Is Nearby Share the same as Bluetooth?

Nearby Share and Bluetooth are similar in some ways but they are not the same thing. Bluetooth is a wireless technology that enables devices to communicate with each other over short distances. It uses low-energy radio waves to transmit data between devices, such as smartphones, headphones, and speakers.

Nearby Share, on the other hand, is a new file-sharing feature that was introduced by Google in Android 11. It allows you to share files, links, and other content directly between devices using Wi-Fi, WebRTC, or Bluetooth. It works on both Android and Windows devices and allows you to share files even when you are offline.

One of the advantages of Nearby Share over Bluetooth is that it supports faster data transfer speeds and longer range. It also allows you to share larger files and links, which is not always possible with Bluetooth. Additionally, Nearby Share has a feature that allows you to turn off mobile data when sharing files to save battery.

Nearby Share is also more flexible than Bluetooth because it works with different types of devices, not just smartphones and tablets. You can use it to share files between laptops, desktop computers, and other devices that support the feature.

To use Nearby Share, you need to turn it on in your device's Settings. You can also choose who can share content with you by adjusting your settings. If you are using Nearby Share on a Windows PC, you will need to have the latest version of Windows installed and make sure that your device supports the feature.