How to use Quick Share to share a file between phones

Last Update date : Apr 30. 2024

Quick Share on Galaxy devices allows users to effortlessly transfer content to multiple devices simultaneously using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Whether it's work documents or personal photos and videos, this feature ensures that transferred files retain their original quality, avoiding any loss due to compression.

A Galaxy S24 sharing a photo of the Colosseum.

Before sharing or receiving files, you need to select who can send files to you, which can give you a layer of protection from someone you may not want to receive files from.

Quick settings panel on a Galaxy S24. Quick settings panel on a Galaxy S24.

Step 1. Using two fingers, swipe down from the top of your phone's screen > Tap Quick Share.

Options for who can share files with you. Options for who can share files with you.

Step 2. Select one of the three options: No one, Contacts only, or Everyone > Tap Done.

  • No one: Only your own devices can share with you.
  • Contacts only: Only users saved in your Contacts with Samsung accounts can share with you.
  • Everyone: Everyone can share with you.

Note: Devices logged into the same Samsung account can always share with each other regardless of settings.

Quick Share provides Galaxy device users three options for how to share a file: Share to devices nearby, QR code, or Share to contacts. You can also choose to activate Private sharing which prevents others from screenshotting, saving, or resending shared files.

Notes: Some files may not be supported depending on the file-sharing method.

  • Sharing with nearby devices: no file type restriction
  • File sharing with QR codes and contacts: certain file types are not supported, such as: .exe, .com, .bat, .cmd, .vbs, .reg, .msi
My files home screen. My files home screen.

Step 1. Open My files > Select a file category.

Gallery image of a small dog. Gallery image of a small dog.

Step 2. Select a file > Tap the Share icon.

Icons of apps that can share an image and a photo of a small dog. Icons of apps that can share an image and a photo of a small dog.

Step 3. Select Quick Share > Select one of the following options: Share to devices nearby, QR code, or Share to contacts.

Share to devices nearby

The recipient must have Quick Share and Bluetooth turned on in the quick panel. They must also keep their screen on in order to be detected.

* Does not require mobile data.

Quick Share home screen. Quick Share home screen.

Step 1. Select a device in the Share to devices nearby panel.

Pop up window to Accept or Decline the file being shared. Pop up window to Accept or Decline the file being shared.

Step 2. (Recipient’s device): Tap Accept.

Share via QR code

This feature requires Wi-Fi or mobile data, and Wi-Fi is recommended for large data transfers.

Quick Share home screen. Quick Share home screen.

Step 1. Tap the QR code icon.

Pop up window with QR code and URL. Pop up window with QR code and URL.

Step 2. (Recipient’s device): Scan the QR code on the Sender’s phone screen.

QR code reader on the recipient’s phone. QR code reader on the recipient’s phone.

Step 3. (Recipient’s device): Follow the on-screen instructions to retrieve the image sent.

Share via URL

Quick Share home screen. Quick Share home screen.

Step 1. Tap the QR code icon.

Pop up window with QR code and URL. Pop up window with QR code and URL.

Step 2. Copy the URL.

A messaging app sharing the URL. A messaging app sharing the URL.

Step 3. Send the link through a messenger app or email.

The shared file that is ready to download. The shared file that is ready to download.

Step 4. (Recipient’s device): Tap the link > Tap Download all.

Share to contacts

This feature requires Wi-Fi or mobile data, and Wi-Fi is recommended for large data transfers.

Quick Share home screen. Quick Share home screen.

Step 1. Select a contact from the Share to contacts panel.


* If the contact you need does not appear in the panel, tap Show all and select or type a contact from your Contacts list.

Recipient’s phone showing all files received and ready to download. Recipient’s phone showing all files received and ready to download.

Step 2. (Recipient’s device): Tap the Quick Share notification > Tap Download all.


* If you receive a popup window, select if you want to accept the image or not.

Private Sharing

Quick Share home screen. Quick Share home screen.

Step 1. Select More options (three vertical dots) > Select Turn on Private sharing.

Set expiration pop up window in Quick Share. Set expiration pop up window in Quick Share.

Step 2. Tap Set expiration > Select an expiration time > Tap Done.

Quick Share home screen with Private sharing activated. Quick Share home screen with Private sharing activated.

Step 3. Continue to Share to devices nearby or Share to contacts.


* Only Galaxy users can view encrypted files, so sharing via QR code is not an option in this case.

Note: You can do the same with other apps that have sharing capabilities.

Nearby Share has merged with Samsung Quick Share. Previously, Quick Share was exclusively available on Samsung devices, and Nearby Share was the primary option for other Android devices. Now, these features have combined to serve as a single file-sharing app for all Androids.

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