For years, trying to send a file from an Android phone to an iPhone has been a bit of a hassle. You have to download an app on iPhone to make it work. Well, that particular headache is finally being cured. Google has announced that its Quick Share feature for Android can now link up directly with Apple’s AirDrop system, making cross-platform swaps a breeze.
Here’s how it works in practice. On your Android device, just pull up the standard Quick Share menu. If your friend or family with an iPhone has their AirDrop set to ‘Everyone for 10 minutes’, their device will simply pop up as an available target. Once they tap to accept, the file is on its way. It works the other way round, too – Android devices will now show up as shareable destinations in the share sheet on iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
This two-way street handles all the usual suspects: photos, videos, and documents. The best part is how it works under the hood. Google is keen to point out that this isn’t some clunky workaround. The connection is a direct, peer-to-peer link. That means your files never get uploaded to a server, your sharing activity isn’t logged, and no extra information is exchanged. It’s a clean, private transfer.
A slightly interesting detail is that Google didn’t actually partner with Apple on this. They’ve essentially built their own implementation to be a good neighbour on the same wireless network. It’s interoperability by ingenuity, not collaboration.
For now, this slick new cross-platform sharing is debuting on the Pixel 10 series. The good news is that Google plans to roll it out to more Android devices in the future.