For years, transferring a photo or video between a Galaxy and an iPhone has been, frankly, a bit of an ordeal. What could be done with a couple of taps between two phones in the same ecosystem forced many users to resort to... WhatsApp, email, or various cloud services When Android and Apple were mixed together, it complicated the process of Share files between Android and Apple.
That wall is really starting to crack. Samsung has begun activating the [features/methods] in its new Galaxy S26 flagship phones. compatibility between Quick Share and AirDropso that it is now possible to send files directly between a Galaxy mobile and Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad or Mac without cables or third-party applications.
What's changed in Quick Share and why it matters
The novelty doesn't arrive as a revolution from scratch, but as a evolution of Quick Share itselfQuick Share, the wireless sharing feature that Google and Samsung use as a foundation within the Android ecosystem. Until recently, Quick Share allowed for easy switching between Android devices, but the barrier with iOS remained.
With the new update, Quick Share takes a key leap forward: It becomes interoperable with AirDropThis allows a Galaxy to detect a nearby iPhone—or other Apple device—when it has AirDrop enabled in the appropriate mode, and send it photos, videos, documents, or links almost as if it were another Android device.
It's not a feature that's arriving completely unexpectedly. Google was the first to open the door in late 2025, when the Pixel 10 introduced AirDrop compatibility using Quick Share. Later, the company expanded this option to the Pixel 9, making it clear that the idea was to extend it to other Android manufacturers throughout 2026.
Samsung now becomes one of Google's first major partners in bringing this interoperability to their own mobile phones, starting with the Galaxy S26 series, which has just received an update focused precisely on this ability to share files with the Apple ecosystem.
Compatible models and deployment in Spain and Europe
For now, Samsung's official list is clear: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 + and Galaxy S26 Ultra These are the first phones from the company that can communicate directly with AirDrop via Quick Share. The company has confirmed that this compatibility is now active for the entire S26 family, regardless of the model.
The feature has begun rolling out via a dedicated software update. In some markets, such as South Korea, The option now appears in the settings for some users, while in others it will be activated gradually over the next few weeks.
Samsung has announced that the expansion will be global: after the launch in South Korea, the AirDrop compatibility will be extended to EuropeThe United States, Japan, Hong Kong, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan. In the case of Spain and the rest of the European Union, the company places the arrival within this phased international rollout, although without specifying a day-by-day date.
Beyond the S26, the brand has hinted that Other Galaxy devices will also receive this feature. later through updates. There's no specific timeline or closed list of models, but the message is that it won't be a perpetual exclusivity of the latest flagships.
How to enable AirDrop support on a Galaxy S26
An important detail: The function is not enabled by defaultAnyone wanting to use Quick Share to send files to Apple devices will need to take a minute to review their phone's settings.
On the Galaxy S26, the path involves entering the menu of "Settings" and then "Connected Services"From there, you have to access Quick Share and look for the new "Share with Apple devices" option, which is the one that specifically enables this interoperability with AirDrop.
Once that switch is activated, the Galaxy is ready to detect nearby iPhones, iPads, or Macs that have AirDrop enabled in the appropriate mode. To complete the process, Samsung requires that the device has a recent version of the related software. Quick Share 13.8.51.30 or higher, available in the Galaxy Store, and Google Play Services version 26.11 or later.
If the user doesn't have these versions installed, AirDrop integration won't work even if the setting appears on the screen. In practice, this means that after updating the system, it's advisable to also check for pending updates from the Galaxy Store and Google Play.
What does your iPhone, iPad, or Mac need to appear in Quick Share?
There's fine print on Apple's side too. The connection between Quick Share and AirDrop currently works using the AirDrop's "Everyone for 10 minutes" modeIn other words, the iPhone, iPad, or Mac must be configured to accept files from any device, not just contacts, and do so within that temporary window.
If the Apple user keeps AirDrop in "Contacts Only" mode or has it disabled altogether, the Galaxy won't see the device in the Quick Share destination list. The same happens if, after ten minutes, the general mode expires and the system automatically reverts to a more restrictive setting.
For now, this is one of the clearer limitations of current interoperabilityIt forces Apple ecosystem users to go to the Control Center or AirDrop settings to temporarily open the door to any nearby device, which discourages continued use if many transfers are made throughout the day.
Google has expressed its willingness to collaborate with Apple to enable a more comprehensive connection in the future, for example, when AirDrop is in "Contacts Only" mode. However, for now, there have been no public indications from Apple of a greater openness in this regard.
How transfer between Quick Share and AirDrop works
The sending process is quite simple from the user's point of view. On a Galaxy S26, you simply select a file—it can be a photo, a video, a PDF, or virtually any document—tap share, and choose Quick Share as a delivery method.
If there's a nearby Apple device with AirDrop set to "Everyone for 10 minutes," it will appear in the recipient list just like any other Android phone. The Apple user will see the familiar AirDrop window pop up to accept or reject the file, and, if accepted, The transfer is done directly, point to point, without going through external servers.
This architecture was already audited by the security firm NetSPI during its deployment in the Pixel 10, with a positive conclusion: No data leaks were detected nor obvious vulnerabilities associated with this bridge between Quick Share and AirDrop.
For now, compatibility is more focused on sending files from Android to Apple devices than vice versa. The possibility of an iPhone directly selecting an Android phone as its AirDrop destination remains a pending scenario, which will depend largely on how Apple's stance evolves and on regulatory requirements, especially in the European Union.
The role of the European Union and wireless standards
This opening cannot be fully understood without looking towards Brussels. With the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and other EU regulationsThe European Commission has long been pressuring major technology players to make their platforms more interoperable and less closed.
In the specific case of AirDrop, the changes in iOS have been decisive. Apple has been forced to adopt interoperable wireless standards, such as Wi-Fi Aware from the Wi-Fi Alliance, instead of relying solely on AWDL (Apple Wireless Direct Link), its previous proprietary protocol for this type of proximity connection.
This technical shift has opened a window that Google has seized to enable Quick Share and AirDrop to communicate without an explicit collaboration agreement with Apple. The result is a kind of "bridge" built on common standards, which third parties like Samsung can now use on their devices.
The general feeling in the industry is that Apple is opting for a strategy of silence and controlled resignation Given this trend, reacting by actively blocking these functions could generate legal friction with the European Union and other regulators, something that would not be particularly profitable for the company at this point.
One more step in breaking down the barriers between ecosystems
The compatibility between Quick Share and AirDrop fits into a broader industry trend: reduce friction between platforms In a context where many people use multiple devices from different brands, it's common to find users who work with a Mac laptop, carry an Android phone, and have an iPad tablet at home.
Until now, sharing files between these hybrid worlds required resorting to cloud services, messaging, or email, which, although functional, They added unnecessary steps and they broke the sense of continuity that is enjoyed within each ecosystem separately.
With the arrival of the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung not only improves the utility of Quick Share, but also It responds to a very specific demand.: to be able to transfer content quickly, directly and without complications, regardless of the device you have in front of you, whether it's an iPhone, an iPad or a Mac.
Furthermore, interoperability won't be limited to Galaxy or Pixel devices. Companies like Oppo have already announced plans for Join this integration with AirDrop in their high-end ranges —for example, with the Find X9 family—, and it is expected that other manufacturers will follow the same path in the coming months, especially in the high-end segment.
In this scenario, the big question is how long it will take for this possibility to become fully normalized. If more Android brands adopt interoperable Quick Share and Apple keeps the technical door open, Sharing files between iOS and Android may no longer be a rare exception. to become as commonplace a gesture as sending something via Bluetooth years ago.
Overall, the update that brings AirDrop to the Galaxy S26 via Quick Share represents a practical and quite tangible change: it eliminates many workarounds, better aligns the expectations of users who straddle both ecosystems, and reinforces the feeling that, little by little, The walls between mobile platforms begin to lower, starting with something as simple —and so widely used— as sharing a file.
