Update March 30. This post, first published on Sunday, March 29, was updated on March 30 with news of the ground-breaking app coming to more Samsung Galaxy series phones.
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.
And a new report suggests there’s a way to bring it to earlier Samsung phones now. To be clear, I don’t recommend it. More on that below.
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.
Is Sideloading The Answer? I’d Say No
As the GalaxyClub website noted, it’s possible to sideload the app updates you need and it could create the circumstances to be able to add AirDrop functionality. However, the website is cautious.
“Updating the apps does not yet activate the Apple Share to Devices option that controls AirDrop compatibility. Only with devices that are currently participating in a One UI 8.5 beta, this sometimes seems to be the case,” it says in machine translation from the Dutch.
The site also warns that if sideloading is not a familiar concept to you, you’re better off not doing it. I’d agree with that. This is a sensational feature, but it’s worth waiting until it’s official and properly tested for your device, I believe.
Or, of course, choosing to upgrade to one of the S26 phones to have the capability now.
