How to Share Apps From Laptop to Laptop via Nearby Share

Windows Nearby Share is a built-in Windows tool that enables Windows users to share documents, photos, links to websites, and other files with a nearby device. Can I share apps between two laptops using Nearby Share?

EaseUS gives answers to all these questions and even provides you with a straightforward solution to share apps, programs, and even games between two laptops in Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7. Let's see the details.

Can I Share Apps From Laptop to Laptop via Nearby Share?

Now, the answer to the question 'Can I share apps between two laptops using Nearby Share?' is clear, and it is NO! Due to the limit of Nearby Sharing, apps, programs, installed software, and even downloaded games are not allowed to transfer via Nearby Share. Don't worry. We will introduce a professional App mover to help you in the next part.

How to Share Apps From Laptop to Laptop via EaseUS Todo PCTrans

It doesn't matter that you can't apply Nearby Share to share apps between laptops. You can successfully migrate any desired software to a new device using a third-party Nearby Share alternative tool - professional data and app transfer software.

EaseUS Todo PCTrans is reliable in transferring files, apps, and even Windows account settings between PCs and laptops. It breaks the limit of Nearby Share and allows all Windows users to share and move everything on all old and new Windows systems flexibly.

First, Find the App and Program Product Key

As most software requires a product key for activation, it's essential that you run EaseUS Todo PCTrans with its Product Key feature to discover the license code first.

Step 1. Launch and run EaseUS Todo PCTrans on the PC, Click "More Tools". Then, click "Product Key" on the left panel. And click "Scan".

Step 2. Click "Scan", and you can see the product key of Windows, Adobe, and Office. Save the key to the selected location or choose "Copy" for direct use.

Second, Transfer Apps from Laptop to Laptop via Network

Now, you can run EaseUS Todo PCTrans on both laptops and transfer apps with the below steps:

Step 1. Set Up the Old PC

• First, install and launch EaseUS Todo PCTrans and select Data Transfer on the left panel of the main interface.

• Select "Transfer Directly" and click "Next" to continue. 

Step 2. Set Up the New PC

• Download and launch EaseUS Todo PCTrans on the new computer; select "This is New PC" and click "Next".

• Select "Transfer directly" and click "Next" to continue. 
• Select "Network" and click Next to continue. This will automatically scan the old PC. (Make sure the two PCs are connected to the same LAN.)

• Select the target PC and click Connect. Then, it will take some time to scan and analyze the data in old PC.

Step 3. Select the Apps to Transfer

• On the new PC, select the applications you want to transfer. Then, click "Transfer" to start.

Once done, you can run the software on the new laptop and use the found key to activate the software without any issues. If you want to know more precise information, check the video:

Pros and Cons of Windows Nearby Share

Pros of Nearby Share

If your computer has Bluetooth or WiFi access and the operating system is Windows 11 or Windows 10 (version 1083 or later), you can share files between computers by using Nearby Share. So, what can you share via Nearby Share with a nearby computer? Here is the list of content that you can transfer:

• Documents like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, Text documents, etc.
• Photos, images in .png, .jpg, .gif, tiff, etc.
• Videos in .mp4, .avi, .3gp, and more.
• Links to websites.
• More...

For someone who wants to share files via Nearby Share on new Windows laptops simply, you can refer to this guide for help:

Enable and Use Nearby Sharing in Windows 11

This page will give you a complete guide to enable and use the Nearby Sharing feature in Windows 11 to successfully share files to a nearby Windows computer. 

Cons of Nearby Share

So what else can't Nearby Share transfer? Here is the list of limits in Nearby Share that you can refer to have a look.

• I can't transfer big files in GB size.
• Can't transfer apps, software, and programs.
• It doesn't support Windows 8.1/8/7/XP/Vista
• File sharing is inconsistent based on the WiFi or Bluetooth state.

If your Nearby Sharing is not working, it may also caused by other reasons. Click the link below and find your solution:

Nearby Sharing Not Working Windows 11? Fix It Now!

Is the Nearby Sharing feature on your Windows 11 not working as it should? Find out how to fix Nearby Sharing not working in Windows 11 in this article.

Nearby Share FAQs

This page directly answers the question, 'Can I share apps between laptops using Nearby Share?' and provides an alternative solution to help Windows users resolve this issue.

Some of you may have more questions about Nearby Share, and you can check the questions and answers below. In addition, you may get the desired answer here.

1. Can I use Nearby Share between Android and Windows?

No, Windows and Android Nearby Share do not share the same protocol. It means that even if you open the Bluetooth or WiFi discovery feature, neither your Android phone nor the Windows laptop will discover each other in the same LAN.

2. Can I use WiFi Direct to transfer files to Windows 11?

WiFi Direct is an offline way to connect computers or smartphones directly. Compared to traditional WiFi, it can transfer large files, connect printers, etc.

To use WiFi Direct for transferring files, you'll need to check whether your computer supports it first. For a step-by-step guide, follow this link for help: Send Files from PC to PC via WiFi Direct.

3. How Do I Fix It When Nearby Share Is Not Working

The reasons why Nearby Share is not working are complex, and when this error occurs to you, you need to check if your computer supports Nearby Share first.

Here are some tips for you to check:

1. 1. Check if the computer OS is Windows 11 or Windows 10 1803 or later.
2. 2. Check if both two computers support Bluetooth or WiFi connection.
3. 3. Make sure two PCs are near to each other.
4. 4. Make sure the Bluetooth or WiFi connection is smooth.

If your two computers meet all the requests, follow this link to Fix Nearby Share Is Not Working error. 

In a word, when you can't share large files or cannot use Nearby Share to share or transfer data, apps between computers turn to EaseUS Todo PCTrans. It'll always satisfy your demands.