Google introduced an update to its Quick Share wireless file transfer system which allowed users to share files to and from Apple users, not just between Android devices. Now, Samsung has added this capability. Here’s how to get it, and why it’s a game-changer.
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Compatible Devices and Global Rollout
First, you need to have one of the newest Samsung smartphones, that is, Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ or Galaxy S26 Ultra. Samsung says more phones will be added to this trio in due course. The rollout of this feature began a week ago and has now reached the U.S. and the U.K., among other countries.
Software Requirements: One UI 8.5 and Play Services
Then, check the software. You want the latest iteration of Samsung One UI 8.5 — the update version ends AZCF — and Google Play Services version msut be 26.11.XX. You can check this in Settings, then Apps, then Google Play Services.
The first time you launch Quick Share after the latest software is installed, you’ll see a screen pop up which reads, “You can now share with iPhones, iPads, Macs and other devices that support AirDrop.”
Since the feature is enabled by default, this screen will pop up automatically. Using the feature is straightforward and, as Ben Schoon at 9to5Google commented, “it just works.”
How to Use AirDrop on Galaxy S26
Both parties need to have their devices set to “Everyone,” which in the case of an iPhone or Galaxy 26 means a window of 10 minutes. But the transfer is simple, seamless and fast, so that’s not a problem.
There are two caveats here: in my tests, transfer was nowhere near as fast as AirDrop between two iPhones, say. Sending a 3.3MB photo from one iPhone to another was done in less than two seconds, whereas sending it to the Galaxy took around between five and 10 seconds. Still very fast, then.
Secondly, Apple has the convenience of letting you transfer files by tapping the iPhones together and this, unsurprisingly, is not part of the new arrangement.
Why This Is a Mobile Game-Changer
So, why is this a game-changer? After all, Google Pixel 10 users have had it for months. True, and Google Pixel 9 has joined the party more recently. But the simple truth is Samsung commands the Android market and as more Galaxy phones are added to the mix, this update will make wireless file transfer between Android and Apple devices hugely more widespread. And it effectively removes one of the last major “walls” in the smartphone ecosystem.
