Google’s Quick Share enables wireless file sharing between Android devices and iPhones through integration with Apple’s AirDrop. This feature allows users to effortlessly send photos, videos, and documents without having to perform complex configurations.
The functionality is currently rolling out, starting with the Pixel 10 series, and will work with iPhone, iPad, and macOS devices. This makes Quick Share a convenient solution for sharing files with friends or colleagues, regardless of their device. We explain how it works.
Quick Share for Android and Apple
For years, users of Android and iOS devices struggled with file sharing. AirDrop allowed Apple users to easily share files between Apple devices, while Android users had Quick Share for sharing within their own system. This made sharing between Android and iPhone difficult, often involving uploads to the cloud or QR codes.
Google’s solution changes the collaboration between the technology companies. The commitment to make Quick Share compatible with AirDrop is part of a strategy to improve cross-platform compatibility, building on previous initiatives such as RCS notifications and unknown tracker alerts.
This is how you use Quick Share with AirDrop
Quick Share in combination with AirDrop is easy to use. No adjustments are required on Apple’s end and it works via Google’s implementation. When an Android user wants to share a file, the iPhone user only needs to set AirDrop to ‘Anyone for 10 minutes’; The iPhone device will then automatically appear in the Android phone’s Quick Share interface.
- On the Android phone, open the file you want to share (photo, video, document)
- Tap ‘To share‘ and select ‘Quick Share‘
- The nearby Apple devices will appear in the list
- Select the target device
- The Apple user confirms receipt
Of course, this function also works the other way around, so Apple users can also use AirDrop to share files with Android
An Apple user can open AirDrop via Settings â–¸ General â–¸ AirDrop â–¸ Everyone for 10 minutes. You can also change this via the control panel, put your finger on the AirDrop symbol â–¸ tap AirDrop â–¸ choose ‘Everyone’. On a Mac you can do this via  â–¸ System Settings â–¸ General â–¸ AirDrop and Handoff â–¸ AirDrop â–¸ Everyone.
Availability Quick Share via AirDrop
The integration started on November 19, 2025 with the Pixel 10 family and is expanding to more Android devices, although no exact timeline has been announced for Samsung or others. Quick Share itself is more widely available on Android 6.0+ and Windows, but the AirDrop link is limited to recent Pixels for now. On iOS, iPadOS and macOS it requires AirDrop in ‘Everyone’ mode for compatibility.
Google emphasizes that the connection is strictly peer-to-peer. Data is never routed through a server, shared content is never logged, and no additional data is exchanged. Future plans include a ‘Contacts Only’ mode in partnership with Apple.