Google has enabled direct data exchange between iPhone adn Android smartphones through an updated version of its file-sharing feature,previously known as Nearby Share and Swift Share. The functionality, now simply called “Quick Share,” allows users of both operating systems to seamlessly transfer photos, videos, and other files without relying on third-party apps or cloud services.
This marks a notable step toward interoperability between the two dominant mobile platforms, addressing a long-standing user frustration. While Apple’s AirDrop has long facilitated easy file sharing within the Apple ecosystem, cross-platform transfers have typically required email, messaging apps, or cloud storage. Quick Share aims to provide a more direct and convenient alternative, perhaps streamlining collaboration and content sharing for the billions of iPhone and Android users worldwide. Google first began renaming the feature earlier this year, evolving from “Nearby Share” to “Quick Share from Google” and finaly to “Quick Share.”
The feature utilizes Bluetooth to establish a connection and then employs Wi-fi Direct for faster data transfer.According to a report from Heise Online, it remains unclear whether Quick Share will eventually extend compatibility to other Apple devices like MacBooks. The update is currently rolling out and is expected to be widely available in the coming weeks.