Google makes Quick Share even more like Apple’s AirDrop
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
Google has expanded its Quick Share wireless transfer feature so supported Android phones can exchange contact details, photos and videos by being brought close together. The update matters because it makes Android sharing more immediate and more closely resembles Apple’s AirDrop and NameDrop features, while continuing a wider push towards compatibility between the two ecosystems.
The contact-sharing prompt appears automatically when two compatible Android devices are nearby, while larger files can be sent by selecting them in the Share Sheet and tapping the devices together. The features begin rolling out on Pixel 6 and newer phones, with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 due to receive them soon; Google says further Android support will arrive by the end of 2026. Google had already begun adding AirDrop support to Quick Share on Pixel 10 devices in late 2025.
- Quick Share now supports tap-based contacts, photos and video transfers.
- The update brings Android sharing closer to Apple’s AirDrop.
- Pixel 6 and newer phones receive it first.
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Quick Share is Google’s system for sending files and other information directly between nearby devices without using messaging apps or email. It is built into many Android phones, while Apple offers similar tools called AirDrop for files and NameDrop for sharing contact details between iPhones.
Google develops Android and its Pixel phones, while Samsung is the largest maker of Android phones. Apple operates its own separate iPhone system, so moving information between Android and Apple devices has often required extra steps or third-party services.
Nearby sharing features are intended to make exchanging photos, videos and contact details quicker when people are together. They also form part of a broader effort to reduce some of the practical differences between Android and Apple devices.
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