SEOUL: Sharing files between two phones is about to get easier for Samsung users. Tech industry media report that the Quick Share function on the Galaxy S26 series will also work with Apple's AirDrop.
This means photos, videos and other files can be sent quickly between phones without needing to email them or share them in reduced quality via a messenger app.
Samsung is the second Android manufacturer with a working interface to Apple devices. Google has already made the Pixel smartphones in the 9 (excluding the 9a) and 10 series compatible with AirDrop. Other manufacturers such as Oppo, Nothing and chipmaker Qualcomm are also said to have similar plans.
The data exchange is not entirely seamless, however, and the recipient will need to adjust their settings to allow receiving a file. Apple's AirDrop currently filters transfer requests at three levels:
- Receive off
- Contacts only
- Everyone for 10 minutes
For data to arrive from an Android device to an iPhone, iPad or Mac, the "Everyone for 10 minutes" setting must be selected. Filtering by contacts does not work here because Apple uses iCloud for validation while Android relies on a Google account.
In the other direction, Android users select the "Everyone" or "Everyone for 10 minutes" option in the Quick Share settings under "Connected devices". Photos and other content from the iPhone should then arrive.
If no transfer requests come in despite this, it is worth checking whether the "Visible to nearby devices" slider is activated.
A general security note, whether for Quick Share or AirDrop: To avoid receiving unsolicited images from strangers, it is generally worth limiting sharing to contacts or only activating the function when you are expecting a file transfer. – dpa
