In a surprising but welcome move, Google did updated Quick Share to work with Apple’s AirDrop, allowing users to more easily transfer files and photos between Android devices and iPhones. The new functionality is initially available on the Pixel 10 series and works with iPhone, iPad and macOS devices.
Google plans to expand the functionality to additional Android devices in the future.
The company says the new feature allows users to quickly share their photos, videos and files without worrying about what kind of phone the other person is using.
Quick Share currently works with AirDrop if the iPhone owner changes their settings to make their device discoverable to anyone using AirDrop’s “Everyone for 10 Minutes” feature. The Pixel user will then be able to see the iPhone as an available device when they select Quick Share.
“This app using Everyone for 10 Minutes is just the first step in seamless cross-platform sharing, and we welcome the opportunity to work with Apple to enable Contacts Only in the future,” Google explained in a blog post.
The tech giant says you can ensure you’re sharing content with the right person by confirming their device name on your screen.
Google notes that the update enables two-way communication, meaning iPhone users can send files to Pixel phones as well. Your Pixel device will also need to be set as discoverable to receive a file.
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The feature doesn’t use a solution and the connection is instant and peer-to-peer, Google says. This means that data is not routed through a server and shared content is never logged.
“We built it with security at its core, protecting your data with strong safeguards tested by independent security experts,” Google wrote in the blog post. “It’s just one more way we’re delivering the better compatibility people have been asking for across operating systems, following on from our work on RCS and unknown tracking notifications.”
It’s worth noting that Google’s blog post doesn’t detail how it worked with Apple to roll out the new functionality. TechCrunch has reached out to Apple for comment and will update if it is provided.
