How to use Quick Share on a Mac

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Sharing files between devices should be easy, but it isn't in 2024. This year, it's a little easier, as Google and Samsung have combined Nearby Share and Quick Share into a unified service. Quick Share is the surviving name and Google's equivalent of Apple's AirDrop, which lets users seamlessly transfer files and other content between Android devices and even Windows laptops and desktops. Unlike AirDrop, however, Quick Share isn't available on Macs, meaning transferring files from your Android phone to your Mac can be a tedious affair. But that's where NearDrop comes in.




NearDrop is a free third-party application that allows you to use Quick Share on a Mac. As far as we know, NearDrop hasn't been updated since the merger of Nearby Share and Quick Share. You may see some references to Nearby Share instead of Quick Share in NearDrop, but it still works. This guide will show you how to download and set up NearDrop and use it to easily transfer files from an Android device to your Mac.

iPhone and iMac show Airdrop transfer

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How to set up NearDrop for Quick Share on Mac

It's unlikely that Apple will ever officially support Quick Share on macOS. Fortunately, NearDrop, a free tool from developer Gregory K (Grishka), brings the file sharing service to the Mac. It's worth noting, however, that you can only send files from an Android device to a Mac, and not the other way around.


Make sure Wi-Fi is enabled on your Mac, as NearDrop uses Wi-Fi. Unlike Quick Share, which uses a combination of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, NearDrop only needs a Wi-Fi connection to transfer data.

  1. The first step is to go to the NearDrop GitHub page and download the latest version. ZIP folder.
    A screenshot of the NearDrop GitHub download page with the ZIP file highlighted in red.

  2. Simply drag and drop the NearDrop application into your Applications folder on your Mac.
  3. start NearDrop and you should see the app icon in the top menu bar of your Mac.
    A macOS screenshot showing the NearDrop icon highlighted in red.


By default, macOS may not allow apps from unknown sources to run. If you cannot open NearDrop,
Right click
the app in your
Applications
and click on
Open
in the menu that appears. This will allow you to authorize NearDrop to run on your Mac and you only have to do it once.

Now you have NearDrop installed on your Mac. The application runs in the background and allows your Mac to be visible to any Android device connected to the same network as your Mac.

Easily transfer files from Android to Mac with NearDrop

  1. Now you can transfer files from your Android phone or tablet to your Mac. To do this, on Android, select all the files you want to transfer to your Mac and tap Quick sharing.
    The sharing card in Google Photos.

    The Quick Share page in Android.

  2. Your Mac's name will appear as one of the available ones.
  3. Just tap it, confirm the transfer and you will receive a notification that the transfer has started.


Can you move files from Mac to Android?

NearDrop is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to transfer files from Android to your Mac. However, be aware of a platform limitation. NearDrop doesn't support moving files from Mac to Android, so you can only transfer files from your Android to your Mac. Still, it's a big improvement over other ways to transfer files between Android and macOS.

A close-up of an iPhone showing the AirDrop menu detecting a MacBook Pro in the background.

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