Google has updated its Quick Share feature to work with Apple's AirDrop, allowing direct file sharing between Android and iOS devices. The compatibility starts with the Pixel 10 series and stems from EU regulations mandating interoperable Wi-Fi standards. This move enhances cross-platform file transfer without relying on company servers.
On November 20, 2025, Google announced an update to Android's Quick Share, enabling it to integrate with Apple's AirDrop for peer-to-peer file sharing over Wi-Fi. This interoperability allows users to share files directly between compatible devices, appearing in each other's sharing menus when AirDrop is set to "everyone for 10 minutes" mode.
The feature launches exclusively on the Pixel 10 series, with Google stating it is "looking forward to improving the experience and expanding it to more Android devices." However, it does not yet support AirDrop's default "contacts only" mode, and Google confirmed to The Verge that Apple was not involved in the development. Files are transferred locally without passing through Google or Apple servers, enhancing privacy.
Google credits the use of the memory-safe Rust programming language for bolstering security. As explained by Google VP of Platforms Security and Privacy Dave Kleidermacher, "Its compiler enforces strict ownership and borrowing rules at compile time, which guarantees memory safety. Rust removes entire classes of memory-related bugs. This means our implementation is inherently resilient against attackers attempting to use maliciously crafted data packets to exploit memory errors."
This development is largely attributed to the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA). Earlier in 2025, EU regulators required Apple to adopt the Wi-Fi Alliance's Wi-Fi Aware standard in iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, deprecating its proprietary Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL) protocol. Wi-Fi Aware, developed with Apple's input based on AWDL, enables broader compatibility. Supported hardware includes iPhone 12 and later models, as well as recent iPads. Android has supported Wi-Fi Aware since version 8.0, paving the way for future expansions to other devices.
The change addresses longstanding platform silos, similar to last year's addition of RCS messaging for better iOS-Android texting. Notably, macOS 26 does not support Wi-Fi Aware, limiting compatibility to mobile devices. Google did not mention the DMA in its announcements, amid ongoing criticisms of the regulation by US tech firms, including calls from Apple to repeal it.
