On November 20, 2025, Google began rolling out a new feature called Quick Share, designed to facilitate seamless sharing of photos, videos, and documents between Pixel smartphones and nearby Apple devices. This development comes in response to years of user feedback regarding the cumbersome process of transferring files across different platforms, particularly in environments where Android and Apple devices are commonly used together.
Currently, Quick Share is available only on select Pixel models: the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Fold. When these devices are in proximity to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the feature detects the Apple device and displays it as an option for file sharing. For the Apple user, all that is required is to enable the 'Everyone for 10 minutes' option in AirDrop, which allows for a temporary visibility mode initially introduced in 2023. Once this setting is activated, the file transfer can commence.
The process begins with the devices locating each other through Bluetooth, followed by the actual transfer occurring over a direct Wi-Fi connection—similar to how AirDrop operates. This method ensures that the data remains local, avoiding the need for external servers. Smaller files, like images, transfer almost instantaneously, while larger videos may take longer depending on the local Wi-Fi conditions.
Despite the advantages of Quick Share, it remains exclusive to Pixel users at this stage, with no immediate timeline for broader Android compatibility. However, Google has hinted at plans for an eventual wider rollout. On the Apple side, no additional updates are necessary, given that AirDrop already accommodates the temporary visibility setting that Quick Share utilizes.
The implementation of Quick Share is expected to simplify the daily lives of users who often navigate between different operating systems, whether that involves sharing vacation pictures with friends using iPhones, sending school assignments to children’s iPads, or exchanging design files with colleagues using MacBooks. This local transfer method reduces the need for mobile data and increases privacy by keeping files off cloud networks.
Despite its benefits, the process is not entirely seamless. Users will still need to remember to manually enable AirDrop’s temporary visibility setting, which could deter some individuals from using the feature. Additionally, until more Android devices support Quick Share, its utility is limited to Pixel owners.
For households with a mix of Android and Apple devices, Quick Share represents a significant advancement in file-sharing capabilities, offering a more effortless way to transfer content across different platforms.