Google has just announced a major breakthrough in cross-platform compatibility. According to the company, devices in the Pixel 10 series can now exchange files with iPhones using AirDrop through Android’s Quick Share feature. This means sending photos and documents between Android and iOS is finally becoming far more seamless—a capability users have hoped for for years. While the feature is currently exclusive to Pixel 10 devices, Google says it will expand to other Android phones in the future.
For those curious about how this system handles privacy and security, Google has shared additional details through its technical blog. From a practical standpoint, the experience appears nearly identical to the current Quick Share workflow. To enable transfers, the Apple device must set its AirDrop visibility to “everyone for 10 minutes.” This setting allows devices outside the contact list to initiate a transfer. Once activated, the Pixel 10 simply displays the iPhone as a normal Quick Share target.
The feature works both ways: Android devices can also receive files from AirDrop-enabled Apple devices. This requires enabling Quick Share visibility to “everyone for 10 minutes” or switching on the “receiving” mode within the Quick Share interface.
A major question remains: Did Apple cooperate in making this possible? The company has remained silent so far. If Apple was not involved, it may consider Google’s approach a potential security loophole, raising the possibility that a future iOS update could attempt to block this functionality.
Regardless of the behind-the-scenes dynamics, the feature represents a powerful convenience boost, bringing Android and iOS users closer to true cross-platform harmony.