Google Eliminates App Sharing Capabilities On Play Store

Google removed the Application Sharing feature (photo: dock. unsplash)

JAKARTA Google Play Store will remove the Application Sharing feature in the near future. Once this feature is removed, users must download the app and can no longer rely on this capability.

Application Sharing Ability was first introduced in 2021. This feature is supported by Nearby Share and the concept is similar to the SHAREit application. Users can share various applications if both devices are in close proximity.

The concept of this feature is simple, which is saving data usage. When users want to download an application with a large capacity on the Play Store, they don't need to download it themselves. If there are friends or family who have the application, users can directly share it.

Unfortunately, the feature that helps users in saving data will be removed. Although users are still viewing the Application Sharing menu on the Application and Device Management page, the application will now display a warning regarding feature restrictions.

"After January 2025, you will no longer be able to use the Application Sharing feature on the Play Store," wrote the warning. Although written in January, this feature can still be used to date. Apparently, Google's statement is more appropriate than the warning.

Quoting from 9to5google, Google actually provides different time estimates from the warnings displayed in the app. The company said it would stop the Application Sharing feature in December, not January.

Apparently, the availability of this feature also affects the app version. On the Play Store 45.2.19-31, some users realize that the peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing method has disappeared from the Application and Device Management page.