.
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