How to Share Apps with Family on Android

You love apps and use them every day. But what if you want to spread the love to your friends and family? Sharing an Android app is really easy with an app URL. This article will show you how to share an app on your Android device!

Share apps on Android using Nearby Share

If your friends are nearby, you can share apps on Android using Nearby Share. Start by swiping down on your phone's screen. This will bring up the Android Quick Settings tray , then tap the Nearby Share icon. Make sure your device is visible to others in the pop-up window.

If you previously hid the Nearby Share menu on your Android phone, you'll need to undo it. Toggle the Device visibility slider to On. You can also control who can send or receive apps by changing the Nearby Share setting to Everyone , Contacts on your phone, or Your devices .

When both Android phones are in Nearby Share mode, there are two ways to share apps between them.

Method 1: Share by pressing and holding the app

To follow the first method, select an app on your home screen or in the app drawer, then press and hold on it. Tap Share -> Nearby Share .

This example is sharing the Netflix app using Nearby Share, instead of other display options, such as Gmail, WhatsApp, and Google Drive.

The Nearby Share menu will be ready to receive. The sender needs to tap on the sender's name on their screen. The recipient can accept the app transfer ( Accept ) or decline ( Decline ).

Once the app is transferred, the recipient will find it in their Downloads folder. They need to click on it to install the app on their device.

Method 2: Use “Manage Apps and Device” in Google Play

The second method involves the “Manage Apps and Device” setting inside Google Play and allows you to share multiple apps at once.

Open the Google Play app, click your profile icon at the top, and select Manage Apps and Device . Go to the Overview tab and click Send .

Select how many apps you want to share with your friend, then click the Send button. They'll need to go to the Manage Apps and Device settings and select Receive . Tap the recipient's mobile device in Nearby Share mode.

Tapping your friend's device name will generate a Ready to receive notification on their device. They'll need to click Receive to start the app transfer. You can view the status directly inside the Google Play app and choose Install or Cancel.

Note : Nearby Share on Android phones requires both WiFi and Bluetooth to be turned on automatically. It cannot work with just mobile data. However, turning on mobile data will not affect file and app sharing.

Share Android apps via Google Play Store link

There are several Google Play apps and links that allow you to share and install apps on other devices.

• Messaging apps : An obvious choice, quick and works even if your friend lives in another country. When you long-press an app, you’ll have the option to share it using WhatsApp, Slack, Telegram, or other messaging apps to drop the APK file onto your friend’s device. They’ll need to allow the messaging app to install unknown apps from other sources.

• ShareMe : A really cool app that doesn't even need an Internet connection to share apps between nearby Android devices. Give ShareMe All -files access to manage all the files on your phone. Before you send items, it prompts you to Change system settings to connect wirelessly. When the sender presses the Send button , the recipient is asked to scan a QR code to receive the app.

Share apps using SHAREit

Like ShareMe, SHAREit allows you to transfer files and apps between nearby devices by scanning QR codes. Unlike ShareMe, WiFi is required during the app transfer process.

1. Click the Send button on your device, then ask the recipient to click Receive .

2. You will have several tabs, including Files , Videos , Apps  and Photos . Select Apps to choose the apps you want to transfer.

3. Once Bluetooth is on, tap the receiver icon on your device to start the transfer. The receiver will be prompted to scan the QR code to complete the app transfer.

If you need to share apps between Android devices, any of the above methods will work. Good luck!

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