Send Android apps via Bluetooth – here’s how

If you want to send an Android app via Bluetooth, you can use the “Share Applications” app. Here we explain how to transfer apps from your smartphone.

Send Android apps to other devices via Bluetooth

If you want to send Android apps to other devices, you need to use special apps. We recommend “Share Applications,” for example.

• Download the “Share Application” app to your smartphone and open it.

• An overview of all your installed apps will then appear. Select the app you want to send from the list. You can also select multiple apps at the same time.

• Once you have made your selection, tap “Share”.

• Select “Bluetooth” from the menu. A window will open showing all available Bluetooth devices. Tap on the device you want to send the app to.

Methods for sending Android apps and files locally

The modern methods described below are significantly superior to Bluetooth in terms of speed, ease of use, security, and functionality. Nearby Share is cross-platform for Android devices, including Chromebooks, while Quick Share is optimized for Samsung ecosystems and offers additional Windows integration. If you want to share Android apps or other files locally, Nearby Share and Quick Share are the current recommendations and should replace Bluetooth in most cases.

• Traditional Bluetooth sharing: Requirements: Bluetooth enabled on the sender and receiver devices. Procedure: Select file → Share → Bluetooth → Select receiver device → Start file transfer. Speed: Relatively slow, especially with large files. Usage: Good for small files, universally available on almost all Android devices. Disadvantages: Slow, cumbersome with multiple or large files, no integrated visibility setting.

• Share nearby (Google, Android 6+): Description: Modern Google feature available with Android 6 and newer. A kind of Android version of Apple’s AirDrop. Requirements: Android 6+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and location services enabled. Feature enabled on both devices. Technology: Combination of Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi Direct, and WebRTC for fast data transfer.

• Visibility settings: All (visible to all nearby devices when screen is unlocked), Contacts (visible only to contacts), Not visible (visible only when reception is active). Process: Select file → Share → Select Nearby Share → Select appropriate device from list → Accept on recipient device. Data usage: Uses Wi-Fi Direct for fast transfer; mobile data can be disabled to prevent internet usage.

• Security: Transfers are encrypted, visibility and reception only possible with consent, settings for device names and visibility can be customized. Note: Also works offline (without internet), but requires Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and location to be enabled. Special feature: For photos, apps, links, documents, and also supports transfer to Chromebooks.

• Quick Share (Samsung, Android 6+ on Samsung devices): Description: Samsung’s own solution, which works very similarly to Nearby Share and is often pre-installed on Samsung devices. Requirements: Android 6+ (Samsung devices with One UI 2.1 or newer), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and location enabled. Technology: Uses Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth for fast data exchange.

• Visibility settings: My devices (own Samsung account devices visible even when the screen is off), Contacts (visible when the device is unlocked), Everyone (visible to everyone), Visible for 10 minutes only (automatically reset after 10 minutes). Process: Select file → Share → Quick Share → Select recipient and transfer → Confirm receipt.

• Data usage: Option to disable mobile data for transfer. Security: Receipt only with user confirmation, option to manage who can share; data encryption. Special feature: Also works for sharing with Windows via a Quick Share app.

• Requirements for Nearby Share and Quick Share in detail: Android version: Android 6.0 or higher. Enabled connections: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and location must be turned on because the location function is required for device detection. Set visibility: Select whether your device should be visible to everyone, only contacts, or not visible at all.

• Selection menu when sharing: After tapping “Share,” Nearby Share or Quick Share appears as an option, followed by the selection of the recipient device. Data usage: Mobile data can be turned on or off in the settings to avoid unwanted costs. Security: The transfer is encrypted; you must confirm the file acceptance on the recipient device to avoid unwanted reception.

Advantages and disadvantages of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct

The following points will help you decide which technology is better suited for your specific application. Wi-Fi Direct is more advantageous for fast, large file transfers and longer ranges, while Bluetooth is better for energy-saving, simple connections with a wide variety of devices.

• Wi-Fi Direct is significantly faster than Bluetooth and achieves transfer speeds of up to 250 Mbit/s (up to 300 Mbit/s with WLAN-n), which is about 10 times the speed of Bluetooth Classic. It is therefore better suited for transferring large files such as videos or music. Bluetooth has lower data rates (around 1-3 Mbit/s, slightly faster with newer versions) and is more suitable for smaller amounts of data or continuous streaming such as audio.

• Wi-Fi Direct can cover longer ranges (up to 100 m or more) and enables direct connections without a network, but often requires slightly more energy. The connection should be easy to establish at the touch of a button, but is technically more complex and not used as standard in all devices. Bluetooth is very widespread, implemented in almost all mobile devices, and is well suited for simple, short connections with low energy consumption. Device pairing is well established and familiar to many users.

• Bluetooth is considered relatively secure for private use, as it is typically used for short distances in protected environments. However, security vulnerabilities are possible, especially if Bluetooth is permanently enabled. Wi-Fi Direct uses Wi-Fi security protocols such as WPA2, which provide strong encryption. However, using Wi-Fi Direct requires greater awareness of network security, as Wi-Fi is generally considered more vulnerable than Bluetooth.

• Bluetooth is very well established and poses little risk during installation or use. Its energy efficiency ensures long battery life and the technology is robust. Wi-Fi Direct can drain batteries more quickly due to its higher energy consumption. It also often requires regular software updates to ensure compatibility and security. Users may theoretically be exposed to more security risks due to faulty implementations or insecure configurations.

• Bluetooth is a widely used standard that is highly compatible across many Android versions and manufacturers. Newer Bluetooth versions bring improvements but are generally backward compatible. Wi-Fi Direct is mostly supported from Android 4.0+ (Ice Cream Sandwich) onwards, and software updates can improve functionality. However, different manufacturer implementations can lead to compatibility issues, especially when older devices or exotic models are involved.