The perennial competition between Android and iOS often highlights the divergent user experiences each platform offers. Apple, renowned for prioritizing user comfort, excels in even the minutest details, drawing in users to their ecosystem. Meanwhile, Android seems poised to bridge the gap with iOS by introducing a feature reminiscent of Apple’s AirDrop – a functionality Android users have been longing for.
In a revelation by Mishaal Rahman on Twitter (or “X,” as Elon Musk would put it), Android’s Nearby Share has taken a significant step forward. This improvement empowers Android users to share entire folders in one go, a feature that has been a longstanding hallmark of AirDrop on iOS.
Previously, Android users grappled with the limitation of transferring files one by one via Nearby Share. However, this update removes the hassle, allowing users to send multiple files collectively. Moreover, the versatility of this feature extends beyond other Android devices, reaching Chromebooks and Windows PCs through the Files by Google app.
Neat: You can send an entire folder from your Android device to other Android devices, Chromebooks, or Windows PCs from the Files by Google app!
Just long-press on any folder in the Files app and then tap the Nearby Share icon in the top right. pic.twitter.com/yk7epVxojh
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) July 31, 2023
Engaging this new capability is refreshingly straightforward. A prolonged tap on a folder within the Files by Google app triggers the appearance of the Nearby Share logo, initiating a process akin to previous file-sharing methods.
However, like any innovation, there are limitations to consider. Rahman’s findings reveal that a single folder is restricted to housing a maximum of 1000 files, beyond which the feature won’t function as intended. Furthermore, the convenience is exclusive to the Files by Google app, sidestepping compatibility with third-party file management applications from brands like Samsung or Xiaomi.
While the exact Android version and specific Files app iteration that unlock this new functionality remain undisclosed, users running the latest Android version and the most recent Files app iteration are likely to gain access to the enhanced Nearby Share feature.
Remarkably, this unveiling isn’t entirely new, having undergone a testing phase in May. Google’s communication around this update has been discrete, with the feature only recently surfacing for some fortunate users.
