Xender is a fast and easy way to share files between devices. But sometimes, it doesn’t detect other phones or tablets nearby. If you’ve faced this issue, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many users run into this, and it’s often easy to fix. In this article, we’ll guide you through easy steps to fix the “Xender not detecting nearby devices” problem.
Ensure Wi-Fi Is Functioning Normally
Xender operates based on Wi-Fi Direct technology. Therefore, check if the sender’s Wi-Fi is functioning normally.
Although you’re not connected to the internet via mobile data or Wi-Fi, Xender makes use of your device’s Wi-Fi hardware to scan for and discover other devices in the vicinity.
If the Wi-Fi of the sender is switched off, spoiled, or doesn’t work properly, Xender will not be able to detect other users.
Quick Fix:
- Ensure that Wi-Fi is ON on the sender’s device.
- Reset the Wi-Fi if necessary.
- Attempt scanning again.
- Toggling the Wi-Fi off and back on sometimes resolves the problem.
Set Up the Hotspot Properly
The receiver must switch on the hotspot for the connection to be established.
If the hotspot is not set up correctly or both phones are not on the same network, Xender will not be able to see the other phone.
What You Can Do:
- On the phone of the receiver, open Xender and tap on Receive.
- This will enable a local hotspot.
- Now, on the sender’s phone, open Xender and tap on Send.
- The sender’s phone should now connect to the receiver’s hotspot.
- Still not working? Restart both phones and try again.
Close Background Apps
Occasionally, background apps can get in the way of Xender.
Such apps have the potential to block permissions, slow down your phone, or even clash with Wi-Fi connectivity.
To err on the side of caution, close all background apps before opening Xender.
Try This:
- Access recent apps or use an app manager on your device.
- Swipe away or force close unused apps.
- Specifically, try closing those apps that consume Wi-Fi or location services, such as Maps or VPNs.
- After clearing, open Xender and try again.
Swap Roles: Switch Sender and Receiver
If that doesn’t work, try swapping roles.
Once in a while, one device simply won’t function properly as a sender or receiver because of hardware or system problems.
Try this trick:
- Swap the original sender and receiver.
- On the phone of the sender, press Receive instead of Send.
- On the other phone, now press on Send button.
- This modification has been successful for most users. It may be an easy and quick solution.
Last Tips to Keep Xender Running Fine
To prevent future connection issues, try these tips:
- Regularly update Xender from the Play Store or App Store.
- Reboot your phone prior to initiating a big transfer.
- Ensure your phone has ample battery power since power-saving modes are known to shut down Wi-Fi operations.
- Refain from using VPNs or firewalls during file sharing.
Conclusion
If Xender is not picking up devices around it, it is usually because of minor issues such as Wi-Fi not functioning, a hotspot that has not been configured, or interference from background applications. The best part is that you can easily correct these issues.
By toggling Wi-Fi, configuring the hotspot correctly, clearing background applications, and flipping sender/receiver switches, you will be sharing files quickly again in no time.
Got any more Xender tips or questions? Let us know in the comments!

