What for years seemed impossible has begun to materialize: AirDrop is no longer exclusive to iPhones, iPads, and Macs.Some Android phones have introduced the ability to communicate directly with Apple devices to share photos, videos, and documents almost as easily as if everything belonged to the same ecosystem.
This movement didn't happen overnight. Google paved the way with the Pixel family, and shortly after, Samsung joined in with its latest Galaxy devices. All of this is supported by... Quick Share, Android's nearby sharing toolwhich now acts as a bridge between both worlds. The idea is simple: to make sharing a file between a Galaxy and an iPhone as natural as doing so between two devices of the same brand.
AirDrop arrives on Android via Quick Share
In practice, integration works by leveraging Quick Share as the operations centerFollowing a recent update, phones like the Pixel 10 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra now include a new option in their settings that allows users to send files to Apple devices that have [the necessary functionality]. AirDrop available.
The process is quite straightforward. On a compatible Android device, simply go to the Quick Share settings and Enable the option to share with Apple devicesFrom then on, when you open the gallery or file manager and tap on share via Quick Share, the system displays in the list both other nearby Android devices and iPhones, iPads, or Macs that have AirDrop enabled; you can Learn how to use AirDrop on your iPad.
User-facing behavior It's very similar to what already exists within the Apple ecosystem.You select the photo or document, choose the destination device, the other person accepts the transfer, and the file is sent in seconds. During the process, no internet connection is required: the devices create a direct, short-range network designed exclusively for transmission.
The important new development is that, for the first time, Android can participate in that sharing protocol that until now was exclusive to AppleGoogle has worked to ensure that Quick Share can negotiate with AirDrop and make both systems understand each other without the user having to do anything special beyond activating the function.
For now, however, compatibility is quite limited. The official list currently includes the Pixel 10 series and the Galaxy S26 Ultra.While other models rely on software updates that are being rolled out gradually, some users report that the option appears but is not yet working stably, indicating that the integration is still being refined. Related initiatives include... Wi-Fi Aware.
More Galaxy phones are joining the AirDrop delivery service
While Google is pushing from the Pixel side, Samsung is expanding AirDrop compatibility to more devices in its catalogThe first wave focused on the Galaxy S26 series, but the feature has begun to spread to other recent high-end and foldable models.
Among the devices that have begun to receive this capability are: devices such as the latest generation Galaxy Z Fold and several previous S seriesFrom the S22 to the S25, as well as the S23 and S24. In all of them, the integration is not presented as a new app, but as an additional mode within Quick Share, maintaining a single access point for sharing files.
Samsung's philosophy is to leverage its own interface, One UI, to unify the file sharing experienceThus, from a compatible Galaxy device, the user can send a video to another Android phone using the traditional Quick Share feature, or use the same interface to send that content to an iPhone using AirDrop.
That doesn't mean the system is completely polished. On support forums and social media, Some users point out that the option appears in the menu but doesn't always respond as it should.Some users simply don't see the AirDrop sharing button after the update. For others, however, it works without much trouble. Everything points to a phased rollout, with progressive testing and possible regional limitations.
In Spain and the rest of Europe, it is expected that Availability will expand as new versions of One UI and security patches are released.The South Korean company has already indicated its intention to bring these types of features to a wider range of Galaxy phones, although it usually prioritizes the latest models before moving down to lower-end models.
'Tap to share': the next step, similar to a more direct AirDrop
Alongside AirDrop compatibility, Google and Samsung are preparing an improvement designed to Sharing files between Android phones has become even easier.This is the feature known as “Tap to share”, which has appeared in leaked versions of One UI 9 and in internal tests of Android 17.
The idea is that the user doesn't have to search for the device in a list, but rather Simply bring the top of one mobile phone close to another to start the transmission.The system would display an on-screen message similar to "just place the top of your phone near the device and the files will be sent," and the rest of the process would be done automatically, provided both terminals have the function enabled.
On a technical level, this mechanism uses NFC technology as a triggerThe NFC chip handles the exchange of the minimum data necessary for mobile phones to establish a quick connection via Quick Share, and, when the receiver is an Apple device, the system would use the protocol used by AirDrop to complete the transfer.
This approach isn't entirely new: it was already detected in Google Play Services a few months ago. a tool for sharing contacts by bringing two phones close togethervery similar to NameDrop on iOS. Now, that same "pull to share" logic is being extended to transferring entire files, integrating directly into Quick Share.
The advantage for the average user is obvious. Instead of navigating through menus, a simple physical gesture —bringing the two phones together— activates the whole processIt's an approach that fits well with everyday phone use, especially in informal settings: passing a photo in a bar, sending a quick document in the office, or sharing a video without searching for cables or QR codes.
Android 17 integrates TapToShare at the system level
Beyond the layers of customization from each manufacturer, Google is working to integrate this proximity-based sharing method natively into Android 17.References to an internal service called “TapToShare” have been found in beta and experimental versions of the system, which would act as the backbone of these functions, including the option to share photos by zooming in on the iPhone.
The intention is that it not depend solely on a specific brand. In fact, The text strings found in the code point to an implementation designed for the entire Android ecosystemIn this way, a user with a mobile phone from any manufacturer — as long as it is compatible and up to date — can bring their phone close to another person's phone and initiate the exchange without having to install additional applications.
This integration would rely on Google Play Services to activate or enhance the feature without needing to update the entire operating systemThus, once TapToShare is ready for general deployment, a simple update to Google services would be enough for many devices to start offering the option, provided the hardware allows it.
One of Google's goals with Android 17 is strengthen interoperability between devicesThis applies both within the ecosystem itself and when communicating with Apple products. The improvements to Quick Share, AirDrop support, and the arrival of TapToShare all fit into this strategy of reducing barriers and simplifying wireless sharing.
In parallel, Android 17 is also being rolled out as a public beta to a growing number of mobile devices, starting with the latest Pixel range and some previous models that still receive supportThis will allow both developers and advanced users to test these new sharing capabilities ahead of time and report bugs before the final release.
What does this new AirDrop on Android mean for users in Spain and Europe?
For Android users in Spain or other European countries, the arrival of these features represents a significant change in their daily lives. Until now, Sharing files between an Android and an iPhone involved using third-party applications.Cloud services or web solutions are often less practical and slower.
With Quick Share speaking the same language as AirDrop, Exchange in mixed environments is greatly facilitatedThese are very common in homes, offices, and schools in Europe, where mobile phones from different brands and platforms coexist. A teacher with an iPad can quickly receive a document from a student's Android phone, or a group of friends can share photos without wondering who has which operating system.
It is true that the implementation is being gradual and that Not all models or regions receive new features at the same pace.Furthermore, there are still reports of bugs, disconnections, and options that appear and disappear depending on the software version. However, the overall trend is clear: more and more European manufacturers using Android will benefit from this common base developed by Google.
In the specific case of Samsung, which has a strong presence in the Spanish market, the expansion of AirDrop compatibility to previous generations of Galaxy It can extend the lifespan of many devices, giving them access to features that until recently seemed reserved for newer models.
All this effort puts Android in a more competitive position compared to Apple's ecosystem. without needing to copy it in detail, but offering a very similar experience. in key aspects such as speed and ease of content sharing. Interoperability becomes a compelling argument for those who move between different platforms daily.
With AirDrop compatibility expanding through Quick Share, the arrival of NFC-based TapToShare, and the native integration of these features in Android 17, File sharing between Android and Apple is entering a new phase where the boundaries between ecosystems are beginning to blur., and in which the priority becomes that users can send content to each other with the fewest possible steps, regardless of the logo on the case.
