By
Fergus Halliday - Digital Content Editor
Last updated

Airdrop on Android

The lines between the Apple ecosystem and its opposite are getting blurrier with the recent expansion of AirDrop on Android. Android has had its own file-sharing functionality for years, but you couldn't use Quick Share to send images and videos to iOS devices or AirDrop to do the opposite until recently. 

Google first began rolling out interoperability between Quick Share and AirDrop in late 2025, with its own devices and Samsung’s at the front of the line. Now, as part of the wider Android 17 rollout, the company is now looking to bring the feature to more manufacturers, including OPPO, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and HONOR.

Here’s everything you need to know about Airdrop on Android.

How does AirDrop on Android work?


Airdrop on Android is exactly what it sounds like. The short version is that you’ll soon be able to quickly and easily transfer files from Samsung or Google smartphones to Apple devices as you would from one iPhone to another using AirDrop. 

According to Google, the move builds on earlier efforts towards compatibility between Android and iOS devices, like RCS connectivity and unknown tracker alerts. It’s also said to rely on a secure-by-design approach that has been tested by independent security experts.

“We built Quick Share’s interoperability support for AirDrop with the same rigorous security standards that we apply to all Google products. Our approach to security is proactive and deeply integrated into every stage of the development process,” the company said in a blog post.

How to use AirDrop on Android


Once the feature rolls out to your device, all you need to do is use the Quick Share feature as you ordinarily would to share files to an Android device. Hit the share button on a given file, and you should be able to see any nearby iOS devices that can now receive it.

Whatever iOS device you’re looking to connect to will need to open its AirDrop settings and adjust its visibility to Everyone for 10 minutes - but that’s usually about it when it comes to tinkering.

How to share files using AirDrop on Android

  1. Find the file you want to share 
  2. Tap on the Share button or icon
  3. Select Quick Share
  4. Select the iOS device you want to share to. 
  5. Accept the AirDrop prompt on your iOS device to receive the file. 

What manufacturers and devices support AirDrop on Android?


At the time of writing, there are seven major device manufacturers that have adopted AirDrop on Android in some capacity:

  • Google: Pixel 10 series, Pixel 9 series, Pixel 8a
  • Samsung: Galaxy S26 Series, Galaxy S25 Series, Galaxy S24 Series, Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Flip 6
  • Vivo: Vivo X300, Vivo X300 Pro, Vivo X300 Ultra
  • Xiaomi: Xiaomi 17T Pro
  • OPPO: OPPO Find X9, OPPO Find X9 Ultra, OPPO Find X9 Pro, OPPO Find N6, OPPO Find X9s
  • OnePlus: OnePlus 15 
  • Honor: Honor Magic V6

It’s worth noting that support for the feature is far from device-agnostic. Aside from Google, most of the above manufacturers are only rolling out Airdrop support to their most recent hardware. Whether that will change and just how far back each manufacturer will go when it comes to rolling out the feature remains to be seen. 

Meanwhile, other manufacturers like Motorola, HMD Global, and TCL have remained relatively quiet on the matter. Speaking to WhistleOut, a TCL Mobile representative said that the company is actively exploring ways to improve the mobile connectivity of its smartphones with other devices.

“While some TCL smartphones currently support it, we are working to ensure that seamless, cross-platform file-sharing is accessible across the entire TCL mobile ecosystem,” they said.

Other manufacturers, like Nothing, have sent similarly mixed-messages about support for the feature. Back in November 2025, CEO Carl Pei announced plans to bring the feature to the company’s smartphones.

“AirDrop is now compatible with Android! This is the kind of progress we need to see. We’re already exploring how to bring this to Nothing phones as soon as we can,” he said.

However, in the months since, no such support has arrived. Instead, the company launched its own file-sharing app – called Nothing Warp – back in April 2025.

Fergus Halliday

Digital Content Editor

Fergus Halliday
Fergus Halliday is a journalist and digital content editor at WhistleOut Australia. He’s written about technology, telecommunications, gaming and more for over a decade. He got his start writing in high school before interning at magazines like CRN Australia and freelancing for publications like the AU Review, Gizmodo, Kotaku, GamesHub, Press Start, ScreenRant, Superjump, Nestegg, and more.

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