How To Airdrop On An Android Phone (and The Few Models That Can Actually Do It)

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Android and iPhone users tin now stock files quickly and easily.
• Currently, only Pixel 10 phones support nan feature.
• Google says it will grow nan tech to different Android devices.

I usage an iPhone arsenic my superior mobile device. From my phone, I tin easy stock files pinch different iPhone, an iPad, aliases a Mac. However, I'd besides for illustration an easy measurement to stock files pinch Android devices, whether 1 of my ain aliases those owned by an Android-loving friend aliases relative. Now Google is taking nan first measurement toward making that capacity a reality.

In a blog post late past year, Google announced that iPhones and Android devices will yet beryllium capable to stock files. Great, you say. However, earlier you get excessively excited, location is simply a catch. At this first stage, only Google's latest Pixel 10 series supports nan feature. Android users pinch a different Pixel aliases Android telephone are retired of luck, astatine slightest for now.

Also: If nan Fire Phone returns, I'm praying Amazon fixes its app shop problem first

Until this characteristic release, iPhone users could only stock files pinch different Apple devices acknowledgment to Apple's AirDrop. Android users could only stock files pinch different Android devices acknowledgment to Quick Share. But ne'er nan twain would meet. Now, Google has apparently recovered a measurement for Quick Share to play nicely pinch AirDrop, paving nan measurement for nan caller sharing method.

How to AirDrop from Android to iPhone

So, really does this capacity work? Based connected nan video successful Google's blog station and hands-on testing, you first occurrence up Quick Share connected nan Android instrumentality and past prime nan record aliases files you want to share. 

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

Google

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

This characteristic marks nan latest improvement successful an ongoing effort to bring iPhone and Android users together. In May 2024, Apple and Google some rolled retired a characteristic designed to alert iOS and Android users of immoderate Bluetooth-enabled search devices search them without their knowledge aliases consent. 

With nan merchandise of iOS 18 later successful 2024, Apple yet brought RCS, aliases Rich Communications Service, to nan iPhone, allowing iOS and Android users to speech rich | matter messages pinch each other.

Also: How to move your Pixel telephone into a PC - pinch nan caller Android Desktop Mode

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

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