Apple’s AirDrop has long been one of the company’s most powerful ecosystem advantages, making it effortless to share photos, videos, and files across iPhones, iPads, and Macs — while leaving Android users out. Now, Google is preparing to dismantle that barrier, and the change is about to reach far more Android devices.
After quietly introducing two-way AirDrop compatibility on its Pixel 10 phones last year, the search giant says the feature is expanding to many more Android devices.
AirDrop Compatibility Is No Longer A Pixel Exclusive
One of the most unexpected tech moves of 2025 was Google enabling two-way file sharing between Android and Apple devices on the Pixel 10 series. Using Android’s Quick Share feature, Pixel users could send and receive files directly from iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks — something that once seemed unthinkable.
At the time, Google hinted that Pixel exclusivity wouldn’t last forever. Now, that promise is turning into reality.
At a press briefing that was held at Google’s Taipei office and attended by Android Authority, Eric Kay, Android Vice President of Engineering, confirmed that AirDrop interoperability will roll out to more Android devices in 2026.
“We spent a lot of time and energy to make sure that we could build something that was compatible not only with iPhone but iPads and MacBooks. Now that we’ve proven it out, we’re working with our partners to expand it into the rest of the ecosystem, and you should see some exciting announcements coming very soon,” Kay said.
How AirDrop Works On Android Today
Currently, only Pixel 10 devices support AirDrop-style transfers with Apple hardware. To receive files from an iPhone, Pixel users must set Quick Share visibility to “Everyone for 10 minutes” and enable receive mode.
Meanwhile, Apple users must switch AirDrop visibility to “Anyone for 10 minutes” to allow transfers from outside their contacts.
The process works in reverse for Android-to-Apple sharing, making it functional — though still more manual than native AirDrop within Apple’s ecosystem.
Technical Changes Pointed To Wider Expansion
Google had already hinted at wider availability by upgrading Quick Share from a system-level stub into a full Play Store app. That move effectively transformed AirDrop interoperability into a core Android feature rather than something tied exclusively to Pixel hardware — thereby paving the way for adoption across other manufacturers.
Qualcomm later confirmed that Snapdragon-powered devices would eventually support the same functionality. Phone maker Nothing has also publicly stated it’s working to bring AirDrop interoperability to its devices.
A Direct Challenge To Apple’s Ecosystem Lock-In
Beyond convenience, Google’s push directly targets Apple’s ecosystem lock-in. AirDrop has long been one of Apple’s strongest reasons for users to stay within its ecosystem, and cross-platform compatibility removes a major friction point.
Kay also noted that the company is working to simplify data transfers for users switching from iPhones to Android devices, aligning with broader collaboration between Apple and Google. For instance, the recent confirmation that Google’s Gemini AI models will power Apple’s upcoming Siri upgrade shows that the two rivals are becoming unexpectedly cooperative.
What Comes Next
Google has not revealed which Android brands or models will receive AirDrop support first, nor has it announced a firm rollout date. However, the company says announcements are coming “very soon,” suggesting broader availability is just around the corner.
For Android users, the expansion could finally make sharing files with Apple devices a lot less painful. For Apple users, it marks a rare moment where the company’s famously closed ecosystem is no longer completely sealed.
