Google Makes It Easier to Share Files Between Android and iPhone

[MacRumors]

Google today said it is introducing updated file sharing features that will make it easier for Android users to send files to iPhone users.

Quick Share is already compatible with Apple's AirDrop feature on select Android devices, but Google says the feature will expand to Samsung, OPPO, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and HONOR devices in 2026.

On Android devices that are not compatible with AirDrop, Quick Share can be used to generate a QR code that can instantly share content with iOS devices via the cloud.

The QR code sharing feature is rolling out to all Android devices starting today, and will be fully available within the next month. Google says it also plans to make Quick Share available in apps like WhatsApp in the near future.

Google says that it also worked with Apple to make it easier to switch from an iPhone to an Android device, capabilities the two companies had to implement under Europe's Digital Markets Act. While Apple implemented the feature in iOS 26.3, Google says it will be coming to Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices in 2026.

The transfer process will allow eSIM, passwords, photos, messages, apps, contacts, and Home Screen layout to migrate wirelessly from an iPhone to an Android device. Google has also implemented similar tools for simplifying switching between an Android device and an iPhone.

Article Link: Google Makes It Easier to Share Files Between Android and iPhone

 

[abcmax]

The unification of standards is one of the best news ever.

 

[contacos]

Thank God! Finally.

The irony is that my Oppo Smartphones work better with macOS than my iPhone (in the EU!). I can receive mobile push notifications from my Oppo phone on my MacBook and also use Phone Mirroring, which is still blocked for the iPhone by Apple in the EU.

 

[Astuces iOS]

If you have android, you don’t deserve the files I want to share !

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

incredible. the only thing that's making me stay with an iphone (as a mac user) is handoff. I know they're working on implementing it in android , but that'll probably be android-aluminumOS only, perhaps windows but that's it.

oh, if only I weren't a macOS user...

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

as an aside, android-mac airdrop has worked FAR FAR more reliably than ios-mac in the past couple of months... speaks volume

 

[macjaffa]

Pairdrop.net for the peasants in the meantime.

 

[Mwschaf]

I don’t use any Google products. I would never share files with any Google affiliated product or service. I prefer to keep my data secure and private.

 

[LightProtector]

Interoperability is such a beautiful thing 🥹

 

[JohnC1959]

I don’t use any Google products. I would never share files with any Google affiliated product or service. I prefer to keep my data secure and private.

So you see a great sunset and a friend that loves good sunsets has a Google product so you won't share that sunset photo. Interesting.

 

[dominiongamma]

The unification of standards is one of the best news ever.

People on here will be like “I don’t want Google with my data” or something lol but I agree that a unification is a good thing

 

[OnlyADuck]

…the transfer process will allow eSIM, passwords, photos, messages, apps, contacts … to migrate wirelessly from an iPhone to an Android device…

…via an unsecured cloud service. Not quite AirDrop then.

 

[Mwschaf]

So you see a great sunset and a friend that loves good sunsets has a Google product so you won't share that sunset photo. Interesting.

There are numerous ways to share Androids over processed images. They definitely aren’t photos.

 

[Mwschaf]

…via an unsecured cloud service. Not quite AirDrop then.

Like everything Google/Android the users best interests and security are never considered.

 

[Corefile]

Microsoft Windows Phone called this "squirting" or similar if I recall.

 

[Mwschaf]

People on here will be like “I don’t want Google with my data” or something lol but I agree that a unification is a good thing

iPhone users will likely know their data won’t be secure and know they don’t need to open their phones up to Googles insecure world. It looks like Google is going to shut down Pixel. With a 3% and declining market share their losses are massive.