Nearby Storage ShareFeatures
Everything in the latest version (1.6.0), for hosts and for guests.
Hosting: share your storage
Choose how much to share
5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB, 50 GB or a custom amount. All guests together can never go over it, and a safety reserve (2 GB by default) always stays free for your own use.
Quota that cannot be cheated
Space is reserved before an upload starts and re-checked as the bytes arrive. Two guests uploading at the same time cannot overfill the limit, and a failed upload gives its space back.
Visible folder or hidden storage
Keep files in a normal folder you choose (one subfolder per guest, real file names, browse in your file manager), or in private app storage under random names.
Who can connect
Private: only devices you already approved. Ask each time: confirm every new device. Open on this network: new devices join with the default permissions, after the code check.
Limit the number of devices
Allow 1, 2, 3, 5 or 8 devices at the same time (3 by default).
Received files
See every file guests sent, who sent it, how big it is and which folder it is in. Open it, or open its location in your file manager.
Runs in the background
Android shows a persistent notification while sharing. Computers keep running in the tray and stay awake while sharing, and can start when you log in.
Safe file handling
Uploads are staged and checked with a SHA-256 checksum before they appear. Guest-supplied names are never used as paths. A file you put in the shared folder yourself is never overwritten.
Permissions and control
Per-device permissions
View and download, upload, replace existing files, delete, and create folders. Change them any time; they apply immediately.
Per-device limits
Give one device a smaller storage limit than the host's overall limit.
Access that expires
Allow a device for 1 hour, 24 hours, 7 days, or always.
Revoke, block, re-pair
Cut a device off instantly, block it entirely, or make it pair again. Its files and permissions are kept unless you remove them.
Usage and activity
See how much each device stores, and a log of connections, uploads, downloads and deletions.
Separate guests
Each guest only ever sees its own files. One guest cannot list, read or delete another's.
Using a host: guest features
Browse and search
Folders, breadcrumbs and search across all your files on the host.
Upload and download
Several files at once, with progress, checksum verification and the option to cancel.
Open files directly
Tap a file to open it in the right app (photos, PDFs, video). A temporary copy is fetched and verified first.
Stream video and music
Play a movie or song straight from the host without downloading it first. It starts in seconds, you can skip around, and nothing is copied to your device. On Android it opens in a built-in player; on computers it plays in your browser. Needs the Wi-Fi or hotspot connection.
Create, rename, delete
Manage folders and files, wherever the host has allowed it.
Reconnect without a code
After the first pairing the host is recognised by its pinned certificate. If it changes unexpectedly you get a warning instead of a silent connection.
Connect by address
If a network hides devices from each other, type the address the host shows.
Progress notifications (Android)
A notification shows each upload and download from 0 to 100%, even with the app closed.
Drive in the Files app (Android)
The host appears as a drive in Android's Files app: browse, open, save, rename, delete and search from there.
Two ways to connect
| Nearby Connections | Same Wi-Fi or hotspot | |
|---|---|---|
| How | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct, using Google's Nearby Connections | Your local network, with discovery and an optional typed address |
| Works between | Android phones | Android, Windows, macOS and Linux |
| Needs a router | No | Yes, or a phone hotspot |
| Security | Code comparison and encrypted link | TLS with pinned certificates and a code comparison |
What each platform can do
| Feature | Android | Windows | macOS | Linux |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host (share storage) | Yes | Yes | Yes (beta) | Yes (beta) |
| Guest (use a host) | Yes | Yes | Yes (beta) | Yes (beta) |
| Nearby Connections | Yes | No | No | No |
| Same-network method | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stream video and music without downloading | Yes (built-in player) | Yes (in browser) | Yes (in browser, beta) | Yes (in browser, beta) |
| Per-device permissions, limits, expiry | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Visible folder or hidden storage | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Received files with Open location | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shown as a drive in the system file manager | Yes | Not yet | Not yet | Not yet |
| Runs in the tray / background | Notification | Tray | Menu bar | Tray if available |
| Starts at login | – | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What it does not do (yet)
- No internet or remote access: both devices must be near each other or on the same network. Internet sharing may come later.
- Streaming works for video and music on the Wi-Fi or hotspot connection. Over Nearby, and for other file types, a file is downloaded in full before it opens. A half-sent upload or download cannot be resumed.
- Computers cannot use the Nearby Connections method; they connect over the network only.
- With a visible folder, anyone who can open the folder can change those files, and the storage limit only counts changes made through the app. Guests cannot rename folders in that mode.
- The computer apps are not signed with a paid certificate, so the system shows a warning on first launch.