Google may be expanding Android Quick Share's AirDrop feature to more phones: What to expect

Google is reportedly rolling out Quick Share and AirDrop interoperability to Pixel 9 series devices. This way, the tech giant is expanding the two-way file-sharing feature between Android and Apple devices beyond the Pixel 10 series, which launched exclusively in November 2025.According to an Android Authority report, some Pixel 9 owners on Reddit have reported that they can now share files between their Pixel and Apple devices. One user confirmed the feature works on their Pixel 9 Pro XL running a stable Android build, and another said it appeared after an update on their Pixel 9 Pro. However, the rollout appears to be gradual, as several users in the thread say they don't yet have access to the feature.Google had promised that Quick Share-AirDrop support would eventually reach older Pixel phones. However, the company didn't provide a specific timeline. Code discovered in Android Canary version ZP11.251212.007 last month suggested the groundwork was being laid for Pixel 9 series support, the report added. Last year, Google made Android's Quick Share interoperable with Apple's AirDrop, though the feature was initially limited to the Pixel 10 series. Rather than tying functionality to Pixel-specific hardware, Google upgraded the Quick Share Extension to a standalone APK with its own Play Store listing, making AirDrop interoperability a Quick Share feature available across Android devices. Earlier this month, the company confirmed that the feature will be expanding to other Android devices beyond the Pixel 10 series.Google is also working to make switching from iPhone to Android easier. Speaking at a press briefing at Google's Taipei office during a Pixel Labs tour, Eric Kay, Vice President of Engineering for the Android platform, said, "We're also going to be working to make it easy for people who do decide to switch to transfer their data and make sure they've got everything they had from their old phone. So there's a lot more going on with that."In December 2025, Google and Apple confirmed they were collaborating on a new switching method to facilitate easier transitions between Android and iOS devices, with support for transferring additional data types.According to reports, Google is eliminating the "Everyone" sharing option from Quick Share, its Android rival to Apple AirDrop. According to a report, the tech giant has released a server-side update that aligns the file-sharing feature with the iPhone's approach and makes it more privacy-focused.The always-on "Everyone" option, which allowed users to receive files from any nearby Android device indefinitely, has reportedly disappeared from at least some devices. This has left users with "Your devices", "Contacts", and "Everyone for 10 minutes", replacing the "Everyone" indefinite option.The change has been spotted on Google's Pixel 10 and was seen missing on devices running different versions of Google Play Services, suggesting the rollout is being controlled server-side rather than through a standard app update. We at TOI also observed the change on our Pixel 10 Pro Fold.For users who frequently use Quick Share, the "Everyone" option is convenient. However, because it allows virtually anyone to send files via Quick Share, it can pose a security risk. That is probably why Google has begun removing the "Everyone" option. The change aligns Quick Share with AirDrop and limits the Everyone option to 10 minutes.The report states the change was identified following the recent Google Play Services beta update to version 26.06.31. Currently, the change appears only on some devices, suggesting Google will likely begin removing the option on a broader set of Android devices.