Install

Install NearShare and give it the permissions it needs for Bluetooth discovery and Direct mode.

If you have not installed a snap or a PPA before, Installing apps explains both.

Which package to choose

Package	Version	Works on	Files right-click item
Snap	1.0.9	Any Linux with snapd, x86-64 and ARM64	No (uses Open With instead)
PPA	1.0.8	Ubuntu 24.04, x86-64	Yes, Send with NearShare

Both packages contain the same app.

Snap Store

sudo snap install nearshare

Then connect two optional permissions. Without them NearShare still sends and receives, but with less:

sudo snap connect nearshare:bluez            # Bluetooth LE: phones see you without searching
sudo snap connect nearshare:network-manager  # Direct mode hotspot

Permission	What you lose without it
bluez	Phones only see your computer while their Quick Share screen is already open and searching
network-manager	Direct mode cannot start a hotspot

Ubuntu (PPA)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dhiva-labs/apps
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nearshare

The package also adds Send with NearShare to the right-click menu of the Files app. Log out and back in, or run nautilus -q, for Files to pick it up.

NetworkManager, BlueZ and the Files extension support are installed as recommended packages, so a normal apt install brings them in.

First start

Open NearShare from your app grid. The window opens with Visible to nearby devices turned on and starts looking for devices.

With the PPA package, a Finish setup group may list items such as Keyboard shortcut; select Finish setup to set them up. It binds Ctrl + Alt + N to turn visibility on and off.

Firewall

If your computer runs a firewall, such as ufw, phones may not find it or transfers may not start. See Troubleshooting.

Uninstall

Package	How to remove it
Snap	sudo snap remove nearshare
PPA	sudo apt remove nearshare

Files you received stay in your Downloads folder.

Next steps

• Beginner guide
• Troubleshooting and FAQ