Google expands AirDrop compatibility to Android

Theo Android AuthorityGoogle has just confirmed its plan to break down the large wall separating Android and iOS with high-speed file sharing capabilities. At a press conference at Google Taipei office, Mr. Eric Kay, Vice President of Android Platform Engineering, said: “Last year, we launched compatibility with AirDrop. In 2026, we will expand the feature to more devices.”

Since its launch on Pixel 10, the feature has caused a stir when it allows Quick Share, Android’s default sharing tool, to transfer data directly with Apple’s AirDrop. Previously, sending high-quality photos or videos between an iPhone and an Android phone always had to go through a third-party solution or send through a messaging app that degraded quality.

Instead of being limited to hardware, Google converted Quick Share into a standalone application on the Play Store, meaning any sufficiently configured Android phone can transfer data directly with Apple’s AirDrop. Mr. Eric Kay shared: “We put a lot of effort into ensuring the system is compatible not only with iPhone but also iPad and MacBook. Now that the technology has been proven effective, we are working with partners to bring it to the entire Android ecosystem.”

Support for AirDrop is considered a direct attack on Apple’s closed ecosystem. For many years now, AirDrop has been one of the reasons iPhone users hesitate to switch to Android. In addition to file sharing, Google is also working closely with Apple to simplify the data migration process. In December last year, these two giants confirmed that they are building a new conversion method, allowing the movement of more complex types of data from iOS to Android and vice versa without losing information.

Google has not announced a specific list of phone companies, but Nothing Phone has confirmed that it will bring this feature to its device models. Qualcomm also hinted that it is supporting phones using Snapdragon chips to have the same sharing capabilities as the Pixel 10. Major software updates in the second half of 2026 are expected to be when phone companies such as Samsung, Xiaomi or Oppo roll out this feature to global users.