Google is preparing to expand AirDrop and Quick Share interoperability beyond Pixel phones, bringing cross-platform file sharing to a wider range of Android devices starting next year.
The feature, first announced in November, allows users on select Google Pixel phones and Apple devices to share files directly between Android and iOS using Quick Share and AirDrop. Until now, support has been limited to Google’s Pixel 10 lineup, but that exclusivity appears to be coming to an end.
Speaking during a recent Pixel Labs tour at Google’s Taipei office, Android platform engineering vice president Eric Kay confirmed the broader rollout. Kay said the company spent significant time ensuring compatibility across Apple’s ecosystem, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs, before moving toward expansion.
“Now that we’ve proven it out, we’re working with our partners to expand it into the rest of the ecosystem,” Kay said, adding that more announcements are expected soon.
The comments were reported by Android Authority, which attended the press briefing.
At launch, AirDrop interoperability worked on Apple devices alongside the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Fold. While Google has not yet named the next Android phones to receive the feature, Kay’s remarks strongly suggest it will no longer be limited to Pixel hardware.
Technical changes under the hood support that conclusion. Rather than keeping AirDrop compatibility locked behind a Pixel-exclusive system component, Google converted the Quick Share extension into a full APK distributed through the Play Store. That approach makes it easier to update the feature and deploy it across devices from different manufacturers.
Some Android partners are already lining up. Nothing has confirmed it is working to bring AirDrop interoperability to its phones, while Qualcomm has hinted that Snapdragon-powered devices could gain support as well.
Google says the feature relies on a multi-layered security system, including encrypted file transfers, built-in protections on both Android and iOS, and explicit user consent before any file is received.
For now, interoperability is limited to the “Everyone for 10 Minutes” sharing mode on both platforms. Google says it hopes to collaborate with Apple in the future to support more restrictive sharing options, such as Contacts Only mode.
If widely adopted, the move could finally remove one of the longest-standing friction points between Android and iPhone users: fast, wireless file sharing across platforms.
