Google has a new name for Nearby Share, you can start looking for it،
Google and Samsung could team up again in the very near future to unify their file sharing services.
Two prominent Android experts think so: Michael Rahman And Kamila Wojciechowska whose social media posts are minutes apart.
It seems that Google has renamed Near Share to… Quick Share, which is also the name of Samsung's file sharing solution? uhhhhh
Today I received a GMS update to version 23.50.13 and, shortly after, the notification in the screenshot above. The update as well as… pic.twitter.com/RkobYEMIw4
-Kamila ️⚧️ (@Za_Raczke) December 22, 2023
Interesting: It looks like Google might rebrand Nearby Share to Quick Share. Quick Share is notably the name of Samsung's file sharing service on Galaxy devices. Will these two services merge?
More details in the article linked belowhttps://t.co/E2CJPonnyR
– Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) December 22, 2023
As you can see, the so-called “Google + Samsung” collaboration is fueled by Google's latest moves: the giant is renaming its Nearby Sharing service to Quick Share. And if you're a Samsung user, Quick Share means something to you: it's Samsung's file sharing service. According to Kamila Wojciechowska, Near Share was renamed to Quick Share after installing the GMS (Google Mobile Services – a set of Google apps and APIs that help support functionality across devices) updated with the version 23.50.13 (via SamMobile).
Additionally, a notification bubble presents the new name and says: “Search for the new name and icon to share with nearby devices.” Google has reportedly updated the branding in Android's UI, and there's a new icon as well. It looks extremely similar to the original Nearby Share and Quick Share icons, so a service merger with Samsung is very likely indeed.
As one X user comments: “If they partnered with Samsung and made it interoperable then great, but if they didn't and just renamed it out of nowhere, so it’s a terrible decision.”
How to use Samsung Quick Share?
- Make sure Quick Share is enabled for both phones. On the other device, open the notification panel, swipe down, then tap Quick Share to enable it. It will be blue when activated. If the Quick Share icon doesn't appear in your Quick Settings panel, you may need to add it.
- Launch the Gallery app and select an image. Tap the Share button and select a device to transfer the image. Accept the file transfer request on the other device.
- If you're having trouble connecting to another device, swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings, then press and hold the Quick Share icon. Tap the switch next to “Show my location to others” to let nearby devices see your device when using Quick Share. This option will only appear if Quick Share is enabled.
