Google’s Update to “Quick Share” Improves Usability

In a recent CES announcement, Google disclosed its collaboration with Samsung to extend Quick Share compatibility to all Android phones. Although Samsung’s Quick Share has coexisted with Google’s Nearby Share on Galaxy devices, the two services are now interoperable. The integration eliminates the need for Samsung users to choose between two separate file-sharing services. Google’s update of the Nearby Share branding to align with Samsung’s enhances the cohesion of the file-sharing experience between Galaxy and non-Galaxy devices. It’s important to note that not all functionalities have been retained in the rebranding process.

As Google began the rollout of Quick Share to non-Galaxy devices today, users observed that the enhanced experience lacks certain features present in Quick Share on Samsung devices. Notably, functionalities such as creating a temporary link for file sharing (link sharing) and temporarily sharing encrypted files (private sharing) are unavailable in the updated version.

An included feature in Google’s version of Quick Share, borrowed from Quick Share on Samsung devices, is the capability to display available devices directly in the share sheet. This functionality ensures that nearby Quick Share targets are visible within the share sheet, eliminating the need to tap the Quick Share button to access the full interface when sharing files with your own devices.

The alteration simplifies the process of file sharing across your devices. While Google has been working on integrating Nearby Share targets into the share sheet since last year, the introduction of Quick Share on Android marks the official rollout of this feature. Although observed on devices like the Google Pixel 7 Pro, Google Pixel 8 Pro, and OnePlus 11, some users have reported not seeing Quick Share targets in their share sheets. This change may be associated with a server-side flag independent of the Quick Share rollout, so users are advised to watch for Quick Share devices appearing in Android’s share sheet.