How to Transfer Files Between PCs Wirelessly Using Nearby Sharing

If you have two PCs and you want to transfer files between both PCs wirelessly without using any data transfer cable, USB storage drive, external hard disk or LAN networking, this article will help you in sharing files wirelessly from one computer to another without using any extra hardware or software applications.

Recently a reader contacted me regarding this issue. He was looking for an easy way to transfer multiple files between his Desktop PC and laptop. His work required transferring files from PC to PC regularly and he was using a USB pen drive to transfer files. Attaching the USB drive to one PC, copy files and then reattaching the USB drive to other PC and paste the files required lots of time and efforts.

The reader didn’t want to setup networking (LAN) between his computers. He also mentioned that he had already tried various other methods to transfer files such as cloud storage (Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive), email attachments, USB transfer cable, flash drive, external hard drive, etc. He wanted a quick and easy way to transfer files wirelessly without attaching any hardware or using online software.

Here comes the built-in Nearby Sharing feature present in Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems to rescue. If you also want to transfer or share files between 2 PCs wirelessly, this is the best option for you.

Here are some important points to keep in mind before using Nearby Sharing feature to transfer files wirelessly:

• It works in Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems. You can use the feature to transfer files wirelessly between two Windows 10 PCs or two Windows 11 PCs or one Windows 10 PC and one Windows 11 PC.
• It’ll work in all Windows 10/11 devices such as Desktop PC, laptop, tablet, etc.
• It requires Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

So here are the required steps to transfer files wirelessly between two Windows PCs without using any external cable, storage drive or online services:

STEP 1: Enable or Turn On Nearby Sharing in Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs

First of all, we’ll need to turn on Nearby Sharing feature in both the PCs. You can enable Nearby Sharing in Windows 10/11 using 2 ways:

Method 1: Enable Nearby Sharing Using Taskbar Toggle Option

In Windows 10, click on the Action Center or Notification Center icon present on the extreme end of the Taskbar and you’ll see a dedicated toggle option to turn on Nearby Sharing feature.

In Windows 11, click on the Wi-Fi/Volume/Battery icons in Taskbar notification area and you’ll see the toggle button to turn on Nearby Sharing on Quick Settings flyout.

Once you click on the toggle option, it’ll enable Nearby Sharing functionality in your device. Windows may also show a message that the Bluetooth option has been enabled in your device.

Method 2: Enable Nearby Sharing Using Windows 10/11 Settings

In Windows 10, open Settings app by pressing WIN+I keys together and go to System -> Shared Experiences page and enable the “Share content with a nearby device by using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi” toggle option. Also set the “I can share or receive content from” drop-down box to “Everyone nearby“.

You can also change the folder location which will save or store the received file using “Change” button.

In Windows 11, open Settings app by pressing WIN+I keys together and go to System -> Nearby Sharing page and set the “Share files, photos, and links with nearby Windows devices” option to “Everyone nearby“.

You can also change the folder location which will save or store the received file using “Change” button.

STEP 2: Select and Share Files Between Windows 10 or Windows 11 PCs

Once you have enabled Nearby Sharing feature in both computers, go to the folder containing files which you want to transfer. Right-click on the file and select Share option from the context menu.

Once you select Share option, Windows 10 or Windows 11 will open the built-in Share files flyout or pop box on the screen. This Share box will assist you in selecting the PC or other methods to transfer files between PCs.

You’ll see other PC’s name with a computer icon on Share box, click on that option as shown in following image:

STEP 3: Accept and Save the Transferred File on Receiving Windows PC

As soon as you select the PC to share files, the receiving Windows PC will display a notification to accept or reject the file. Click on Save button and it’ll immediately start saving or downloading the file on the receiving device.

Now you can use Nearby Sharing feature any time to transfer or share files between multiple computers.

Also Check:

Tip: How to See Wi-Fi Password or Security Key in Windows 11

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