Quick Share

Quick Share

Logo used since January 2024
Quick Share running on Android after sending a file to a PC
Developer(s)	Samsung Electronics Google LLC
Initial release	February 24, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-02-24)
Operating system	Android 6.0 and later Chrome 91 and later Windows 10 (version 2004) and later
Predecessor	Nearby Share
Type	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.

History

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]

Usage

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^[2] the uploaded files after a period of two days, and has a daily upload limit of 5 gigabytes.^[5]

The Quick Share app on Windows enables other Quick Share-enabled devices to instantly share files with Windows devices.^[2]

Availability

Quick Share is available on Android 6 and later,^[7] ChromeOS 91 and later,^[8] and 64-bit versions of Windows 10 and later (either ARM or x86).^[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.^[10]

Windows Apps

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. Currently, Samsung's version can only run using Intel Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers.^[11]

In addition, Microsoft also offers a way to Nearby Share (unrelated to Quick Share, nor Google's Nearby Share) to Android devices natively through Windows' Phone Link functionality.^[12]

Private Share

Private Share icon

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]

See also

• AirDrop, a similar feature by Apple

References

1. "What we announced at CES 2024". Google. 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
2. "Simpler and Faster File Share With Galaxy's Quick Share". news.samsung.com. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
3. "Samsung brings its Windows Quick Share file transfer app to non-Samsung laptops". Neowin. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
4. "Samsung's killer software makes Galaxy PCs, phones, and tablets better together". PCWorld. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
5. Kostadinov, Preslav Mladenov & Peter (2022-11-02). "Samsung One UI 5 review: The perfect software update". PhoneArena. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
6. Khan, MQ (2024-02-23). "What is Samsung Quick Share? How to Use Samsung Quick Share". pakmobnews.com.
7. Bohn, Dieter (2020-08-04). "Android's 'Nearby Share' file sharing feature is finally launching". The Verge. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
8. "Google starts rolling out Chrome OS 91 with Nearby Share, app notification badges and more". India Today. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
9. "Github repository of rquickshare". GitHub. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
10. "The New Nearby Share Beta App for Windows". Android. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
11. "Quick Share - Official app in the Microsoft Store". Microsoft Apps. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
12. Romero, Andrew (2024-08-15). "Windows adds fluid new Nearby Share option for linked Android phones". 9to5Google. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
13. SamMobile; Farooqui, Adnan (2020-11-16). "Private Share is Samsung's new blockchain-based secure file transfer app". SamMobile. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
14. Shaw, Rowknee (2023-03-10). "Samsung updates Private share app: Split screen view available for Tablets". Retrieved 2023-10-04.
15. Shaw, Rowknee (2023-12-06). "Samsung Private Share gets integrated with Quick Share". Retrieved 2024-02-20.