In this digital age, smartphones have become an essential part of our daily lives. We often find ourselves discussing and sharing our favorite apps with friends and family. While there are many ways to share apps, such as copying and pasting a URL or using the in-app sharing menu, the Google Play Store provides an efficient way to share and update apps offline between Android devices. This article will walk you through the process of sharing and updating apps with your friends even when you don’t have internet access.
Why use your Play Store to share offline apps?
Sometimes you may want to share different applications or updates without internet connection. For example, maybe you’re playing a game like Pokémon Go with friends and want to share companion apps to enhance your gaming experience. In such a situation, the offline sharing feature of Google Play Store proves to be very important.
Offline App Sharing Requirements
Before diving into the steps for sharing and updating apps offline, there are a few requirements you’ll need to meet:
- Both the sender and the recipient must have Android devices.
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and location permissions must be enabled on both the devices for the Google Play Store app.
- Both devices must be within 20 feet of each other.
Once these requirements are met, you’re ready to start sharing and updating apps offline using the Google Play Store.
Step 1: Sign in to the Google Play Store
On both the sending and receiving devices, open the Google Play Store app. Tap on the profile icon on the top right corner and select the option “Manage apps and devices”.
Step 2: Prepare the Shipping Device
On a device sharing apps, go to the “Overview” tab and tap “Send” next to “Share apps.” On the next explanatory page, tap “Continue”. A message will appear requesting permission to connect to nearby devices. Tap on the “Allow” button to grant the required permissions.
Step 3: Prepare the Receiving Device
On the receiving device, go to the “Overview” tab and tap “Receive” next to “Share App.” Tap “Continue” on the explanatory page, and then tap “Allow” when prompted to allow the Google Play Store app to connect to nearby devices. The receiving device will now wait on the receiving screen while the sender selects apps to share.
Step 4 – Select apps to share on the sending device
On the sending device, select one or more apps to share. Please note that you can only share free apps and app updates. Paid and age-inappropriate corporate apps such as books and movies cannot be shared. Once you’ve selected the apps, tap the Send button at the top and select the receiving device name at the prompt.
A code will appear on the sending and receiving devices. This code is used to confirm the connection and ensure that the apps are delivered to the correct device.
Step 5: Confirm the connection on the receiving device
On the receiving device, verify that the pairing code matches the code displayed on the sending device. Tap “Receive” to start the app transfer from the sending device.
Step 6 – Install the Apps on the Receiving Device
Once the apps are transferred, the receiving device will display a list of shared apps. To install apps, tap “Install” next to individual apps, or tap “Install all” at the top of the list. If you leave the page, you can return to the “Get” screen to find and install the shared apps.
Once the apps are installed on the receiving device, tap “Disconnect” on the sending device to end the sharing process.
It’s also worth noting that users cannot share:
- paid apps
- books
- movies
- age inappropriate apps
- corporate application
Also, according to the Google support page, this feature is not available in South Korea and South Africa.
Troubleshooting tips
If you encounter any issues during the offline app sharing process, please refer to the following troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure that Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Location permissions are enabled for the Google Play Store app in both the devices.
- Make sure both devices are within 20 feet of each other.
- Check if there are any pending software updates or app updates on both the devices.
- Reboot both the devices and try the app sharing process again.
Benefits of sharing apps offline using Play Store
Offline app sharing provides many benefits, including:
- Share apps without the need for an internet connection.
- Send app updates to friends who might not have received them yet.
- Saving mobile data by transferring apps directly between devices.
Conclusion
The offline app sharing feature of the Google Play Store is a convenient way to share and update apps with friends and family, even when you don’t have Internet access. By following the steps in this article, you can easily share your favorite apps and updates with others, enhancing their Android experience and helping them discover new and useful apps.
