Android has a clever sharing trick I just found, and now I use it constantly

I’ve tested a lot of Android phones over the past few years. Whether it’s the Google Pixel 9 or the Samsung Galaxy S23, I’ve used plenty of devices running different versions of Android, each with its own skin, quirks, and features.

No matter which phone I’m using, some habits remain the same. I still open Gmail to check emails, stream music with YouTube Music, use the camera for photos and videos, and rely on the built-in share feature to send things to WhatsApp, Slack, and a bunch of other apps I use daily.

Yet, even after all this time with Android, there was one simple sharing trick I had completely overlooked. It doesn’t fix everything about Android’s Sharesheet, but it makes everyday sharing much faster.

If you haven’t tried this yet, you’re probably missing out as well.

Sharing on Android still isn’t as seamless as it should be

There’s still friction when you try to share anything

For an OS that promotes flexibility and customization, Android still hasn’t figured out the basics of sharing.

Every time you tap the share button, whether it’s to send an image, a link, a PDF, or anything else, the Sharesheet usually takes more than a moment to load.

Then, depending on the app you’re using, you might see a completely different layout. For instance, Google Photos uses its own sharing menu, which looks different from the apps that use Android’s built-in Sharesheet.

Even when an app uses Android’s built-in Sharesheet, the experience isn’t consistent. The apps you actually want to use are almost never right up top.

Instead, they’re listed in what feels like a random order, forcing you to scroll through a long, unorganized row of apps.

This gets even worse if you installed a lot of apps.

To make things more confusing, Android tries to help by showing recent contacts and commonly shared destinations based on your usage.

While this context-based logic might occasionally be useful, it’s not always what you need.

Personally, when I tap the share button in an app to open the Sharesheet, I usually want quick access to just a couple of apps I regularly use.

It doesn’t need to be this complicated, but by default, it is. Thankfully, there’s a way to improve the experience.

I recently came across a simple trick that changed how I use the Sharesheet on all my Android devices: the ability to pin frequently used apps to the top.

SoC

Google Tensor G4

RAM

12GB

The Pixel 9 is Google’s most affordable 2024 flagship, making a few compromises when compared to the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL while retaining the Google smarts the lineup has become known for. An upgraded 48MP ultra-wide camera is paired with a 50MP main shooter, and the selfie cam added autofocus. All of this comes with new Gemini AI features and a 2,700-nit Actua display for exceptional value at its price point.

A simple trick that makes sharing much faster

For someone who’s been using Android for years, I only recently learned that you can easily pin apps you regularly use to the top of the Sharesheet.

Here’s how you can do it on your Android phone:

1. Open any app with a shareable element (like an image, link, or file).
2. Tap the share button.
3. When the Sharesheet opens, tap and hold the app you want to pin to the top of the sharing menu.

   

4. Tap Pin [App Name].

That’s it. The app will now always appear at the top of your Sharesheet whenever you share something.

Personally, this little trick has already saved me a lot of time. The apps I use most are now always at the top, ready to be selected, no matter which app I’m sharing from.

It’s especially helpful because I no longer need to scroll through a long list of apps every time I want to share something.

For example, I take a lot of photos on my Android devices and often send them to my MacBook using LocalSend instead of Quick Share.

Finding LocalSend in the Sharesheet every time is frustrating (that too on a new device). Now, I pin it on every Android phone I use, so it’s at the top in every app’s Sharesheet.

It’s a simple feature, but when you start using it, you’ll see how useful it is. You won’t have to search for your most-used apps anymore.

Related

Quick Share isn’t as good as it should be and Google knows it

It shouldn’t be so frustrating to share files

This tiny Android feature makes sharing so much better

Having used it on multiple devices now, I can’t help but feel like I missed out on a simple but powerful Android trick for years.

But this isn’t the only useful feature I’ve discovered recently. There are even more unnoticed Android features that don’t get much attention but are just as helpful in daily use.