In a move prioritizing cross-platform compatibility, Google has enabled Android phones to share files directly with iPhones via Apple’s AirDrop system. The new functionality, rolling out initially to Google Pixel phones and soon expanding to other Android devices, utilizes Google’s Speedy Share feature and arrives following EU regulations requiring Apple to open its proprietary wireless transfer protocol.This update marks a notable shift toward interoperability, though its implementation relies on a workaround requiring iPhone users to temporarily enable AirDrop for “everyone.”
Apple’s Airdrop, a popular feature for seamless data transfer between Apple devices, is now compatible with Android smartphones. The change comes as Google introduces a new level of cross-platform functionality.
Tap to share, select the recipient, and photos and videos instantly appear on the other person’s iPhone. Since its introduction, Apple’s Airdrop has been a defining feature of iPhones and other Apple products. Now, Android smartphones can access the same seamless transfer capabilities.
Google announced the update unexpectedly in a blog post, explaining, “In our effort to make cross-platform communication as seamless as possible, we’ve made Quick Share compatible with Airdrop, enabling file sharing between Android and iOS devices.” The feature is initially rolling out to Google’s latest Pixel smartphones, with wider device support planned for the near future. This move underscores the growing demand for interoperability between mobile ecosystems.
How Airdrop Works Between iPhone and Android
To share files, iPhone users simply need to temporarily enable Airdrop for all users in their settings. This allows Android users to transfer photos, videos, documents, and other files.
Contact information cannot be shared between the operating systems due to differing structures.
This is why enabling access for all users is required. While iPhones allow users to permanently enable Airdrop for all contacts, this verification isn’t possible with Android smartphones, necessitating the workaround. However, the “everyone” setting automatically disables after ten minutes.
Google’s Independent Implementation
The somewhat clunky implementation has a simple reason: Apple and Google did not collaborate on this feature – the implementation was developed unilaterally by Android, as a Google spokesperson confirmed to The Verge. This was made possible, in part, by the European Union, which earlier this year required Apple to open its proprietary Apple Wireless Direct Link protocol in favor of the open Wi-Fi-Aware standard as part of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Google’s Quick Share is therefore likely to only function with Apple devices running the latest software version.
Apple indirectly supported the opening of the protocol: Wi-Fi-Aware was also developed with the support of the iPhone maker.
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Apple’s Frustration with the EU
Airdrop is not the first technology Apple has been required to revise under EU regulations. The translation feature of the new Airpods Pro 3 was recently updated to ensure compatibility with EU requirements. Apple’s marketing chief, Greg Joswiak, expressed his frustration with the regulatory efforts in a recent interview with stern (“We’re ticked off,” he said).
Over the years, Apple has made the tight integration of its devices a hallmark of its brand. While many customers appreciate the seamless experience between devices, it can also be a disadvantage when introducing devices that are not part of the Apple ecosystem. The EU regulations aim to address this. However, this could also have drawbacks in terms of security and privacy, as Apple points out. Whether the company will continue to support Google’s implementation remains to be seen.
