It’s been a good few months for Android-to-iPhone sharing: Late last year, Google figured out how to make AirDrop work. With the Pixel 10And since then, the functionality has spread to many other Android handsets. Many more models will choose the same capacity In the coming months. Apple hasn’t put as much time into iPhone-to-Android sharing, but we can’t have everything. At least now there is support for end-to-end encryption on RCS, rolled out With iOS 26.5 update.
There’s more good news for those who want to share from Android to iOS and can’t (or don’t have) AirDrop yet: Google is pushing an improved sharing method that works using QR codes. In just two taps, you can send files, links, contacts and more. The update was announced as part of The Android Show: I/O Edition that Google held last week, and it looks like to bring out Now on all Android handsets. If you don’t see it yet, it will soon.
How to share from Android to iPhone with QR code
This updated functionality is appearing as part of the Quick Share option on Android. Whenever you tap the share button anywhere in Android or your installed apps, you’ll get a share sheet filled with contacts and apps, and Quick share There should be: Tap this to discover the new feature. The idea behind Quick Share is that you can transfer something quickly, without relying on third-party apps. If your Android phone has been updated to support AirDrop, and there’s an iPhone nearby ready to receive via AirDrop, you’ll see this Apple device as an option to share.
Quick Share is getting another upgrade.
Credit: Google
If not, you can use the option that Google is now pushing. If your phone has the update, you’ll see a message saying you can “Share with iPhone and other devices” via QR code. Then you will see that Use the QR code The option on the right, which quickly shrinks to just a QR code thumbnail: Tap this to share via QR code.
As with the more straightforward AirDrop method, the iPhone needs to be in receiving mode. From iOS Settings, tap Normal > Airdrop > Everyone for 10 minutes. Once that’s done, the QR code on the Android device can be scanned with the iPhone camera app, which will lead to a custom URL on the quickshare.google portal.
What do you think so far?
Google says The files you’re transferring will stay in the cloud for 24 hours, with a 10GB data limit in that time frame. You can share up to 1,000 files across up to 20 iPhone, iPad or macOS devices in one session. Any files you share this way are protected by end-to-end encryption and don’t count against your Google Drive quota.
If you don’t have AirDrop yet use the QR code option.
Credit: Google
Sharing via AirDrop, where available, is the preferred option—but this isn’t bad for older handsets that don’t get AirDrop support. You can also use apps like WhatsApp to send data between Android and iOS devices, but keep in mind that many of these apps Compress your files on the way.
For Android-to-Android devices, a direct Quick Share connection should be available on most modern handsets, assuming the receiving device is discoverable (you can set this via the Quick Share icon in Quick Settings). If it doesn’t show up right away (perhaps it’s running an older version of Android), a QR code option is available as a fallback, which should establish a direct connection over wifi and Bluetooth.
