Google has taken an unexpected step by integrating Quick Share with Apple's AirDrop, allowing compatible Android phones to wirelessly exchange files with iPhones. Models like the Google Pixel 8a, 9, and 10, Samsung Galaxy S26, Oppo Find X9, and Vivo X300 Ultra are already on the list. A feature many were asking for, albeit with certain technical conditions.
How the bridge between two worlds works 🤝
Activation is simple: on a compatible Android device, go to Settings > Quick Share and enable Share with Apple devices. The iPhone must have AirDrop set to Everyone to receive files. Future compatibility includes Samsung Galaxy S25 and S24, Galaxy Z Fold/Flip 6 and 7, Oppo Find X8, OnePlus 15, Honor Magic V6 and Magic 8 Pro. The transmission uses a protocol layer that translates Quick Share signals into the format AirDrop understands, without needing third-party apps. The process is bidirectional, though limited to files and not features like screen sharing.
The day Android asked Apple for permission to pass the homework 😅
And now it turns out that to share a file with a friend who has an iPhone, it's not enough to have the most powerful phone on the market: you also have to pray that the Apple user has AirDrop set to Everyone. As if it were a technological mating ritual. Next thing you know, we'll see a Galaxy S26 politely asking: May I pass this meme, Mr. iPhone? Meanwhile, Apple users look on with suspicion, as if sharing a PDF would contaminate their ecosystem.