Google Enables Android Rapid Share with iPhones, Initially Exclusiveโฃ to Pixel 10
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – โฃNovember โข21, 2024 -โ In a move hailed as a breakthrough for cross-platform interoperability, google has implemented functionality โallowing โขAndroid’s Quick Share to work with Apple’s AirDrop. The feature allows users to seamlessly share files between Androidโค phones and iPhones, eliminating the previous necessity of routing data through โฃthird-party servers like WhatsApp or Telegram.
Technically, the integration is complex, as Quickโค Share โand AirDropโ utilize diffrent protocols – Apple’s proprietary โฃblend of bluetooth LE โ for discovery and Wi-Fi Direct (via its AWDLโข protocol) for transfer, versus Google’s own system. Google states it has worked with โindependantโข experts to ensure security duringโ the transfer process,possibly leveraging opportunities created by European regulations like the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the โคmoveโค to USB-C.
Currently, theโฃ feature โis exclusivelyโ available โon โthe Pixel 10. google characterizes this as a “feature โฃdrop” intended to highlight the capabilities of its newest device. While the โnecessary โhardware (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips) exists in a wide range of Android smartphones,Google maintains this is a purposeful software and strategic decision to position the Pixel 10 โas a bridge between the Android and iOSโ ecosystems.
Google has stated plansโฃ to expandโ the feature to “more โAndroid devices” in the future, but a specific timelineโ remains unconfirmed.โค “[โฆ]if we haveโ to โwait for Android 17 for it to arrive at Samsung orโค Xiaomi, theโ wait will be long,” according to reporting from Frandroid.
Third-party solutions like LocalSend and PairDrop already offer similar functionality, but this integration offers a native, app-free experience for users. Uponโค selecting an iPhone in the sharing menu on a Pixel โ10, the iPhone user receives a standard โขAirDrop notification.
Aโค exhibition video of the โขfunctionality is available from Frandroid: https://images.frandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Android_Quick_Share_and_iOS_AirDrop_compatibility.mov
Further โขreading on the topic is available at Frandroid: https://www.frandroid.com/android/2876005_jai-desinstalle-pairdrop-et-lache-airdrop-localsend-est-la-seule-vraie-solution-universelle-pour-transferer-des-fichiers and https://www.frandroid.com/android/2876005_android-quick-share-arrive-sur-iphone-mais-avec-des-limitations.