What is Wi-Fi Direct? Faster wireless file transfer method than Bluetooth.09 Clarifications About It
Wi-Fi Direct
There are alternatives to Bluetooth for wireless file transfers. Wi-Fi Direct with Windows 10 provides a quicker solution.
The past few years have seen a significant advancement in wireless data exchange. Data may be easily transferred across devices thanks to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC.
But Windows 10 also has Wi-Fi Direct, a wireless communication method that makes it simple to connect devices and transfer enormous amounts of data. Wi-Fi Direct is a feature that most people are unaware of.
We’ll go into great detail about Wi-Fi Direct in this article, including what it is, how it functions, and how to use it to wirelessly transfer files on Windows 10.
What Is Wi-Fi Direct?
A peer-to-peer wireless technology called Wi-Fi Direct enables your smartphones or computers to connect to one another without using a common public network.
Wi-Fi Direct might be compared to Bluetooth over Wi-Fi. In other words, it has the same “find and send” capabilities as Bluetooth, but sends data through wireless networking. Additionally, as you would have imagined, this allows far faster file transfer.
Although it has been around since 1994 and is useful for connecting devices and transmitting audio, larger files shouldn’t be sent over Bluetooth. In comparison, Wi-Fi Direct has no such problems and seems destined to totally replace Bluetooth in the next years.
Wi-Fi Direct is currently less widespread than Bluetooth, though. For moving data between Windows 10 and other devices, it is a really helpful function.
How Does Wi-Fi Direct Work?
You must have at least one compatible device for Wi-Fi Direct technology for it to function. Then you may utilize it easily for everything from file transfers to interpersonal contact.
In Wi-Fi Direct, when you connect two devices, one of them serves as an access point, and the other one connects to it. You need not worry about getting your hands dirty because everything is mechanized.
Wi-Fi is the foundation for Wi-Fi Direct. The main difference between Wi-Fi Direct and normal Wi-Fi is that Wi-Fi Direct doesn’t have any of the restrictions that require a router to connect your devices to the internet. In actuality, Wi-Fi Direct’s only function is to make it easier for local devices to connect to one another rather than to connect to the internet.
However, this raises the question: How does Wi-Fi Direct differ from Bluetooth in light of this? Why create new technologies for something we already have with Bluetooth to connect things locally?
The cause is velocity.
Despite the fact that Bluetooth functions flawlessly, it is simply too slow to keep up with our current speed of life. If you’ve ever used Bluetooth, you understand what we mean when we say that files can transfer from one device to another quite slowly. However, there are no such problems with Wi-Fi Direct. Instead, it is just as quick—and in some circumstances, even faster—than a Wi-Fi network.
Where Can You Use Wi-Fi Direct?
Because of its peer-to-peer wireless technology and its lightning-fast bandwidth (up to 250 Mbps), Wi-Fi Direct can be utilized anyplace Bluetooth was previously used. It is therefore ideal for:
- Large multimedia files can be sent from one device to another using this method of file sharing. For instance, Wi-Fi Direct should be your first choice if you have a large video file, such as a movie, due to the file’s size.
- Gaming: For a lag-free experience, the majority of high-quality multiplayer games on smartphones require quick connectivity. In these circumstances, being direct can be useful.
- External devices: Wi-Fi Direct can also be used to connect computer peripherals such as keyboards, mouse, printers, etc.
Check if Your Windows 10 PC Is Wi-Fi Direct Compatible
Wi-Fi Direct is faster and easier to use to send files than Bluetooth. You must first confirm that your gadget is Wi-Fi Direct compatible. Using the Command prompt will help you accomplish this. To do that, type “cmd” into the Start menu search box, then choose the best batch.
Once at the Command prompt, enter “ipconfig /all” and press Return.
You ought to notice an entry with the title Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter if Wi-Fi Direct is accessible.
The next step is to begin sending data via Wi-Fi Direct. This isn’t as obvious as you may think, though.
How To Transfer Files From Android To Windows With Wi-Fi Direct
You’ll need a third-party app to transmit your data using Wi-Fi Direct; choose the best one is crucial because it will significantly affect the speed of your transfer.
Since the release of Windows 7 and Windows 8, Feem has been a piece of software that supports Wi-Fi Direct on Windows desktop and laptop computers.
The use of Feem is free, yet there are a number of premium options available. Both live chat and Wi-Fi Direct in Feem are cost-free. You can, however, pay for iOS support, limitless file transfers, and ad removal.
It is simple to transfer data from an Android device to a PC or laptop using Feem.
- Through Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot & tethering, you may turn your Android device into a mobile hotspot. Join this network with your Windows machine.
- Start Feem on Windows and Android. You’ll see that the app gives both devices an odd name (like Junior Raccoon) and a password. You’ll need the password to set up the initial connection, so keep a note of it.
- Select the target device and select Send File to send a file from an Android device to a Windows computer through Wi-Fi Direct. After selecting the file or files, select Send.
The information will be delivered to your PC shortly. That’s all there is to it, and it also applies in reverse.
Don’t Have Wi-Fi Direct? Transfer Files With Bluetooth!
In the absence of a USB cable, Bluetooth is a logical choice if your devices don’t support Wi-Fi Direct. This is especially helpful if you try to use Wi-Fi Direct on Windows 7 or 8 but the capability is missing or not functioning.
Before transferring a file to a Bluetooth-enabled device (such as a phone, tablet, computer, etc.), first confirm that the devices are linked. The process for doing this is essentially consistent across devices, and both must be set to “discoverable.”
Following a successful search, both devices will connect after entering a confirmation code.
Here is a list of methods for data transfer between an Android device and a PC for further information.
Open Settings > Devices if you’re unsure of where the Bluetooth controls are on your Windows 10 machine. Turn on Bluetooth and pair your device with the computer once you’ve reached the Bluetooth & other devices section. To do so, select Add Bluetooth or another device and then continue with the pairing process.
then select Send Files from the Bluetooth Send or Receive Files menu. Next, choose the device with which you wish to share files, choose the file to be transmitted, and then click Next to carry out the transfer.
The device that receives your data file will prompt you to confirm that you want to save the data when you send the file. Accept this, and then watch for the transfer to finish.
Keep in mind that since Bluetooth has a limited range, having both devices near together will yield the best results.
No Wi-Fi Direct? Transfer Files From Android To Windows PC With FTP
For Android users trying to transfer data to their Windows 10 PC, FTP is another useful file transfer option (or other operating systems, for that matter).
Popular third-party file manager for Android is called ES File Explorer. This includes a number of file management tools for both network and local use. FTP, which enables a direct network connection between two devices, is one of these features.
You may view the IP address of your Android smartphone by using the Network > FTP option in ES File Explorer.
To browse the contents, paste this into a file transfer application like FileZilla. After then, file transfers between the two devices will be simple.
If you wish to transfer data from a mobile device to your laptop over Wi-Fi but lack Wi-Fi Direct, try ES File Explorer.
Data Transfer Speeds: Which Is Best?
When experimenting with the two ways described above, you’ll discover that Wi-Fi Direct is far faster than Bluetooth. In fact, as recent testing have shown, Bluetooth’s speed is incomparably slower.
Wi-Fi Direct can transfer a 1.5 GB file in 10 minutes, however Bluetooth needs over 125 minutes to transfer the same amount of data. Wi-Fi Direct isn’t any faster than any cable data transfer (such as USB 2.0 or USB 3.0).
Start Using Wi-Fi Direct In Windows 10 Today
The data you want to move will determine which data transfer method you select. The quickest solution is a USB 3.0 cable with suitable hardware. With Bluetooth coming in third, Wi-Fi Direct is a close second. Although Wi-Fi direct is a decent compromise choice, it is not as frequently used (or understood) as Bluetooth, so you might decide to use a cable instead.
The ease of use of Wi-Fi Direct in Windows 10 is arguably its most significant feature. After all, early versions of any technology were a little challenging to use. But hopefully, this will alter over time
