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What is Wi-Fi Direct and how do you use it on Android?

Android Nearby Share
© Google

Modern smartphones are loaded to the hilt with features and can literally do anything under the sun. An unintended outcome of this, however, is that many of these features remain hidden under sub-menus and are never really used to their full potential. Wi-Fi Direct is a prime example of this. In this article, we explain what Wi-Fi Direct really is and tell you how you may have used the feature even without realizing it.

What is Wi-Fi Direct?

The simplest way to explain what Wi-Fi Direct is to tell you that it is a form of direct, device-to-device communication. Unlike 'normal' Wi-Fi, which requires several devices to connect to a centralized device (like a router), Wi-Fi Direct lets users directly connect one device to another (hence the term Direct). The reason for it being termed as Wi-Fi Direct is because it uses the same security protocols as our normal Wi-Fi connections do (WPS and WPA/WPA2).

Wi-Fi Direct can be seen as a sort of second-generation Wi-Fi, as it allows compatible devices which do not have their own internet connection, to establish a mutual connection with ones that do (Hotspots, modems, or routers). Thanks to Wi-Fi Direct, you can build up a wireless network between multiple devices.  In addition, you can use Wi-Fi Direct in combination with Miracast to screencast onto another device with a display. The newest generation of Wi-Fi Direct is also NFC compatible.

Wi-Fi Direct is widely supported by a large pool of devices – most notably smartphones, tablets, laptops, digital cameras, and TVs. The Samsung Galaxy S (launched in 2010) was one of the first smartphones to include this feature, and starting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, all Android smartphones have this feature included natively. In case you were wondering, Apple products also support the Wi-Fi Direct feature - except - they have chosen to rebrand it to AirDrop and AirPlay.

iOS 15 iPhone Purple
Even Apple and iOS devices support Wi-Fi Direct. They have simply renamed it to Airdrop/AirPlay / © NextPit.

In simpler terms, Wi-Fi direct allows devices without their own internet connection to connect to one which does. In the case of Android smartphones and devices, you can connect them and quickly transfer files without the hassle of cables. So, is Wi-Fi Direct just a glorified version of Bluetooth? Well, yes and no. The advantage of using Wi-Fi Direct over Bluetooth is that the Wi-Fi range and transfer speeds are significantly higher than those of Bluetooth. So, in short - use Wi-Fi Direct if you want a better way to send files from one device to another.

What is Wi-Fi Direct used for?

As of 2021, the feature is used for a range of applications that range from file sharing and data transfer to screen sharing and even playing games together. Let us take a look at some use cases with examples.

1. File sharing between phones

Sharing large files between smartphones wasn't very straightforward a few years ago. The only options you had were Bluetooth and cable. While using Bluetooth was OK  when it came to small files, using it to share larger files meant waiting for several minutes (or hours) for the transfer to complete. Data transfers using cables were faster - but then it was cumbersome. With the advent of Wi-Fi Direct, however, large file transfers between smartphones (and even laptops/ computers) have become much easier. To learn how to transfer files using Wi-Fi Direct, please check our next section.

Wi-Fi sharing is also used to quickly move data from an old phone to a new phone while setting it up for the first time.

Files By Google
Files By Google uses the Wi-Fi Direct protocol for its file transfer functionality/ © Google

2. Wireless Printing

Most modern printers support Wi-Fi Direct - thereby enabling them to communicate wirelessly with computers and smartphones and easily handle wireless printing jobs.

3. Playing games and screen-sharing

Other areas where we have seen Wi-Fi Direct being used extensively include offline, close-range smartphone gaming, and screen-sharing. You heard that right. The wireless screen sharing feature supported by your phone comes courtesy of Wi-Fi Direct. There are some games that use the same feature and let users play multiplayer games without the need for an internet connection.

How to set up Wi-Fi Direct

Every Android smartphone that uses Android 4.0 and above has Wi-Fi Direct functionality (bar some very rare exceptions). While the systems' user interfaces might vary, setting this functionality up is relatively simple and unified across all devices. Wi-Fi Direct, until recently, did not offer native support for file transfers. That no longer is the case, thanks to a newly introduced feature called Nearby Share. Google also has its own app called 'Files' that includes a File transfer functionality (which uses Wi-Fi Direct).

Most modern smartphones do not require you to manually 'turn on' Wi-Fi Direct. The feature is automatically turned on when you turn the Wi-Fi on. To check the status of Wi-Fi Direct on your device, go into Settings -> Network & internet -> Wi-Fi -> Wi-Fi preferences and then tap Wi-Fi Direct. Your smartphone will start scanning for devices that you can connect to.

WiFi Direct Android 12
Accessing the Wi-Fi Direct menu on Android 12/ © NextPit

Unlike with Bluetooth, there is no button or anything that you need to tap to turn Wi-Fi Direct on. Wi-Fi Direct is enabled the moment you have a stable internet connection. This doesn't mean that Wi-Fi Direct is on all the time. Your smartphone only starts scanning for nearby devices to connect to when you tap on the Wi-Fi Direct tab.

Important: You also need to turn on Wi-Fi direct on your laptop, television, printer, or whichever device you are connecting to, as well as having activated it on your smartphone using the steps above.

Have you used the Wi-Fi direct feature on your smartphone before reading this article? Of course, if you have any questions about this topic, do leave them below in the comments!


This article was last updated in July 2021. Older comments have been retained. 

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David McCourt

David McCourt
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David enjoys staying abreast of the latest technology and newest Android apps. Outside of the office, he can be found playing snooker and writing bad 00s indie songs.

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24 comments
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  • 2
    D Ortloff Nov 19, 2021 Link to comment

    I'm asking if Wifi direct will work with a Screenbeam (used to be actiontec) adapter for non smart tv. We have no Wifi service in our metal home. It is miracast based.


  • Graham Bassett 2
    Graham Bassett Oct 31, 2021 Link to comment

    When I receive a file by WiFi Direct, where does it get stored on my Galaxy Note9 please? I can't find the file location by just navigating. Thank you

    Zois Bekios Zannikos


    • Zois Bekios Zannikos 9
      Zois Bekios Zannikos Nov 1, 2021 Link to comment

      Each brand has a different storage location for its WiFi Direct. There may be a different folder with a naming scheme "WiFi direct files" in your files or it may simply be in your Downloads or your SD card. I do not have the device to test it but personally i would try my "downloads" folder. If that doesnt work try searching for the file location by the date you did the transfer through a file explorer. It is not much but i hope it helps :)


  • Δημητρης Ανδριτσοπουλος 3
    Δημητρης Ανδριτσοπουλος Sep 18, 2020 Link to comment

    standing by and ..counting.

    Zois Bekios Zannikos


  • 1
    Joe Sep 11, 2020 Link to comment

    Can two MacBook laptops print with Brother DCP-L2530DW without connecting with a USB cable? Both laptops have internet connection.


  • cuneytgargin 1
    cuneytgargin Jun 8, 2020 Link to comment

    Hi. Some friends say when connected to a device with wi-fi direct, standard wi-fi connection will be lost. I searched for it . There are some articles saying it depends upon the wi-fi card on the phone. It means some phones will use both connections simultaneously without any problem but for some , they won't work together. What is the situation and how can I be sure if any phone runs both connections together. And if there is a list of phones with this property, where can I find the list ? Please help.


  • 1
    Mystic Jan 5, 2020 Link to comment

    WiFi direct needs a password to connect where do I find it on my Samsung blu ray DVD player so I can connect to my phone


  • 1
    William Dec 17, 2019 Link to comment

    Why won't my Android power G7 do wifi-direct


  • 1
    Sunil narang 86461 Aug 30, 2019 Link to comment

    Where are these items stored


  • CJ Brown 29
    CJ Brown May 22, 2019 Link to comment

    2 Motorola smartphones
    1 Samsung tablet
    2 HP computers
    2 HP printers

    I am going to test Wi-Fi direct and see what I experience. Upon reading this article, Wi-Fi direct is similar to Bluetooth, but in order for it to work? all devices must have Wi-Fi direct enabled.

    When it comes to the printers, I assume your smartphone(s) will connect to the Network via Wi-Fi direct utilizing the connection with a printer on a computer (something tells me this article is going to need a follow-up that elaborates on things).

    I wish everyone good luck making things work today 👍


    • Mark G. 28
      Mark G. May 23, 2019 Link to comment

      Yes wifi direct needs to be on for all devices - I have a brother wifi printer which requires the app to be downloaded which loads a printer plug in.


  • Mark G. 28
    Mark G. May 22, 2019 Link to comment

    I have used WiFi direct since its introduction, I use it to swap between tablets and phone, sending media to the TV, printing on my WiFi printer. I have also used it very successfully between laptop and phone/tablet.
    It's a great feature.

    Peace 🖖

    CJ Brown


  • 1
    MR.A.G.V Feb 24, 2019 Link to comment

    Which app is beather than all them about Wifi-Direct?


  • 1
    elyazid Nov 30, 2018 Link to comment

    Can we integrate another protocol into wifi-direct for further security


  • 1
    klasun sivut Jan 3, 2018 Link to comment

    Reading these comment it becomes increasingly unclear to which wifi printer (not yet bought) my households smartphones (android, windows), laptops (iOS, android) or computers (osX) will connect! How about the next step: do all need a separate driver in order to print?


    • Mark G. 28
      Mark G. May 22, 2019 Link to comment

      No you should not need any "driver" whilst using Android - a driver is a Microsoft legacy feature.


  • Valerie Hall 2
    Valerie Hall Oct 31, 2017 Link to comment

    I have an S7 Edge phone. When I did the steps above, my phone said there are "no connectable devices found." I am in a room with my Pavilion laptop, my husband's Lenovo Flex 5 laptop, a ScanSnap scanner, and a Brother printer...all with blue tooth. Why am I not connecting to any item? Thank you!

    CJ Brown


    • CJ Brown 29
      CJ Brown May 22, 2019 Link to comment

      Wifi-direct is completely different from Bluetooth, I believe the article has featured an addendum that tells us to turn on the Wi-Fi direct feature all of our electronics (laptop , desktop , etc) in order for your S7 Edge to acknowledge it ; I believe the theory of this article is if one of your devices already has an established network with a printer? then wifi-direct should give you the same network access to the printer.

      I am going to test this wifi-direct utilizing 2 Motorola smartphones, 1 Samsung tablet, 1 HP desktop, 1 HP laptop and 2 HP printers (I will post experience later tomorrow). 👍


  • 2
    Alex M Oct 22, 2017 Link to comment

    So what about PCs? How do I use Wifi Direct to interface with a PC and transfer files? Who cares about transferring files between two Android devices anyway? Maybe some do, but phone to PC (Windows-based) seems like the much more important issue. Someone on Quora claims that this might actually be impossible. I would post a link but I'm prohibited. The Quora post is titled, "How can I use Wi-Fi Direct to transfer files between an Android phone and a Windows 10 laptop?" That is precisely what I want to know, too.

    Can someone help with more info? I'm completely befuddled why there is SO LITTLE information about this.

    CJ Brown


  • SharxX8 2
    SharxX8 May 21, 2017 Link to comment

    Tested it between 2 different devices (different brand) connected to different wifi networks and both of them with PC. Works flawlessly

    CJ Brown


  • 9
    Fullmetal Jun May 1, 2017 Link to comment

    For some stupid reasons, wifi direct can be used as faster bluetooth only between devices of the same brand. Example: Works when both are Samsung devices or both are LG devices. If it's between 2 different brands, file transfer is impossible such as between an LG & a Samsung device. This is so inconvenient in the modern world of today. Google should have forced manufacturers to use a standard wifi direct compatible with all brands and slowly killing Bluetooth!

    CJ Brown


    • 24
      Deactivated Account May 3, 2017 Link to comment

      Ah - thats quite interesting - well test this in the office and let you (and the other readers) know what we found


    • 2
      Neuro Monkey Jun 5, 2017 Link to comment

      While vendor inconsistency is occasionally a problem with all sorts of networking equipment, I spent a couple of hours today testing several apps, communicating via wifi direct on a Nexus 6P (Huawei,) Pixel XL (HTC,) Motorola RAZR HD, and a Samsung Galaxy S4. I wouldn't say that everything was rock-solid, but many things were.

      I think it'd be great if this article provided a bit more detail on how wifi direct actually functions and what it does and does not support. (eg. does turning it on disable an existing wifi connection? Is all functionality of tcp/ip supported? Is it routable?)

      CJ Brown


    • 1
      Meowcats13 Jul 1, 2018 Link to comment

      That's actually not true. I transfer stuff from my old LG to my Galaxy S8 all the time via wifi direct. I'm not sure where you got this idea from.

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