- Android Quick Share now works with Apple AirDrop for file sharing
- This means easy file sharing between Android and iPhone, iPad and Mac.
- It’s rolling out to the Pixel 10 before expanding to other Android devices.
The heated debate between Android and iPhone just got a little less heated: Google has announced that Android Quick Share now officially works with Apple’s AirDrop to enable easy file sharing between rivals.
That’s right, the Android equivalent of AirDrop, which lets you easily send files between Android devices, Chromebooks, and Windows devices, now supports Apple’s AirDrop system, starting with the Pixel 10 series.
This means that quickly sending photos, videos and other files between Android devices and iPhone, iPad and Mac should, in theory, be as easy as sharing files between devices of the same type. This is a cross-platform feature that many suspected would never be available despite long-running rumors, but here it is.
How will it work? According to a short video shared by Google (below), all you need to do is open Quick Share on your Android device and Apple devices will appear as a sharing option.
When your iPhone-owning friend accepts the invitation, you can send them photos, videos, or files. It will also be a two-way deal, so Android devices will also be among AirDrop’s shared targets. This is not an official partnership between Google and Apple. This is a Google specific implementation. So it will be interesting to see how Apple reacts.
AirDrop isn’t quite complete
AirDrop support for Android isn’t quite complete, as Google explained in a separate blog postThis only works if AirDrop is in “All for 10 minutes” mode (ie a short-term connection). Google says it would “welcome the opportunity to work with Apple to enable contacts-only mode in the future.”
However, it is a big step forward in making it easier to share files between Android and Apple devices. Google also highlighted the strong security features built into this new AirDrop support, saying that “this feature uses no workarounds” and that “the connection is direct and peer-to-peer, meaning your data never passes a server, shared content is never stored, and no additional data is shared.”
While it’s unfortunate that it will only work with the Google Pixel 10 series initially, Google added that “this is just the first step as we work to improve the experience and expand it to more devices.”
There are already unofficial third-party tools, such as NearDrop, that perform a similar task, but this official alternative promises to be more convenient, transparent and secure. The feature isn’t currently available on our Pixel 10 or Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but we’ll let you know when we test it.