Quick Share
| Company type | Software |
|---|---|
| Industry | File sharing, Wireless communication |
| Founder | Samsung Electronics |
| Headquarters | South Korea |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Wireless peer-to-peer file transfer application |
| Owner | Samsung Electronics, Google (collaboration) |
Template:Infobox software
Quick Share is a wireless peer-to-peer file transfer tool designed for Android, Windows, and ChromeOS. It leverages both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct technologies to send files to nearby devices. Additionally, it can transmit files to any device globally by uploading them to Samsung Cloud, which generates a web link for sharing. Initially created by Samsung Electronics exclusively for its own hardware, the application later integrated Google's Nearby Share in 2024 following a collaboration between the two companies,[1] allowing Quick Share to be distributed on non-Galaxy Android devices through Google Play Services.
History
Quick Share was introduced alongside the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S20 and the One UI 2.1 update, subsequently becoming available on other Galaxy smartphones and tablets.[1] Samsung developed this service to simplify content sharing,[2] replacing its earlier Link Sharing feature. The application expanded to Windows-based Samsung Galaxy Book laptops in 2021, and since July 2023, it has been accessible on Windows devices beyond Samsung's own laptops.[3]
In January 2024, it was announced that Google's Nearby Share would merge with Samsung's Quick Share, adopting the Quick Share name moving forward.[2]
Usage
The app allows users to send files simultaneously to up to eight nearby devices, provided that recipients have enabled the feature[2] and their screens remain active.[4] Users can activate Quick Share via the quick settings panel and select their preferred sharing visibility: available to everyone nearby, limited to contacts, only their own devices, or disabled entirely. To send content, users pick Quick Share and then select one or more nearby recipients.[2]
Moreover, Quick Share supports uploading files to Samsung Cloud and sharing them through generated URLs.[5] Recipients can access the uploaded data by clicking the provided link or scanning a QR code.[6]
Uploaded content on Samsung Cloud is automatically removed after two days,[2] with a daily upload cap of 5 gigabytes.[5]
The Windows version of Quick Share facilitates instant file exchanges between other Quick Share-compatible devices and Windows PCs.[2]
Availability
Quick Share is supported on devices running Android 6 or newer,[7] ChromeOS version 91 and above,[8] as well as 64-bit editions of Windows 10 and later, compatible with both ARM and x86 architectures.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name On Windows platforms, Quick Share requires manual installation, unlike on Android and ChromeOS where it comes integrated within the operating system. Additionally, Windows machines must have both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled to utilize Quick Share.[9]
Windows Apps
For Windows users, two distinct applications exist: one developed by Samsung accessible via the Microsoft Store, and another created by Google available through sideloading.
These two versions are expected to consolidate their functionalities by the third quarter of 2024. Presently, Samsung’s app operates exclusively with Intel Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers.[10]
Separately, Microsoft provides native support for Nearby Share (which is unrelated to both Quick Share and Google's Nearby Share) through its Phone Link feature, enabling file sharing with Android devices.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Private Share was a secure file transfer service employing blockchain encryption technology, tailored for confidential personal or financial data.[2] Files could be shared using either the phone number tied to the device’s SIM card or a user-defined private number exclusive to the Private Share app. This private number starts with a # symbol followed by ten digits (e.g., #0123456789). Senders had the option to assign an expiration date to shared files, which would then be automatically removed from recipients’ devices.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The service imposed a maximum upload size of 200 megabytes per transfer. Similar to Quick Share, Private Share was pre-installed on Samsung Galaxy smartphones.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name As of December 2023, Private Share has been merged into Quick Share and no longer functions as an independent application.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
See also
- AirDrop, an analogous functionality developed by Apple
References
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