What is WiFi Direct and what is it for?

Sometimes it’s possible to miss out on great mobile apps and features by not exploring all the features that smartphones have to offer. In this case, WiFi Direct has gone unnoticed for years and it’s time to start exploiting all its benefits.
Today, there probably isn’t a person who doesn’t know what a WiFi connection is, as it is the most widely used connectivity protocol today. However, there are still people who have no idea what Wifi Direct is, what it is for and how it differs from a regular WiFi connection.
The funniest thing is that this direct internet function has been part of Android mobile phones since 2011, when version 4.0 of this operating system hit the market; however, there are still people who do not know about this feature.
How does WiFi Direct work and what is it about?
So that there is no room for doubt and before really explaining what WiFi Direct is on LG, Samsung mobile and other devices, it is necessary to clarify that this function is not the same as the common WiFi connection and it is not a hotspot version either. to share WiFi on Android.
WiFi Direct is a technology that allows direct connectivity between devices. This means that devices that do not have their own internet connection can establish a connection with devices that do have it. In this way, a wireless network is established that can facilitate the transfer of different files.
Until a few years ago, this was a Bluetooth task, however, by activating WiFi Direct, the exchange of files can reach speeds up to 10 times faster, work with 4 times more range and, in addition, support larger files.
As if this were not enough, it is an almost anonymous way of transferring files, so you can make use of this function when you have to carry out specific tasks and do not want to share your user name of some platform or your phone number.
The connection has been created to occur, firstly, between mobiles; however, other devices may also be used to accomplish other tasks. For example, making a PC WiFi Direct connection to a wireless printer will allow you to speed up the printing process. In addition to that, thanks to WiFi Direct’s compatibility with the Miracast protocol, it is also possible to connect a mobile phone or laptop to project images on televisions , for example.
The only requirement to make use of this technology is to have a device manufactured by one of the 600 members that are part of the WiFi Alliance. Among the companies that make up this group are LG, Dell and Microsoft, so WiFi Direct can be used on Windows 10 or XBOX consoles. That is, you will be able to take advantage of this technology in most of your devices.
Finally, it is worth noting that, although it is most common to connect only two devices, if you have several devices that support WiFi Direct, it is possible to create a wireless network that includes them all. That way, you won’t have to turn WiFi Direct on or off on each device depending on when you need to use this technology.
Now that you know what WiFi Direct is for, you can now discover how to use it in order to get the most out of this practical technology.
How to use Wi-Fi Direct?
To use this technology, you must activate it on the main device and this, in order to connect, will start sending signals to the rest of the devices around it. When recognizing a device that has the same protocol, it will be ready for connection and the devices can be linked. At this point, file transfer invitations will be received and you will need to accept to begin.
If you want to make the WiFi Direct connection from Samsung or any other Android phone, you will have to follow a series of steps that, fortunately, are not very complicated. The process can be done in seconds, so you don’t have to worry about anything.
The procedure that we will explain below is the standard, although there may be slight variations between one model or another. Therefore, you must be vigilant.
As a first step, you must open the taskbar or the mobile menu to access the Android settings. Remember that the operating system must be updated with version 4.0 or the latest.
To continue, it will be necessary to find the connections section. This can be called that, but it can also be called “wireless connections” or “connectivity”.
In that section, you will be able to enter the WiFi connection function and after the first option which is about regular internet connectivity, you will be able to find the WiFi Direct function. To be able to use it, you will only have to click on it and the mobile will automatically start looking for devices that use WiFi Direct as an option.
At the end of the search, you will be able to find all the available artifacts on the mobile screen, waiting for the connection. At that time, you will only have to click on the option that suits you best.
To take advantage of all the functions of WiFi Direct, most of the time you will need third-party applications that facilitate the transfer of files correctly. Fortunately, the Play Store has different apps to achieve this and the best thing is that most of them are completely free. It will only be necessary to search and find the one that suits you best.
In Apple mobile phones, the WiFi Direct is known as the AirDrop or AirPlay function, which you can find from the iOS 7 operating system.
With this in mind, you now know what WiFi Direct is all about , how to use it, and how to make the most of its qualities. If you have electronic gadgets, dare to explore all its features, as it is possible that you lose sight of quite practical technologies, like this one.