How to Share Apps on Android Bluetooth

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The ultimate guide to sharing apps wirelessly between Androids
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Androids let you share files over Bluetooth, including images, sounds, and videos. While you can't share installed apps through Bluetooth, you can share links to app downloads in the Play Store via Bluetooth, as well as Android Beam. You can also share APK files, which are used to install apps on Android over Bluetooth.

Quick Steps

  1. Enable Bluetooth on both devices.
  2. Go to the app's page in the Google Play Store.
  3. Tap ⋮ in the top-right corner and select Share .
  4. Tap the Bluetooth icon and select the other device.
  5. Tap Accept on the receiving device to accept the link.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

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  1. In order to send a link to another phone over Bluetooth, the receiving phone or tablet must have the Bluetooth menu open. Use the following steps to open the Bluetooth menu:
    • Swipe down from the top of the screen.
    • Tap and hold the icon that resembles a jagged "B" with a tail (the Bluetooth icon).
    • Tap the toggle switch to turn Bluetooth on (if it's not already on).
  2. Open the Google Play Store
    Android Google Play
    on the sending phone or tablet. The Google Play Store has an icon that resembles a colorful play triangle. Tap the icon to open the Google Play Store.
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  3. The search bar is at the top of the screen. This displays a list of apps that match your search.
  4. It should be in the list of search results. This opens the information screen of the app you want to share.
  5. It's the icon with three vertical dots in the upper-right corner. This opens the menu.
  6. It's the first option in the menu that appears in the upper-right corner. This displays options you can use to share the link.
  7. It's the blue icon that has a blue icon with the Bluetooth icon. It resembles a jagged capital "B" with a tail. Your phone or tablet will start scanning for other devices to send the link to.
  8. As long as the receiving phone or tablet has the Bluetooth menu open, it should appear in the list of available devices when the sending phone or tablet scans for nearby devices.
  9. The receiving phone or tablet will receive an alert says another phone or tablet is sending them a link. Tap Accept in the alert to accept the link.
  10. Once the link is received on the receiving phone or tablet, it will appear in the Inbound Transfers menu. Tap the link to open it in a web browser.
    • If you are asked to select a web browser to open the link in, tap the web browser of your choice and tap Always .
  11. The URL to the app appears in small text at the top of the web browser. Tap the link to open it in the Google Play Store on the receiving device.
  12. It's the green button below the app name in the Google Play Store app info page. This installs the app on the receiving device.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using Android Beam

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  1. NFC allows for the transfer of files and data between two Android devices in close proximity. Use the following steps to ensure both NFC and Android Beam are enabled on both devices: [1]
    • Open the Settings menu.
    • Tap the magnifying glass icon in the upper-right corner.
    • Tap the NFC option.
    • Tap the Toggle Switch to turn NFC on (if not already on).
    • Tap the Toggle Switch to turn Android Beam on (on some devices, the Android Beam option may be under the NFC menu option).
  2. The Google Play Store has an icon that resembles a colorful play triangle. Tap the icon to open the Google Play Store.
  3. The search bar is at the top of the screen. This displays a list of apps that match your search.
  4. It should be in the list of search results. This opens the information screen of the app you want to share.
  5. It's the icon with three vertical dots in the upper-right corner. This opens the menu.
  6. It's the first option in the menu that appears in the upper-right corner. This displays options you can use to share the link.
  7. It has a blue icon with the Bluetooth icon in the center. The Bluetooth icon resembles a jagged "B" with a tail.
  8. This will automatically send the link from the sending phone or tablet to the receiving phone or tablet. Once the link is received on the receiving phone or tablet, it will automatically open the link in the Google Play Store.
  9. It's the green button below the app name in the Google Play Store app info page. This installs the app on the receiving device.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

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  1. You can download APK files from various websites on the internet. You can also use a third-party app store like Aptoide , or you can use a website to download APK files from Google Play Store apps .
    • Warning: Some APK files found on the internet are not safe and may contain viruses and malware. Only download APK files from trusted sources.
  2. The My Files app is used to navigate to different files and folder locations on your Android phone. The My Files app has an icon that resembles a folder. It can be found in the Apps menu.
    • On Samsung Galaxy devices, the My Files app can be found in the Samsung folder in the Apps menu.
  3. Both are listed under the "Categories" section. The Downloads folder contains all downloaded files on your phone or tablet. The Installation Files folder contains APK files.
  4. This displays a checkmark icon next to the APK file.
  5. It's one of the tabs at the bottom of the screen. This opens the Share menu.
  6. It's the blue icon that has a blue icon with the Bluetooth icon. It resembles a jagged capital "B" with a tail. Your phone or tablet will start scanning for other devices to send the link to.
  7. As long as the receiving phone or tablet has the Bluetooth menu open, it should appear in the list of available devices when the sending phone or tablet scans for nearby devices.
  8. The receiving phone or tablet will receive an alert says another phone or tablet is sending them a file. Tap Accept in the alert to accept the file.
  9. You need an app to install APK files on an Android phone or tablet. You can find lots of APK installer apps in the Google Play Store. Some APK installers include APK Installer, APK Extractor, Easy Installer, APK Installer. and more. Use the following steps to install an APK Installer app on the receiving phone or tablet:
    • Open the Google Play Store.
    • Type "APK Installer" or the name of the app you want to install in the search bar.
    • Tap the name of the app in the search results.
    • Tap Install .
  10. The My Files app is used to navigate to different files and folder locations on your Android phone. The My Files app has an icon that resembles a folder. It can be found in the Apps menu.
    • On Samsung Galaxy devices, the My Files app can be found in the Samsung folder in the Apps menu.
  11. Both are listed under the "Categories" section. The Downloads folder contains all downloaded files on your phone or tablet. The Installation Files folder contains APK files.
  12. It's the second option in the pop-up alert. This starts the installation process.
  14. This will install the app on the receiving phone or tablet.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Is possible to transfer an app via Bluetooth without any third party app?
    Community Answer
    It depends on your device, but one way is to get the APK file and transfer that.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 24 Helpful 60
  • Question
    How do I transfer it without download the app?
    Community Answer
    You can't, it's possible to share an app without turning it into an .apk file.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 23
  • Question
    Can I also keep the shared app on my sending device?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can keep the shared app on the sending device as well.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 22
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.androidauthority.com/how-to-use-android-beam-699961/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open the Bluetooth menu on the receiving phone or tablet.
      2. Open the Google Play Store on the sending phone or tabet and search for an app to share.
      3. Tap the app in the search results to display the information page.
      4. Tap the menu icon (⋮) in the upper-right corner.
      5. Tap Share .
      6. Tap the Bluetooth icon.
      7. Tap the phone or tablet you want to share the app with.
      8. Tap Accept on the receiving phone or tablet.
      9. Tap the file link in the "Inbound Transfer" menu.
      10. Tap the link in the web browser to open the link in the Google Play Store.
      11. Tap Install to install the app.

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