A new open-source app called Bada brings Google’s Quick Share functionality to Android devices that don’t support Google Play Services, allowing seamless file transfers over Wi-Fi using the familiar Quick Share protocol.
- Bada replicates Quick Share protocol for non-Google Play devices
- Supports file and folder sharing with encryption over Wi-Fi
- Open-source and currently early-stage with ongoing interoperability goals
What happened
A developer known as Kyujin-cho has released an open-source Android application named Bada that recreates Google’s Quick Share functionality from the ground up. This app targets Android phones that do not have Google Play Services installed, such as Huawei devices or those running Chinese regional Android versions.
Bada allows these phones to send and receive files using the same Quick Share protocol that Google developed, including PIN verification and encrypted transfers over Wi-Fi LAN with BLE identification. The app supports sharing entire folders with the directory structure intact and integrates with the Android system share sheet for convenience.
Why it matters
Many Android devices, especially Huawei models or Chinese regional builds, lack access to Google Play Services and consequently cannot use Google's Quick Share for fast file transfers. Bada fills this gap by offering a compatible alternative that works seamlessly with Quick Share-capable devices on the same network.
By being open-source, Bada provides transparency about its implementation, reassuring users about security practices like encryption. Although still in early development with some interoperability issues noted, it represents a significant improvement for users who were previously excluded from this popular file-sharing feature.
What to watch next
The developer plans to enhance Bada’s compatibility with Apple's NearDrop on macOS and Windows Quick Share, although these targets remain untested currently. Future updates may improve the app’s stability and ease of use when transferring files between different platforms.
As the project gains attention and potentially more contributors through GitHub, users should monitor progress and community feedback to understand how quickly Bada can mature into a reliable Quick Share substitute for the many Android users still without native support.