I used to email files to myself just to move them from my desktop to my laptop sitting three feet away. Windows 11 Nearby Sharing ends that ritual: it sends files and links directly between two PCs over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, with no cable, no cloud upload, and nothing to install. The single most important thing to know: keep both PCs on the same Wi-Fi network, because when Nearby Sharing silently falls back to Bluetooth, a transfer that should take seconds can take twenty minutes.
I set this up on my desktop and laptop in under five minutes, and I now use it for everything from screenshots to gigabyte video files. Here is exactly how you turn it on, send your first file, and dodge the slow-transfer trap.
Quick Answer
Open Settings > System > Nearby sharing on both Windows 11 PCs and choose Everyone nearby. Keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, connect both PCs to the same network, then right-click any file in File Explorer and choose Share. Pick the other PC’s name, accept the transfer there, and the file lands in Downloads.
What Is Nearby Sharing and How Does It Work?
Nearby Sharing is a built-in Windows feature that transfers files and website links between PCs that are physically close to each other. Think of it as Windows’ answer to AirDrop, the Apple feature I covered in my guide to setting up Handoff, AirDrop, and Continuity Camera — same idea, different ecosystem.
Under the hood it uses Bluetooth Low Energy (a power-saving version of Bluetooth) to discover nearby PCs, then transfers the actual file over Wi-Fi when both machines share a network. If they don’t, it falls back to Bluetooth for the transfer itself, which is dramatically slower. It works on Windows 10 (version 1803 and later) and every version of Windows 11, and it is strictly PC-to-PC — phones use different systems.
Nearby Sharing is Windows’ AirDrop equivalent: Bluetooth finds the other PC, Wi-Fi carries the file, and it only works between Windows computers.
How Do I Turn On Nearby Sharing in Windows 11?
You need to do this on both PCs. The whole process takes about two minutes per machine.
Step 1: Open the Nearby Sharing Settings
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Click System in the left sidebar.
- Select Nearby sharing.
Step 2: Choose Who Can Share With You
You get three options, and this choice causes most of the confusion I see:
- Off — Nearby Sharing is disabled entirely.
- My devices only — only PCs signed in with your Microsoft account can see this PC.
- Everyone nearby — any nearby Windows PC can send you a share request.
Pro tip: if both PCs use the same Microsoft account, pick My devices only and you never have to think about it again. If you are sharing with a family member’s or colleague’s PC, switch to Everyone nearby for the transfer, then switch back afterward so strangers in a coffee shop can’t ping you with share requests.
Step 3: Check Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and the Save Folder
- Confirm both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on (check Quick Settings with Windows key + A).
- Connect both PCs to the same Wi-Fi network — this is what makes transfers fast.
- On the Nearby sharing settings page, note the “Save files I receive to” folder. It defaults to Downloads; click Change if you want incoming files somewhere else.
Enable Nearby sharing under Settings > System on both PCs, pick a visibility level, and keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on with both machines on the same network.
How Do I Actually Send a File Between PCs?
With setup done, sending takes four clicks:
- Wake the receiving PC and make sure it is unlocked. A locked or sleeping PC will not show up as a target.
- On the sending PC, right-click the file in File Explorer and choose Share (on Windows 11 it is in the main right-click menu).
- Wait a few seconds for the other PC’s name to appear under the Nearby sharing section of the Share window.
- Click the PC’s name. On the receiving PC, a notification pops up in the bottom-right corner — click Save, or Save & open.
From my own testing on a Wi-Fi 5 network: a 1.2 GB video file took about 45 seconds desktop-to-laptop, and the receiving notification appeared within two seconds of me clicking Send. You can also share links straight from Microsoft Edge using the same Share menu, which I use constantly to move a page I’m reading to the other machine.
Right-click a file, choose Share, click the other PC’s name, and accept the incoming notification — received files land in Downloads by default.
Why Is Nearby Sharing Slow or Not Working?
Troubleshooting tip: if a transfer crawls, the near-certain cause is a Bluetooth fallback. Check that both PCs are on the exact same Wi-Fi network — not one on the main network and one on a guest network, and not one on Ethernet with Wi-Fi disabled. If the other PC never appears at all, toggle Bluetooth off and on via Quick Settings on both machines; in my experience that clears a stale discovery cache and the PC shows up within ten seconds. Microsoft’s Nearby Sharing support page lists the full requirements if you suspect a hardware limitation, since discovery requires Bluetooth 4.0 or later.
It also helps to know when Nearby Sharing is the wrong tool:
| Method | Speed | Internet needed? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearby Sharing | Fast on same Wi-Fi, very slow over Bluetooth | No | Quick transfers between nearby PCs |
| USB flash drive | Fast | No | Huge files, or PCs in different rooms |
| OneDrive or Google Drive | Depends on upload speed | Yes | Files you need on many devices long-term |
| Email attachment | Slow, ~25 MB size limit | Yes | Small documents sent to other people |
Slow transfers almost always mean a Bluetooth fallback — put both PCs on the same Wi-Fi network, and reach for a USB drive or cloud storage when machines are far apart.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These are the failures I hit myself or get asked about most, each with the fix:
- Leaving visibility on “My devices only” when the PCs use different Microsoft accounts. Fix: set the receiving PC to Everyone nearby for the transfer.
- Trying to send files to your phone with it. Nearby Sharing is PC-only. Fix: use Phone Link instead — my Windows 11 Phone Link setup guide walks through it.
- Letting the receiving PC lock or sleep. A locked PC disappears from the Share menu. Fix: wake and unlock it before you hit Share.
- Mixing networks — one PC on guest Wi-Fi, or on Ethernet with Wi-Fi off. Fix: join both to the identical Wi-Fi network so transfers use it instead of Bluetooth.
- Forgetting to switch back from Everyone nearby in public places. Fix: return to My devices only or Off when you finish sharing.
Most Nearby Sharing failures come down to visibility set too narrow, a locked receiving PC, or the two machines not truly sharing one Wi-Fi network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nearby Sharing work between Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Yes, as long as the Windows 10 PC runs version 1803 or later. I regularly send files from my Windows 11 laptop to an older Windows 10 desktop, and the only difference is that the Share menu looks slightly dated on the older machine.
Do both PCs need to be on the same Wi-Fi network?
No, but you want them to be. Without a shared network the transfer runs over Bluetooth, and when I tested that, a 200 MB folder took over eight minutes versus about ten seconds on shared Wi-Fi.
Where do the files I receive end up?
In your Downloads folder by default. You can change this under Settings > System > Nearby sharing; I point mine at a “Transfers” folder on my desktop so incoming files never get buried under browser downloads.
Can I use Nearby Sharing to send files to my Android phone or iPhone?
No — it only connects Windows PCs to each other. For phones, Phone Link handles photos and messages, and Android also has its own Quick Share app for Windows.
Why does the other PC never show up in my Share menu?
Usually because its visibility is Off or set to My devices only under a different account. Set it to Everyone nearby, confirm Bluetooth is on at both ends, and unlock its screen; when I do those three things a missing PC appears within seconds.
Conclusion
Nearby Sharing turns a chore into a right-click: enable it on both PCs, keep them on the same Wi-Fi, and files move in seconds. It has completely replaced self-emailed attachments in my house.
Set it up on your two PCs right now while the steps are fresh — the whole thing takes less than five minutes.