Last year, Google added “Nearby Share” to Android to facilitate file sharing among nearby devices. However, this medium of file sharing has not gained much popularity among the users. A similar feature has recently been added to the Google Play Store, which allows nearby devices to exchange apps from the Play Store. It’s basically a part of “Nearby Share”.

This feature of app sharing will be seen in Google Play Store version 24.0 and above. This feature is basically the “Nearby Share” feature of the app’s APK file can be exchanged. However, the feature may not be seen on all phones.

However, not all apps can be shared. Stadia apps cannot be shared. Apps that have to be bought for money cannot be shared through this feature. Again, apps installed from outside the Play Store, that is, side-loaded apps can not be sent. However, after sending any app, its APK file will be saved in the phone’s storage.

Rules for using the “App Sharing” feature in the Google Play Store

If the feature is available in your phone’s Google Play Store, you can use the feature in the following ways:

• Enter My App & games from the App menu by entering the Play Store
• Navigate to the Share tab to start sharing
• If you want to send the app, press Send and if you want to take the app, press Receive
• You need to turn on the location of the phone by pressing Send Continue
• Select the apps you want to send
• If you want to send, select Recipient and ask the sender to follow the rules
• Once the app is shared, a specific app can be installed by pressing the Install button next to the app’s name and all the shared apps can be installed by pressing Install All.

Once the connection is made both parties will be able to send the app. In that case the recipient will use “Send Apps” and the sender will use “Send More Apps” button.