How to AirDrop on an Android phone (and the few models that can actually do it)

3 hours ago 4
iPhone 17e and Pixel 10a
Kerry Wan/ZDNET

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

  • Android and iPhone users tin present stock files rapidly and easily.
  • Currently, lone Pixel 10 phones enactment the feature.
  • Google says it volition grow the tech to different Android devices.

I usage an iPhone arsenic my superior mobile device. From my phone, I tin easy stock files with different iPhone, an iPad, oregon a Mac. However, I'd besides similar an casual mode to stock files with Android devices, whether 1 of my ain oregon those owned by an Android-loving person oregon relative. Now Google is taking the archetypal measurement toward making that capableness a reality.

In a blog post late past year, Google announced that iPhones and Android devices volition yet beryllium capable to stock files. Great, you say. However, earlier you get excessively excited, determination is simply a catch. At this archetypal stage, lone Google's latest Pixel 10 series supports the feature. Android users with a antithetic Pixel oregon Android telephone are retired of luck, astatine slightest for now.

Also: If the Fire Phone returns, I'm praying Amazon fixes its app store occupation first

Until this diagnostic release, iPhone users could lone stock files with different Apple devices acknowledgment to Apple's AirDrop. Android users could lone stock files with different Android devices acknowledgment to Quick Share. But ne'er the twain would meet. Now, Google has seemingly recovered a mode for Quick Share to play nicely with AirDrop, paving the mode for the caller sharing method.

How to AirDrop from Android to iPhone

So, however does this capableness work? Based connected the video successful Google's blog station and hands-on testing, you archetypal occurrence up Quick Share connected the Android instrumentality and past prime the record oregon files you privation to share. 

Quick Share past scouts astir for adjacent devices, including iPhones and Macs. When the close iPhone appears, prime it connected the Android phone. AirDrop past appears connected the iPhone, prompting you to judge the transfer. Accept the transfer, and the record completes the trip.

iPhone and Android telephone  sharing files
Google

How astir security? Here, Google said it has implemented beardown safeguards to support your files during the transfer. Outside information experts tested these safeguards.

This diagnostic marks the latest improvement successful an ongoing effort to bring iPhone and Android users together. In May 2024, Apple and Google some rolled retired a diagnostic designed to alert iOS and Android users of immoderate Bluetooth-enabled tracking devices tracking them without their cognition oregon consent. 

With the merchandise of iOS 18 aboriginal successful 2024, Apple yet brought RCS, oregon Rich Communications Service, to the iPhone, allowing iOS and Android users to speech affluent substance messages with each other.

Also: How to crook your Pixel telephone into a PC - with the caller Android Desktop Mode

These are large steps toward compatibility, arsenic Apple and Google person agelong been fierce competitors successful the mobile landscape. They've battled not conscionable successful the marketplace but successful the courtroom. But adjacent rivals sometimes recognize they request to halt warring agelong capable to bash what's successful their users' corporate champion interests.

What does the aboriginal clasp for this technology? Google said it's looking guardant to improving the acquisition and expanding it to different Android devices. For now, Pixel 10 owners who privation to usage this diagnostic should cheque retired the video displayed successful the blog station to spot however it works. You tin past effort it yourself with a friendly, vicinity iPhone owner.

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