For a considerable time, AirDrop has been a key feature of Apple’s ecosystem, allowing iPhone users to share files almost instantly. In contrast, Android users have not had a comparable experience. Although Google introduced Quick Share as its solution, cross-platform sharing remained a challenge. In a detailed blog post, Google revealed a major enhancement coming to Quick Share that enables it to function alongside Apple AirDrop. This update will first be rolled out to the Pixel 10 series, with plans for broader availability on other devices.
To use AirDrop on an Android device, such as the Pixel 10, the iPhone user must adjust their settings to allow access to ‘Everyone.’ Once this is done, the iPhone will appear as an option for file sharing on the Pixel device. Receiving files from an iPhone operates similarly to standard AirDrop functions. The Pixel 10 must be set to be discoverable to all, enabling the iPhone user to send files via AirDrop as usual. Moriconi noted that while Apple was not consulted in developing this feature, Google is open to collaborating with Apple to enhance cross-platform sharing in the future.
Regarding the security of using AirDrop on Android, Google assures that the feature has undergone extensive testing and poses no security risk to users. Google emphasizes that data security remains intact, as independent experts have verified the system’s security. A post on Google’s security blog states, ‘This feature does not use a workaround. The connection is peer-to-peer and direct, meaning your data does not pass through a server. Google Nearby Share is not logged, and no extra information is shared.’
