Send files between Android and Windows: How Quick Share works

Quick Share instead of a cable or cloud detour

Editing a phone photo on a PC, copying a PDF to a handset, or exchanging several documents should not require an email to yourself or a cloud upload. Quick Share transfers files between nearby devices. The feature is built into Android 6 and later; a compatible Windows PC also needs a Quick Share app.

Google and Samsung brought their previously separate solutions together under the Quick Share name in early 2024. Google described the result as a cross-device peer-to-peer sharing system for Android and ChromeOS, with Windows PCs connected through a dedicated app. According to Google, Quick Share transfers are protected by end-to-end encryption. This does not remove the need to check the sender: do not accept unexpected files or ignore Windows security warnings.

> Status: August 5, 2026. Menu labels can vary slightly with the Android version, device manufacturer, and Quick Share app.

Choose the correct Windows app first

Windows has two similarly named apps. The choice depends on the PC, not the brand of the Android phone:

• A PC from another manufacturer: install Quick Share from Google from the official Android website.
• A Samsung PC or Galaxy Book: use Quick Share from Samsung from the Microsoft Store. Google explicitly states that its app is no longer supported on Samsung PCs.

The instructions below primarily describe Google's app. Samsung's interface and account rules differ in places, so Galaxy Book users should also consult Samsung's guide.

Requirements

Google lists the following minimum requirements for its Quick Share app:

• Android 6.0 or later; Quick Share is already present on supported Android devices.
• A PC running a 64-bit version of Windows 10 or later. Google's help page lists Windows 11 or later as a requirement for ARM-based Windows devices.
• Bluetooth on both devices.
• Wi-Fi on the Android device and Wi-Fi or Ethernet on the PC.
• Both devices connected to the same local network and no more than about 5 metres apart.

Note on ARM PCs: Google's current documentation is inconsistent. The detailed help page lists Windows 11 or later for ARM devices, while a footnote on the product page says that ARM devices are not supported. General ARM compatibility therefore cannot be confirmed; check the specific device or updated Google documentation before publication.

Google's app still runs on compatible Windows 10 installations. However, regular Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Without Extended Security Updates, the operating system no longer receives regular security fixes. Windows 11 or another supported system is therefore the appropriate basis for a PC that remains in regular use.

If the Windows PC does not support Bluetooth Low Energy Extended Advertising, other devices may be unable to discover it on certain networks. Current Bluetooth and Wi-Fi drivers can therefore matter more than the nominal radio range.

Set up Quick Share on Windows

1. Install the app appropriate for the PC, using only the manufacturer page or Microsoft Store link above.

2. Start Quick Share normally, not with Run as administrator. Google warns against running it as administrator; drag and drop can fail in that mode.

3. Sign in to the Google app if you want to use the Contacts and Your devices options. The complete set of options is not available without an account.

4. Under Settings → Device visibility, choose who can discover the PC:

- Everyone: visible to people nearby;

- Contacts: visible to nearby contacts;

- Your devices: visible only to devices using the same Google Account;

- No one: the PC is not discoverable as a receiver.

For a personal device set, Your devices is the least intrusive setting. Leave Everyone enabled only while expecting a transfer from somebody else.

Send files from Android to Windows

1. Open Quick Share on the Windows PC or leave it running in the background. Its visibility setting must include the sender.

2. Select the photo, video, or document on the Android device.

3. Open Share → Quick Share and select the Windows PC.

4. If both devices display a PIN, compare the codes. Cancel the transfer if they do not match.

5. Select Accept on the PC. A receiving device signed in to the same Google Account can accept a transfer automatically.

By default, Windows places received files in a Quick Share subfolder inside Downloads. The app can also receive in the background, with approval handled through a Windows notification. The request may be missed if Do not disturb is active or app notifications are disabled.

Send files from Windows to Android

1. Open Quick Share on the PC.

2. Drag files or folders into the window, or use Select files or Select folders. Alternatively, right-click a file in File Explorer and select Send with Quick Share.

3. Select the Android device from the list.

4. Compare any PIN shown on both devices, then select Share.

5. Accept the request on the unlocked Android device. This confirmation can also be skipped between your own devices using the same Google Account.

On Android, received files are normally available under Downloads → Quick Share through the device's file manager.

Sensible security and privacy settings

Google states that Quick Share protects transfers with end-to-end encryption. This protects the transport path; it does not establish that a received file is harmless. Apply the same rules as you would to email attachments:

• Check the sender name, filename, and PIN before accepting.
• Reject unexpected requests.
• Do not leave the PC permanently visible to Everyone.
• Open executables and archives only when they come from a trusted source, and do not disable active malware protection to complete a transfer.

For nearby sharing, a local transfer is the normal path; a personal cloud folder is not used as an intermediate store. This is separate from optional vendor-specific link or QR-code sharing features, which may use internet access and server storage. This article covers only direct nearby transfers between Android and Windows.

Compact troubleshooting guide

If discovery still fails on the same network, client isolation on the access point, an organisational policy, or missing BLE Extended Advertising support may be responsible. Disabling the Windows firewall wholesale is not an appropriate troubleshooting step.

Suitable alternatives

• USB cable: MTP remains a robust option for large batches or restricted networks. Unlock the Android device, use a data-capable cable, and select File transfer in the USB notification.
• Phone Link / Link to Windows: Microsoft supports file sharing from Windows 10 with the May 2019 Update and Android 10, provided the documented minimum app versions are installed. The devices must be linked first.
• Cloud storage: Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox is useful when the devices are not in the same place. The files are uploaded to the chosen service, so storage capacity, internet access, and its privacy terms matter.

Conclusion

Quick Share is a practical direct-transfer option between Android and Windows when Bluetooth, the local network, and visibility are configured correctly. The main trap is now choosing the Windows app: Google for compatible non-Samsung PCs, Samsung for Galaxy Books and other Samsung PCs. Restricting visibility to Your devices or Contacts and rejecting unknown requests provides a short transfer path without an email attachment or personal cloud folder.

Sources and technical documentation

• Google: Share files between Android and Windows with Quick Share
• Android: Download Quick Share for Windows and review its requirements
• Google: Use Quick Share on Android
• Google: Announcement of the joint Quick Share solution at CES 2024
• Samsung: Quick Share supported devices and requirements
• Samsung: Use Quick Share on a Galaxy Book
• Microsoft: Windows 10 regular support has ended
• Microsoft: Transfer files with Phone Link and Link to Windows
• Google: Transfer files between Android and a computer over USB