| Quick Share | |
| Developer: | Samsung Electronics Google LLC |
| Replaces: | Nearby Share |
| Genre: | Utility software |
| License: | Proprietary |
| Website: | Windows app |
Quick Share is a wireless peer-to-peer data transfer utility for Android, Windows and ChromeOS. Quick Share utilizes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct to send files to nearby devices, but it could also send to any other device anywhere using the Samsung Cloud, uploading the files to a web address. Originally developed by Samsung Electronics for its own devices, Google subsequently collaborated with Samsung and merged its own Nearby Share into Quick Share in 2024,[1] distributing Quick Share to non-Galaxy Android devices through Google Play Services.
Quick Share debuted along with the Samsung Galaxy S20 and One UI 2.1, with rollout to other Galaxy smartphones and tablets later.[1] Samsung claims the service was created to streamline the process of sending content,[2] superseding a previous service named Link Sharing. Quick Share was launched for Windows-based Samsung Galaxy Book notebooks in 2021, and since July 2023 is no longer limited to Samsung Windows PCs.[3]
In January 2024, it was announced that Google's Nearby Share would be merging with Samsung's Quick Share, adopting the name of the latter.[2]
Users can send files to up to 8 nearby devices at a time, so long as they have the feature enabled[2] and their screens are on.[4] Quick Share can be toggled in the quick panel settings and the user can choose to receive content from anyone nearby, contacts only, your devices, or no one. Content transfer is made possible by choosing Quick Share, after which the sender chooses which nearby device(s) to send to.[2]
Quick Share is also capable of uploading files to Samsung Cloud and sharing via URL.[5] The data uploaded to the Samsung Cloud can be downloaded by the user either by clicking the specified link or scanning the provided QR code.[6]
Samsung Cloud automatically deletes the uploaded files after a period of two days, and has a daily upload limit of 5 gigabytes.
The Quick Share app on Windows enables other Quick Share-enabled devices to instantly share files with Windows devices.[2]
Quick Share is available on Android 6 and later,[7] ChromeOS 91 and later,[8] 64-bit versions of Windows 10 and later, and on Linux as an unofficial implementation rquickshare.[9] On Windows, Quick Share must be installed manually, as opposed to its implementation on Android and ChromeOS, where it is a part of the operating system and does not need to be installed separately. Windows devices must have both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to be able to run Quick Share. Windows on ARM devices are not supported.[10]
There are two Windows apps available: one for the Microsoft Store developed by Samsung, and one available via sideloading developed by Google.
These apps are predicted to fully merge capabilities in Q3 of 2024. In the meantime, Google's version of the service is incapable of running on ARM devices, while Samsung's is. Also, Samsung's version can only run using Intel Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers.[11]
In addition, Microsoft also offers a way to Nearby Share (not Quick Share) to Android devices natively through Windows' Phone Link functionality.[12]
Private Share was a derivative data transfer service which used blockchain encryption, designed for important personal or financial information.[2] Sharing files is possible via the phone number associated with a phone's SIM card, or a user-chosen private number. A private number is exclusive to the Private Share app, and commences with # and includes 10 digits, like #0123456789. The sender is able to set an expiry date for the files, which get automatically deleted from the recipient's devices.[13] There is a 200 megabyte upload limit for senders. Like Quick Share, Private Share is also preloaded on Samsung Galaxy devices.[14] Since December 2023, Private Share has been integrated with Quick Share, and is no longer a separate service.[15]