Using Near Share is just about as easy as setting it up, though there are some quirks. After renaming your PC, you’ll be asked to reboot. Just make sure that the name doesn’t use any spaces. You don’t have to choose anything too fancy, like you might for a password. Here’s how to rename your PC within Windows: from Settings > System > About, you’ll see a list of device specifications, with a Rename this PC button at the bottom. But when you’re transferring files, you’ll need to pick which PC to send them to, so a recognizable name is a good idea. Normally, that obscure reference doesn’t mean a thing when using your PC on a day-to-day basis. Windows assigns a quasi-random device name to each PC, so that a Surface device might actually be named DESKTOP-SKLJ56B or something like that. You’ll also have the ability to specify in which folder the received files are stored.īefore you start using Near Share, though, there’s one tip to consider, if you haven’t already: renaming your PCs. You can either allow any nearby device to send you files (with your permission, of course) or limit them to your own, signed-in PCs. To begin using Near Share (sometimes called Nearby sharing), first enable it within the Windows 10 Settings menu.Īs you’ll see, the permissions associated with the feature are fairly self-explanatory. (The Share across devices setting, below it, enables the “Pick up where you left off” experiences that are built into the related Timeline features and Cortana.) Mark Hachman / IDG To turn it on, you’ll need to open the Settings menu, specifically Settings > Home > System > Shared experiences.

Near Share, also known as “Nearby sharing,” is off by default within Windows. To enable Near Share, both PCs will either need to be part of the Insider program, or just be up-to-date with Windows when the April 2018 Update drops.

Windows 10 shared experiences