Nearby Share is designed to make file sharing quick and seamless on your Galaxy S25 Ultra. When it stops working, files fail to send, nearby devices do not appear, or the transfer never starts, which can quickly become frustrating.
The issue is usually related to visibility settings, connection requirements, or background restrictions. Let’s break down why this happens and how to fix it properly.
Why Nearby Share Is Not Working on Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Nearby Share visibility is turned off on the receiving device.
- Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is disabled or unstable.
- Device visibility is set to Contacts only and devices are not matched.
- Battery or background restrictions are limiting the feature.
- Temporary system glitches are preventing device discovery.
Make Sure Nearby Share Is Enabled on Both Devices.
Nearby Share will not work unless it is active on both the sending and receiving devices. If the other device is not discoverable, your Galaxy S25 Ultra will keep searching without results.
- Open Settings, and then tap Connected devices.
- Tap Nearby Share, and then toggle it on.
Repeat these steps on the device you are sharing with before trying again.
Set Device Visibility Correctly.
If visibility is set too restrictively, nearby devices will not appear. This is one of the most common reasons Nearby Share fails.
- Open Settings, and then tap Connected devices.
- Tap Nearby Share, and then set Device visibility to Everyone or Contacts only.
If you select Everyone, remember that visibility only stays active for 10 minutes. You may need to turn it on again if time expires.
Turn On Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Nearby Share relies on Bluetooth to discover devices and Wi-Fi to transfer files. If either one is off or unstable, the feature will not work.
- Open Settings, and then tap Connections.
- Tap Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and then make sure both are turned on.
For best results, keep Wi-Fi connected or enabled even if you are not using a network.
Disable Battery Restrictions for Nearby Share.
Battery optimization can silently stop Nearby Share from working in the background. Removing restrictions allows it to run properly.
- Open Settings, and then tap Battery and device care.
- Tap Battery, and then remove any restrictions applied to Nearby Share or Google Play Services.
This ensures the feature remains active while searching for nearby devices.
Restart Both Devices.
Temporary system issues can block Nearby Share from detecting devices. A restart refreshes network services and background processes.
- Press and hold the Side key, and then tap Restart.
- Tap Restart again, and then wait for the phone to reboot.
Restart the other device as well before testing Nearby Share again.
Update System Software.
Outdated software can cause compatibility issues with Nearby Share. Installing updates often fixes bugs related to connectivity and sharing.
- Open Settings, and then tap Software update.
- Tap Download and install, and then install any available update.
After updating, restart your Galaxy S25 Ultra to apply the changes.
Nearby Share usually starts working again once visibility and connection requirements are properly set. With these fixes, sharing files on your Galaxy S25 Ultra should be fast and reliable again.
FAQs
Why does Nearby Share keep searching but not find devices?
This usually happens when the receiving device has visibility turned off or set to Contacts only while devices are not matched.
Does Nearby Share work without an internet connection?
Yes. It uses Bluetooth for discovery and Wi-Fi Direct for file transfer, so mobile data is not required.
How long does Nearby Share stay visible when set to Everyone?
Visibility stays active for 10 minutes only. After that, you need to enable it again to remain discoverable.
