How to disable link sharing for Samsung devices

Samsung Galaxy phones are among the top Android devices available, known for their impressive build quality, specifications, and the unique One UI user interface. One UI provides various extra features not typically found on stock Android phones, including Samsung’s web browser, password manager, image gallery, and proprietary payment solution.

Link sharing explained

Samsung’s Link Sharing feature is quite handy; it enables you to share images, videos, and files using a link instead of sending them directly. This comes in especially handy when dealing with SMS or email, which often have size restrictions. With Link Sharing, you can send a link, allowing recipients to download the original, uncompressed media files instead of having to compress them to fit within limits. It’s a convenient workaround for such limitations.

But there could be reasons to disable this feature. Perhaps you’re not concerned about size limits, and sharing links instead of straightforward images or videos can be perplexing, especially for those who aren’t tech-savvy. Fortunately, deactivating Link Sharing is a simple process that only requires a few minutes of your time.

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How to turn off link sharing for messages

You can disable Link Sharing most easily when using Samsung’s default messaging app. This feature, when enabled, sends images as links rather than using the MMS protocol. Here’s how to go about it.

• Launch the Samsung Messages app.
• Start a new SMS conversation or open an existing one.
• In the lower-left corner, tap the images icon.
• This action will display your most recent images from your gallery in the lower half of the screen. At the bottom, you’ll find a button with a circular icon and another cloud icon to its right. If it’s blue and reads “On,” it means Link Sharing is activated.
• To turn it off, simply tap the button once. The text will change to black and read “Off.” Link Sharing is now disabled when sending images and videos through the Samsung Messages app.

You can repeat these steps anytime you want to enable Link Sharing again, allowing you to send multiple images while preserving their original quality.

Using Quick Share for heavy files

If you’d rather not use Link Sharing when texting or prefer alternative messaging apps like Google Messages or WhatsApp, but still want to send large files through a link to avoid size limitations, Samsung provides another handy built-in feature called Quick Share. This feature allows you to share various types of files through a link without any additional charges. Here’s how it operates:

• Open the app where the files are located, such as your gallery or file browser.
• Select the files you want to share, and then tap the share icon.
• Tap the Quick Share icon.
• Choose whether you want to copy the link and paste it manually, share the link through another app, or generate a QR code that recipients can scan with their device’s camera to access the link.
• If the person you’re sharing files with is nearby and also using a Samsung device, you can even send the files wirelessly to their device using Quick Share.

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Sending heavy files using links

Link Sharing is a handy tool when you need to send large files, but it’s not without its quirks. While it enables recipients to download files via a link, these links tend to have a limited lifespan and expire after a few days. For sharing just a few images and videos hassle-free, it’s better to send them directly. Keep in mind that the default MMS format may require your files to be compressed for smooth transmission.

There are more user-friendly ways to share content these days. One popular method is through messaging apps like WhatsApp or Messenger, but it relies on both parties using the same app, which isn’t always the case. Another option is the modern RCS protocol, provided your carrier and phone support it, but this also requires your recipient’s phone and carrier to be compatible.