Google to Retire Play Store’s App Sharing Feature

Google has announced plans to retire the Play Store’s peer-to-peer app sharing functionality, which allowed users to send and receive apps directly between nearby Android devices. Originally launched in early 2021, the feature relied on Nearby Share (now rebranded as Quick Share) and offered a seamless way to transfer apps without requiring Wi-Fi or cellular data.

The app-sharing option, found under the “Manage apps & device” section of the Play Store, enabled users to quickly send apps to others in regions with slow or unreliable network connections while saving data costs. However, according to the changelog for Google Play Store version 44.1, the “Share apps” feature will soon be discontinued.

Despite its removal, users who rely on peer-to-peer app sharing won’t be left without alternatives. Google recommends using its Files by Google app, which offers similar functionality. Users can navigate to “Apps” within the Files app and utilize the sharing option in the overflow menu to send applications to nearby devices without internet connectivity.

The change is part of Google’s ongoing updates to streamline its services and tools. As with most Google System Release Notes, the rollout of this removal is expected to happen gradually, even for devices already updated to the latest Play Store version. For now, app-sharing enthusiasts will need to prepare for the shift to Files by Google as the primary alternative for local app transfers.