Top 8 Ways to Fix Nearby Sharing Not Working on Windows 11

Windows 11 offers Nearby Sharing, a feature that supports wireless file sharing between a computer and another Windows PC. It uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to send or receive files from another computer. Nearby Sharing isn’t the fastest way to transfer files to a Windows PC, but it’s a great way to share small files.

But what if the feature stops working as it should? This is an issue many users face when this inbuilt file sharing feature cannot be used. We will list many methods to help you solve this problem at the earliest.

1. Check Nearby Sharing Settings

Nearby Sharing works if the device is discoverable. So you need to make sure you have configured it correctly. This is the way:

Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, type Share nearby in the Search bar, and then press Enter.

Step 2: In the Settings app window, check the Nearby Sharing settings. Make sure it’s set to Everyone Nearby or Only My Devices.

Step 3: Close the Settings app.

2. Put both devices in the same room

Nearby sharing using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Both of these features support short-range communication. If the Windows devices are very far apart (more than 20 feet), it will be difficult to establish and maintain a connection. So, move the two devices closer to make the Nearby Sharing feature work perfectly. If you have a large room, both devices must be placed in the same room first.

3. Make sure both devices are connected to a shared Wi-Fi network

Nearby Sharing requires devices to connect to a shared Wi-Fi network to work. Press the Windows + A keyboard shortcut to open the Action Center and click the Wi-Fi icon.

Connect to your home/office personal Wi-Fi network. Repeat this step on another Windows device and connect it to the same network. Both devices are ready to share files.

4. Verify BLE support on both devices

Nearby Sharing requires Bluetooth Low Energy (4.0) or higher to work properly. If either system has an outdated Bluetooth adapter, you’ll have a hard time getting the feature to work. Repeat the following steps to check for BLE support:

Step 1: Right-click the Start button to open the Power User menu. Select the Device Manager option from the list.

Step 2: Expand Bluetooth Adapters section. Right-click on the Bluetooth Adapter name and select the Properties option from the context menu.

Step 3: Switch to the Details tab.

Step 4: Go to the Properties section and click on the drop-down list. Select the property ‘Bluetooth radio that supports Low Energy Hub Role’ from the list.

Step 5: If the Value section displays true for this property, it means that the device supports BLE.

Step 6: Close Device Manager.

5. Configure Bluetooth service

Windows uses Bluetooth Support Service and BluetoothUserService to enable the Bluetooth adapter to function properly. If either of these services isn’t running or crashes, you’ll get an error when you try to share files using Nearby Sharing. Here’s how to configure these services:

Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, type service.msc in the Search bar and press Enter to open the Services utility.

Step 2: Find Bluetooth Support Service in the list and right click on it. Click the Restart option from the context menu.

Step 3: Repeat the same process with BluetoothUserService and restart it manually.

Step 4: Now close the Services widget. Relaunch Nearby Sharing and try transferring files.

6. Run the Bluetooth Troubleshooter

Windows provides inbuilt troubleshooters to identify and fix inherent hardware and software problems. Repeat the following steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to launch the Settings app. Scroll down to the System section and click the Troubleshooting option.

Step 2: Click the More Troubleshooter option.

Step 3: Scroll down to the More section and find the Bluetooth option. Click the Run button located next to the Bluetooth option.

Step 4: Wait for the utility to find and fix the problem with the Bluetooth adapter on your system. Click the Close button.

7. Change the network connection type

Nearby sharing works better when the network type is set to Private in Windows. If you use a public network, file transfers may be noticeably slower. So you will need to make the Network private. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Right-click the Start button to open the Power User menu. Click the Install option.

Step 2: Click on the Network & internet option present in the left menu.

Step 3: Tap the Wi-Fi option. Then, click the arrow button next to the Wi-Fi name property option.

Step 4: Select the radio button next to the Private network option. Your Wi-Fi connection is now set to private.

8. Restore Windows Updates

Windows updates may break existing features of your system. This is not an intentional bug and will only be fixed after many users submit feedback about the problem. In the meantime, you can rollback Windows updates to get Nearby Sharing to work properly. This is the way:

Step 1: Press the Windows + I key combination to open the Settings application. Click the Windows update icon.

Step 2: Click on Updates history option.

Step 3: Scroll down and click on the option to Uninstall updates.

Step 4: Find the most recently installed update from the list and click the Uninstall button.

Step 5: A pop-up will appear asking you to reconfirm your decision. Click Uninstall.

Step 6: Wait for Windows to remove the Update from your system.

Step 7: Restart your computer and try using Nearby Sharing.

Get Nearby Sharing Working Again

Windows Nearby Sharing only works with Windows devices. We hope that these methods have helped you restore Nearby Sharing to a working state. Recently, Google launched the Nearby Share app for Windows PCs, making it easier to share files between your computer and Android phone.

Categories: How to
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