Google’s Nearby Share Will Soon Transfer Wi-Fi Info to Chromebooks

Google’s AirDrop counterpart, Nearby Share, is soon to expand its capabilities and enable sharing Wi-Fi credentials between Android 12 and Chromebook users. At present, the feature allows transferring apps, files, links, and other data from one Android device to another one located nearby. However, with new, enhanced Nearby Share capabilities, Chromebook users will also be able to receive shared Wi-Fi details like the network name, encryption protocols, and passwords. That is, of course, if both users have the feature activated and are both situated within the Bluetooth range.

When using Nearby Share to transfer Wi-Fi credentials, users receive only the basic information required for establishing the connection. It includes the network name (or SSID), security type (such as WPA2 or WPA3), and the password itself. Once these details have been successfully obtained, the receiving device will be able to connect to the network almost immediately.

Adding such a handy functionality for Chromebook owners was the next logical step after the company equipped its Chrome OS devices with the Nearby Share option. Google continues to work on improving Nearby Share on Chromebooks and is now building a new Self Share function for Chrome OS devices. When finally available, it will enable users to transfer files from their Chrome OS tablets and laptops to another Android/Chrome OS device they own with the help of Nearby Share.

Given that Google only started working on this feature last week, we will likely not see it until the end of March 2022, when Chrome OS 100 is due out.

Have you used Nearby Share on your device? How convenient was it? Would you like to see it implemented on Chrome OS? Leave a comment below! We would love to hear what you think!