Google quietly retires Play Store’s app sharing feature after a short-lived run

Google has pulled the plug on its Play Store app sharing feature, marking the end of a tool that had gone largely unnoticed since its introduction in 2021. Initially designed to help users share apps without an internet connection, the feature has now been fully deprecated in the latest Play Store update.

The removal of the app sharing option was first detected in December 2024, when Google announced that it would be retiring the feature. While the Play Store version 44.1 update was expected to enforce this change, users retained access for a few more months. However, with the rollout of Play Store version 45.2.19, the feature has disappeared entirely from the ‘Manage apps & device’ menu, confirming its official demise, according to 9to5Google.

Originally powered by Nearby Share, the app-sharing function allowed users to transfer apps directly through the Play Store without needing an internet connection. As Google and Samsung collaborated to rebrand Nearby Share as Quick Share, the app-sharing feature remained operational, but retained its original branding. Despite speculation that Google might update its logo or relocate the tool, the company’s December 2024 Play Services release notes made it clear: “The Share apps feature on Google Play will be retiring.”

Although the app-sharing function is gone from the Play Store, users still have the ability to share APK files. However, this must now be done through Files by Google, rather than directly from the Play Store. The initial goal of the feature—enabling users with poor internet connectivity to access new apps via friends and family—remains relevant, but it now requires a different approach.