Android will support AirDrop: this is how file transfers between mobile phones will change

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During years, Share files between an Android phone and an iPhone It's been a bit of a headache: slow solutions, loss of quality in photos and videos, or having to resort to unintuitive third-party apps. Now, Google has confirmed that this scenario is about to change significantly, by making Android is compatible with AirDrop via Quick Share on many more devices, not just Pixel.

The company had already taken the first step with the Pixel 10 family, but what has now been made official is that interoperability between QuickShare and AirDrop will be rolled out to a large number of Android phones during 2026This opens the door to making it much easier to mix Android and Apple devices without complications when sending content in homes, offices, or educational centers in Spain and the rest of Europe.

From exclusivity on the Pixel 10 to a feature for the entire Android ecosystem

The change began in late 2025, when Google surprised everyone by enabling the Pixel 10 users could send and receive files directly with iPhone, iPad, and Mac using AirDrop.using Quick Share as a bridge. Until then, AirDrop had been one of the most representative features of Apple's closed ecosystem and one of its silent arguments for retaining users.

In that initial rollout, compatibility was presented almost as a controlled test: for several months, Interoperability remained limited to the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Prowhile the rest of the Android users in Europe continued to resort to alternative methods such as messaging, email, or LocalSend-type solutions for moving large files.

The situation has changed with the statements of Eric Kay, Vice President of Engineering at AndroidDuring a press conference at Google's offices in Taipei, reported by specialized media outlets such as Android Authority, Kay confirmed that In 2026, Quick Share compatible with AirDrop will be expanded to "many more" Android devices, making it clear that this is an expansion plan on the scale of the entire ecosystem.

According to the executive, the Android team has invested “A lot of time and energy” went into creating something that works not only with iPhones, but also with iPads and MacBooksOnce the connection has been validated as stable and secure on the Pixel 10, the next step is to work with different manufacturers to bring the same experience to the rest of the ranges and brands, both in Europe and in other markets.

The technical shift that makes it possible: from AWDL to Wi-Fi Aware

The key to that Android is now able to speak the "language" of AirDrop It's undergoing a quiet change on Apple's part. Historically, AirDrop relied on a proprietary technology called Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL), which was closed and very difficult to integrate from outside the Cupertino company's ecosystem.

This began to change with the updates to iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26, when Apple switched to using Wi-Fi Aware as the basis of AirDropIt's an open standard from the Wi-Fi Alliance, in whose development Apple has participated, and which Android devices have supported for some time. Suddenly, Quick Share and AirDrop began to share the same underlying technology.

Google took advantage of that transition to develop, independently and without direct collaboration with Apple, a Secure channel between Android and AirDrop programmed in RustThis interoperability layer allows Quick Share to detect nearby Apple devices and negotiate the Sending files in an encrypted and local manner, without having to go through the cloud.

In practice, this means that a user will be able to send photos, videos, documents or any file from an Android mobile to an iPhone, iPad or Mac with the same ease with which content is shared between two iPhones today. The process will be reciprocal: it will also be possible for an Apple device to use AirDrop to send files that will be received via Quick Share on Android.

This technical step not only reduces friction for users, but also It redefines one of the historical barriers between both ecosystemsIn mixed environments, very common in Spain and Europe—for example, offices where Mac laptops coexist with corporate Android mobiles—file transfers can be done directly without improvised solutions.

Quick Share becomes an app and accelerates expansion

Another key piece of the puzzle is how Google distributes this feature. To ensure that Quick Share wasn't "stuck" on Pixel phones, the company It transformed the Quick Share extension from a simple system component into a complete APK with its own entry on the Play StoreThis decision is what now allows compatibility to be extended to other models without waiting for major operating system updates.

Since it is an application that can be updated directly from the store, Google can enable AirDrop interoperability on more Android phones through a simple software updateThere's no need to change your Android version or wait for each manufacturer to release their corresponding customized interface.

This fits well with the reality of the Android market in Europe, where very recent devices coexist with others that are just beginning to receive new system versions. With this strategy, Mobile devices that still have support available on the Play Store will be able to access the feature without needing a major version upgrade.reducing both fragmentation and waiting time for the user.

During initial testing, Google focused its efforts on ensuring that The user experience would be similar to AirDrop between Apple devices: quick detection of nearby devices, local transfer using Bluetooth for pairing and Wi-Fi to move data, and clear indicators of who is sending and receiving which file.

Manufacturers and partners: Nothing, Qualcomm and the rest of the ecosystem

Although Google has not yet published an official list of Specific brands and models that will receive AirDrop compatibility firstSome movements in the industry have already been seen that point to where the expansion will go throughout 2026.

So far, the only company that has spoken out openly is Nothing, which has confirmed that it is working to integrate Quick Share-AirDrop interoperability into its phonesGiven that the brand has opted to position itself with software close to the "pure" Android experience, it wouldn't be surprising if its devices were among the first to debut the new feature outside the Pixel ecosystem.

In parallel, Qualcomm has hinted that it is collaborating to enable this compatibility in mobile phones equipped with Snapdragon processors.If this work translates into platform-level support, much of the current and future Android catalog—including mid-range and high-end devices that are sold massively in Spain and Europe—could benefit without major hardware changes.

Some analysts also point out that the next flagship phones from manufacturers like Samsung They could act as a showcase for this feature, as happened previously with other Google innovations. Although there's no official confirmation, it wouldn't be surprising to see future generations of the Galaxy series integrating Quick Share interoperable with AirDrop very soon.

In any case, the message that Google leaves is that The expansion will not be limited to a few "premium" models.Compatibility is designed to gradually roll out to the majority of the Android ecosystem, precisely so that share files across platforms Stop being a privilege for a few and become standard behavior.

Impact for users in Spain and Europe: less friction between systems

For the everyday lives of European users, the change may seem simple, but it's actually quite complex. Until now, many households had to resort to Unseemly tricks to transfer photos from an Android phone to a relative's iPhoneWhatsApp groups full of compressed imagesemails with attachments or cloud services that take longer than desired.

With interoperability between Quick Share and AirDrop, That type of situation is simplified to a couple of taps on the screenThe same applies to work environments where Mac laptops coexist with corporate Android mobiles, or to educational centers where teachers use iPads and some students use terminals with Google's system.

Beyond comfort, the issue of privacy and data controlSince it is a local transfer system, the file does not have to go over the internet or through third-party servers, something especially relevant in European companies that must comply with regulations such as the GDPR and that, until now, preferred closed solutions for compliance reasons.

This move is also part of a European regulatory context in which Brussels has long been pushing to improve interoperability between platforms and reduce the effects of closed ecosystems.The practical opening of AirDrop to Android, even without an aggressive advertising campaign, fits quite well with this regulatory climate.

Beyond the files: making it easier to switch from iPhone to Android

AirDrop compatibility isn't the only area Google is working on. bringing Android closer to the Apple ecosystemEric Kay also announced that the company is redoubling its efforts to make switching from iPhone to Android easier, with more comprehensive and less cumbersome data migration systems.

According to the executive, the goal is that Anyone who decides to switch to an Android device can take virtually everything they had on their old iPhone with them.Photos, contacts, messages, and other personal content. These types of tools already existed in a basic form, but Google wants to go a step further and has announced a collaboration with Apple to create more advanced transfer methods.

This strategy has a clear interpretation: if file sharing ceases to be an obstacle and Transferring personal data becomes a guided and secure processOne of the biggest fears when switching platforms is reduced. In mature markets like Spain, where many users have been in the same ecosystem for years, any help in breaking inertia can make all the difference.

At the same time, it's not bad news for Apple users either. Power Send documents directly to colleagues or family members using Android It simplifies technological coexistence. It will no longer be essential for everyone to have an iPhone or a Mac to take advantage of AirDrop's speed, something that was almost taken for granted in many environments.

With all this activity, Google is not just adding one more feature to Android: It is directly targeting one of the strengths on which Apple has built its ecosystemIf Quick Share-AirDrop interoperability is rolled out as planned during 2026 and manufacturers respond, sharing files between Android and Apple devices will go from being a rarity to an everyday occurrence for millions of users in Spain, Europe and the rest of the world.