Quick Share is coming to more phones, and expanding into apps

Quick Share is arguably the easiest way to share files between Android phones, Android tablets, and PCs. Now, Google has revealed that Quick Share is expanding to third-party apps.

Google announced that third-party Android apps like WhatsApp will soon get Quick Share functionality. The company is offering it as an alternative local-sharing solution for Android phones without AirDrop support.

Googler Dieter Bohn said in response to a media briefing, “We wanted to make Quick Share compatible with AirDrop on as many phones as possible, but some supported hardware is required. And so the Quick Share technology will be built into WhatsApp.” Android Authority Question.

“So if you want to share a file with someone who doesn’t have AirDrop compatibility with Quick Share, they can open WhatsApp, and it will go straight (to them). It doesn’t have to go to the Internet and come back again. We wanted to make local file sharing work for as many people as possible, because it seems like an obvious thing that should work in 2026.”

What else is worth knowing about Quick Share in apps?

Google revealed more details about this feature in response to a Android Authority Email. For one, it was confirmed that Quick Share in third-party apps can share files with native Quick Share on Android, ChromeOS, and Windows.

“This interoperability with native Quick Share is part of the value proposition we offer third-party apps with Quick Share integration,” a Google representative told us.

The representative also hinted at some bad news if you have an Android phone without Google Mobile Services (GMS):

Quick Share integrated with third-party apps on Android will still require GMS to interoperate with native Quick Share on Android/ChromeOS/PC devices.

Finally, the search giant confirmed that it will bring Quick Share to “third-party apps other than WhatsApp” in the coming months. Unfortunately, it did not name these specific apps.

AirDrop expansion, as well as an alternative solution

Google also announced that it is bringing AirDrop compatibility to more Android phones this year, including devices from Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Honor. This feature has been available on the Galaxy S26 series, Oppo Find X9 series and Vivo X300 Ultra for some time. But Google notes that the option will come soon to devices like the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy S24 range, Galaxy Z7 and Z6 devices, OnePlus 15, Oppo Find X8 range and HONOR Magic 8 Pro. See image below for complete list.

Is your Android phone not on the list of devices receiving AirDrop support? Can’t you wait for WhatsApp to get instant share? Then Google is introducing another sharing solution on Android.

“If you don’t have a compatible device, starting today you can use Quick Share on any Android phone to generate a QR code that will let you instantly share with an iOS device via the cloud,” the company explained.

This sounds similar to the cloud-based sharing system we discovered late last year. At that time, we found evidence that files needed to be uploaded to Google’s servers and kept for 24 hours.

Google revealed more details about the feature in an email response Android Authority Question:

Your files are protected with end-to-end encryption and available for download for 24 hours on Google servers. It does not use the storage in your personal Google Drive account. For successful transfer, both devices require Internet access.

We’re especially glad to hear that it doesn’t use up your Google Drive storage. So if your Android phone does not have AirDrop support then this can be a good alternative.