A sharing user of a content management system can request to share a content item in his namespace. When such a request is made, the sharing user's client device broadcasts a notification that can be received by devices that are within a limited broadcast range of the sharing client device. A receiving user's client device that is within the limited broadcast range of the sharing client device receives the broadcasted notification. Based on the notification, the receiving client device obtains a token from the sharing client device that identifies the content item being shared by the sharing user. At the request of the receiving user, the receiving client device transmits the token to the content management system and requests that the content management system add the shared content item to the receiving user's namespace with the system. The receiving user can then access the item from his namespace.