Google Quick Share Could Finally Work on iPhones

Google appears to be working on a cross-platform upgrade to its Quick Share feature, potentially bringing seamless file transfers to iPhones and Macs.

If true, this could be the biggest step yet toward breaking down the frustrating wall between iOS and Android users.

The discovery comes from code spotted inside the latest Google Play Services build by Android Authority. Hidden strings reference the ability to send “end-to-end encrypted files with iPhone and other devices.” A special menu related to iPhone sharing was also uncovered, though it only appeared after logging out of a Google account. Interestingly, unlike standard Quick Share, the feature seems to require a Google login, possibly for device visibility and security purposes.

Rumors of Google’s interest in iOS support aren’t brand new. The first signs appeared late last year in a GitHub repository, and now the code hints suggest it may be closer than many expected. For context, Quick Share already works smoothly between Android phones such as the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25, as well as PCs. Apple has AirDrop, which is limited to its own ecosystem. But trying to beam a photo from an iPhone 16 to a Pixel 10 still means messy workarounds.

Other companies have tried to solve this. OnePlus, for instance, introduced Share with iPhone in Oxygen OS 15, usable on the OnePlus 13 and Oppo devices, provided the iPhone user installs the O+ Connect app. Still, a universal solution from Google would be a huge leap forward.

In 2025, the idea of not being able to send a high-quality photo between friends without compression from messaging apps feels outdated. A platform-neutral Quick Share could finally bridge the divide that AirDrop and Android alternatives never fully closed.

Meanwhile, fans of mobile history may want to keep an eye out for the upcoming release of “Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips,” a coffee table book celebrating the most legendary devices of the past two decades. Launching this fall, it promises a nostalgic ride through the milestones of modern mobile technology.