One of the explanations individuals use Apple gadgets is as a result of they work so seamlessly collectively. You can simply hand off web-browsing out of your iPhone to your Mac, AirDrop photographs to pals, or share wifi passwords between gadgets. Google’s Nearby Share goals to copy that seamlessness on the Android facet, letting you share information, photographs, and apps with different gadgets utilizing Bluetooth. And quickly, Nearby Share will allow you to ship wifi credentials out of your Android cellphone to your Chromebook.

Chrome Story discovered proof within the newest Chromium repository that Google is engaged on wifi community sharing between totally different gadgets. According to 9to5Google, the function is more likely to begin behind a Chrome flag, basically a hidden menu which you can entry by typing in chrome://flags within the Chrome browser on Chrome OS. The function is known as “Nearby Sharing Receive WiFi Credentials.”

Once enabled, you possibly can digitally push the wifi community title and its safety sort—whether or not it’s WPA2 or WPA3—over Nearby Share. The Chromebook receiving the credentials will log on-line nearly instantly upon receipt, which can make it simpler and sooner to entry a wifi community at a buddy’s home, as an example.

It’s unclear if the wifi credential sharing function will work in reverse in order that Android gadgets can obtain login info from Chromebooks. But we know that Google’s been engaged on extra wi-fi integration between Chrome OS and Android gadgets. Earlier this 12 months, Google introduced you can arrange a model new Chromebook with an Android cellphone, beginning first with Acer and HP laptops someday quickly.

Nearby Share can be increasing to the Windows working system, which already makes use of its model of the wi-fi sharing spec that depends on related protocols. FairPair will facilitate the power, and also you’ll be capable to pair Bluetooth equipment and sync textual content messages, permitting extra operability between you, your Android smartphone, and the pc you’ve gotten readily available.

We’re unsure once we’ll see this function crop up. Considering the timeline, we may be seeing wifi credentials over Nearby Share present up as quickly as March, which is when Chrome 100 is due.