For years, quickly transferring a large video file or a folder of documents between two Windows PCs in the same room required finding a USB flash drive or uploading the files to a cloud service like OneDrive, only to immediately download them again on the second machine.
Apple solved this elegantly with AirDrop. Microsoft’s equivalent is called Nearby Sharing. Built directly into Windows 11, Nearby Sharing uses a combination of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to establish a direct, peer-to-peer connection between two PCs, allowing you to beam files back and forth at incredibly high speeds.
In this guide, you will learn how to enable, configure, and use Nearby Sharing in Windows 11.
Step 1: Enable Nearby Sharing
Nearby Sharing is disabled by default to protect your privacy. You must turn it on for both the sending PC and the receiving PC.
- Click the Start button and select the Settings gear icon.
- In the left-hand menu, ensure you are on the System tab.
- Scroll down on the right pane and click on Nearby sharing.
- You will see three options:
- Off: The default state.
- My devices only: You can only send and receive files between PCs logged into the exact same Microsoft account.
- Everyone nearby: You can send and receive files with any Windows 10 or 11 PC in range. (Highly recommended for the easiest experience).
- Select Everyone nearby.
- Crucial Step: Windows will warn you that both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be enabled for this to work. Ensure both toggles are switched on. The PCs do not need to be on the same Wi-Fi network, but the Wi-Fi adapter must be active.
Step 2: Configure the Save Location
On the same settings page, locate the Save files I receive to option.
By default, Windows will dump every file you receive into your main Downloads folder. If you frequently transfer work documents and prefer them to go straight to a specific project folder or your Desktop, click the Change button and select a new default destination.
Step 3: How to Send a File
Once both PCs have Nearby Sharing enabled and their Bluetooth/Wi-Fi adapters active, the transfer process is seamless.
- Open File Explorer on the sending PC and locate the file or folder you wish to transfer.
- Right-click the file.
- In the modern Windows 11 context menu, click the Share icon (a square with a curved arrow pointing out to the right).
- The Windows Share overlay will appear. Look at the Nearby sharing section.
- Windows will scan the room and list all available PCs. (The names displayed here can be changed in Settings > System > About > Rename this PC).
- Click the name of the PC you want to send the file to.
Step 4: Receive the File
On the receiving PC, a notification banner will instantly slide out from the bottom-right corner of the screen.
It will state the name of the PC attempting the transfer and the name of the file. Click Save & open or just Save. The transfer will begin immediately, utilising a direct Wi-Fi Direct connection for maximum bandwidth, bypassing your router entirely.
By keeping Nearby Sharing enabled on your primary devices, you can drastically reduce the friction of moving large files across your local environment.