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Nearby Sharing usually fails to find another Windows 11 PC because one device is outside the selected sharing scope, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is unavailable, or a PC lacks the Bluetooth Low Energy capability the feature requires. Check both computers: enabling Nearby Sharing on only one is not enough. Work through the checks below before replacing hardware or changing security settings.
1. Make sure both PCs are discoverable to each other
On each computer, open Settings > System > Nearby sharing. Turn on Nearby Sharing and check its audience setting. Microsoft’s Nearby Sharing troubleshooting guide identifies a visibility mismatch as a cause of devices not appearing.
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- Everyone nearby lets nearby PCs find the device, subject to the wireless and hardware requirements below. It is a useful temporary diagnostic setting if you are comfortable with the privacy tradeoff.
- My devices only restricts sharing to your devices. Microsoft’s guidance for a transfer stuck at “Waiting to receive” says both PCs should be signed in with the same Microsoft account when this setting is used.
Microsoft says that choosing Everyone nearby exposes the PC name and Bluetooth MAC address to nearby devices, and that this information may be linkable to you. Use the setting only as needed for testing, then restore your preferred audience.
2. Check Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the network profile
Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on both PCs, and make sure neither is in airplane mode. The transfer path depends on the computers and their connection: Microsoft says a sender running the latest Windows 11 can share over Wi-Fi when the receiving Windows 10 or 11 PC is connected to the same private Wi-Fi network. Otherwise, the transfer uses Bluetooth. See Microsoft’s Nearby Sharing overview for the connection details.
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Check the receiving PC’s network classification when Wi-Fi is relevant. Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi, select the connected network, and confirm that its profile is Private network. For a wired connection, open Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet and check the connected network’s profile. Microsoft includes the Private profile check in its troubleshooting instructions.
3. Verify that Bluetooth supports Nearby Sharing
Both PCs need Bluetooth 4.0 or later with Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) support, according to Microsoft. The relevant radio capability is called Bluetooth radio supports Low Energy Central Role; an ordinary Bluetooth pairing with headphones or a mouse does not prove that the PC meets this Nearby Sharing requirement.
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- Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
- Expand Bluetooth, then open the Bluetooth radio’s Properties.
- Select the Details tab and find Bluetooth radio supports Low Energy Central Role in the property list.
- Check the value. Microsoft says it should be True.
Check both computers. If Bluetooth is missing, the setting is unavailable, Device Manager shows an error, or the property is not True, follow Microsoft’s Bluetooth connection troubleshooting and Bluetooth problem-fixing guidance. Windows’ Get Help app can also run the automated Bluetooth troubleshooter. Microsoft’s general Bluetooth guidance covers possible hardware, driver, firmware, airplane-mode, and radio-state problems.
4. Refresh discovery, then check “Waiting to receive”
If the settings and requirements appear correct, toggle Bluetooth or Wi-Fi off and back on to refresh the wireless connection. If the sender remains at “Waiting to receive,” restart Bluetooth on both computers and then restart both PCs. When using My devices only, verify again that the same Microsoft account is signed in on each.
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- System Support: The upgraded Bluetooth 5.4 dongle has a wide range of applications. You can connect up to 5 devices at the same time using Bluetooth wireless. Such as Bluetooth speakers,keyboards,headsets,mice, and Bluetooth printers,etc. Only supports Windows 11/10/8.1, Not compatible with Mac OS, Linux,car stereo systems,XBOX,ps4 or TVs.
5. Decide whether an adapter is actually needed
A Bluetooth adapter may help only if a PC lacks Bluetooth or its existing radio does not meet the required capability. A generic dongle is not a guaranteed fix: before buying one, verify that the exact adapter explicitly supports Bluetooth LE Central Role, has a Windows 11 driver, and is compatible with the PC. Microsoft’s Bluetooth network guidance does not establish that any particular retail adapter will resolve Nearby Sharing discovery.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.6. If the other PC still does not appear
Record the exact Windows version on each device, the Bluetooth radio model, the LE Central Role property value, the Nearby Sharing audience setting, and the receiving PC’s network profile. These details help distinguish a capability problem from a visibility or connection-path problem.
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- What Can I do if the Bluetooth adapter can not work?: Ensure there are no other Bluetooth devices installed on the computer. If there are, disable all existing Bluetooth devices in "Device Manager", then insert the adapter and try again. (For detailed information please read the user manual)
Microsoft’s reviewed Nearby Sharing and Bluetooth guidance does not establish a universal registry edit, command-line fix, firewall change, or need to disable security software for this symptom. Avoid treating those as standard troubleshooting steps.
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Windows 10 note
Windows 10 appears in Microsoft’s Nearby Sharing compatibility guidance for the Wi-Fi scenario described above. That is separate from the Windows 11 troubleshooting steps in this article. Microsoft states that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; see its Nearby Sharing overview for the compatibility context.
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