Huawei Is Testing Direct File Sharing Between HarmonyOS 6 and Android. What Actually Works, What’s Still Missing, and What Users Should Know

Quick Answer

Huawei is testing a system-level file sharing feature in HarmonyOS 6 that allows direct transfers between Huawei phones and Android devices without internet, cables, or third-party apps. Early developer builds show faster speeds than Bluetooth by using Wi-Fi Direct, with Bluetooth limited to device discovery.

What makes this different is not speed alone. It’s the removal of friction for users who move files daily between Huawei and Android devices. But important limitations still exist, and not all claims are proven yet.

Huawei Is Testing Direct File Sharing Between HarmonyOS 6 and Android. What Actually Works, What’s Still Missing, and What Users Should Know

Why This Feature Exists in the First Place

Since Huawei lost access to Google Mobile Services, everyday tasks like sharing files became harder for users outside a pure Huawei ecosystem. Most workarounds introduced new problems: slow speeds, ads, privacy concerns, or extra apps.

HarmonyOS 6 appears to address one specific pain point:

“How do I quickly send a large file to an Android phone nearby without logging in, installing anything, or going online?”

This update targets that exact use case.

What Huawei Is Actually Testing (Based on Developer Builds)

Based on HarmonyOS 6 developer previews and Huawei’s feature descriptions, the file-sharing system works as follows:

Wi-Fi Direct handles the file transfer

Bluetooth is used only to discover nearby devices

Files move locally, not through cloud servers

No Huawei account sign-in is required

No third-party apps are involved

The feature is embedded inside the OS, not added later

This design choice matters. System-level sharing tools typically have:

Lower latency

Better power management

Fewer permission risks

Higher stability than app-based solutions

Transfer Speed: What Testing Suggests and What’s Still Unproven

Observed in Early Builds

Developers testing internal HarmonyOS 6 builds report average transfer speeds close to 18–22 MB/s under clean network conditions.

That is:

Much faster than Bluetooth

Comparable to Nearby Share in ideal conditions

Slower than USB or high-end AirDrop scenarios

What Has Not Been Verified Yet

Huawei has not published:

Official speed benchmarks

Test environments used

Device models involved

Performance in congested Wi-Fi areas

Battery impact during large transfers

Important: Until independent reviewers test this across multiple phones, these speeds should be treated as indicative, not guaranteed.

How This Is Different From Existing Options (Real-World Comparison)

Most users already know the alternatives. Here’s what changes in daily use.

Bluetooth

Works on almost all phones

Extremely slow for videos and folders

Unreliable for large files

USB Cable

Fast and stable

Requires physical access

Not practical in meetings or classrooms

Third-Party Sharing Apps

Often fast

Heavy ads

Broad permissions

Privacy concerns

Both users must install the same app

Google Nearby Share

Well-designed

Requires Google services

Not supported on many Huawei phones

HarmonyOS 6 to Android Sharing

No apps

No ads

No internet

No login

Works only on supported devices

Still in testing

For mixed-device users, this removes multiple steps from a task done every day.

Where This Feature Helps the Most

This update is not about headline features. It’s about repeated daily friction.

It matters most for:

Office workers using Huawei phones with Android laptops or work phones

Students sharing PDFs, notes, and recorded lectures

Creators moving photos and video clips quickly

Families using different phone brands at home

Saving 30–60 seconds per transfer may sound small. Over months, it adds up.

Device Support: What’s Likely and What’s Unknown

Huawei has not released a final device list yet. Based on past rollouts:

Likely first wave

Mate series

Pura series

Devices eligible for HarmonyOS 6

Requirements

HarmonyOS 6 installed

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled

Nearby Android device with compatible sharing protocol

Still unclear

Minimum Android version required

Whether older mid-range Huawei phones will qualify

Regional restrictions outside China

Huawei usually clarifies these during public beta announcements.

Security and Privacy: What We Can Say Responsibly

Huawei states that:

Transfers are encrypted

Files stay on local connections

No cloud relay is used

What has not been independently verified:

Encryption standard details

Key exchange method

Logging or metadata retention

From a user perspective, this approach is inherently safer than app-based sharing, but formal security audits will matter for enterprise or government use.

Why This Signals a Strategic Shift by Huawei

For years, Huawei focused on ecosystem self-reliance. That helped survival, but it increased isolation.

This feature suggests a change:

Less lock-in

More cooperation at the task level

Focus on user convenience over platform purity

It does not weaken HarmonyOS. It makes it more usable in real life.

Market Context

According to Counterpoint Research, Huawei’s smartphone market share in China recently reached around 17 percent, driven by strong domestic sales.

Reducing friction with Android users could:

Improve user retention

Lower switching anxiety

Make HarmonyOS more acceptable outside China

Small usability improvements often matter more than flashy features.

Practical Limitations to Keep in Mind

Before users get excited, a few realities remain:

This is still testing, not final release

Compatibility may be limited at launch

Performance may vary by environment

Enterprise profiles may restrict usage

Clear expectations help maintain trust.

Author Michael B Norris Observation (opinion)

1. A Small Detail That Quietly Reveals How Mature This Feature Is

One detail that matters more than speed is **where the sharing toggle lives** in HarmonyOS 6.

In developer builds, the option is not buried in connectivity menus or hidden inside a “More” section. It appears directly in the system share sheet, next to familiar actions like Bluetooth and Huawei Share.

That placement tells us something important: Huawei is treating this as **default behavior**, not an experimental add-on. In OS design, features placed in the primary share flow are usually considered stable enough for daily use, even if they are still labeled as “testing.”

This subtle UI decision suggests Huawei expects regular users, not just developers, to rely on it.

2. Why Huawei Chose Wi-Fi Direct Instead of Improving Bluetooth Speeds

Huawei could have tried to optimize Bluetooth transfers further. It did not.

Using Wi-Fi Direct with Bluetooth only for discovery is a deliberate tradeoff. It shifts the bottleneck away from radio limitations and toward **session stability**. In practical terms, this reduces the chance that a transfer fails halfway through a large video or folder, which is a common user complaint.

This design mirrors how AirDrop evolved internally, but with one key difference: Huawei removed account checks entirely. That choice prioritizes **task completion over ecosystem identity**, which is unusual for platform-level features.

3. The Real Reason This Matters Outside China

The biggest impact of this feature is not speed or convenience. It is **psychological friction**

Users considering a Huawei phone outside China often ask one question first:

Will this make my daily life harder?

File sharing sits at the center of that anxiety because it is a frequent, visible task. By making Android compatibility feel normal instead of workaround-driven, Huawei reduces the feeling of being “cut off” from everyone else.

This does not win market share overnight. But it lowers the emotional cost of choosing a Huawei device, which is often the real barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can older Huawei phones use this?

Only devices upgraded to HarmonyOS 6 and approved by Huawei.

Will every Android phone work?

Not confirmed yet. Compatibility may depend on Android version and manufacturer support.

Is this faster than Nearby Share?

In ideal conditions, speeds appear comparable, but full testing is still pending.

Final Assessment

This HarmonyOS 6 feature does not reinvent file sharing. It removes unnecessary barriers.

If Huawei delivers:

Stable Android compatibility

Consistent speeds

Broad device support

This could become one of the most practically useful updates HarmonyOS has received in years.

It won’t dominate marketing slides.
But it may quietly improve daily life for millions of users.

Editorial Notes
This article distinguishes confirmed information from unverified testing observations. Where public data is limited, uncertainty is stated clearly to avoid misleading readers.

Sources & Credibility

Huawei Official Support Page – HarmonyOS File Transfer
CounterPoint Research – Smartphone Market Share Data

Huawei HarmonyOS Release Notes

Author: Michael B Norris, Author and Senior Tech Journalist at TrendingAlone Latest Smartphones, Updates, and Tech News. Covers Huawei OS updates, Android integration, and mobile technology trends for over 8 years. He also writes at medium

Learn more: About Us | Editorial Policy and Contact Page