Android is reportedly copying a page from Apple’s book. A report suggests that Android users might get an Apple AirDrop-like feature on their smartphones. The feature will support contact and file sharing simply by tapping two phones together.
Android Authority in its report said it spotted evidence of the feature across Samsung’s One UI 9, Google Play Services, and Android 17 system-level code. The publication first spotted the feature in September 2025 in Samsung’s One UI 8.5 and again in One UI 9, where it appeared as a tap-based file transfer system that uses NFC.
The report said the feature is not exclusive to Samsung and is not based on NFC alone. After analysing code in Google Play Services and Quick Share in One UI 9, the publication said NFC may simply act as the trigger, while Quick Share handles the actual transfer.
It also found references to a system-level service called “TapToShare” in the Android 17 beta, which suggests that the feature may not be tied to one brand.
Android could enable cross-device tap-to-share experience
This means Quick Share on Android could eventually support an AirDrop-like tap-to-share experience that works across multiple devices and brands. Google is expected to announce the feature alongside the stable Android 17 release, while Samsung devices may be among the first to receive it as the company is also working on it separately.
Meanwhile, the new Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup supports an AirDrop-like sharing feature through Quick Share. The rollout began in South Korea and later expanded to other regions.
However, Galaxy users can send photos, videos and files directly to iPhones and Macs only using a system similar to Apple AirDrop. To use it, users need to open Quick Share, look for nearby Apple devices and tap to send. On the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, the feature is not enabled by default. Users need to go into Quick Share settings and enable the “Share with Apple devices” option.
There are also a few conditions to keep in mind. The iPhone receiving the file must have AirDrop set to “Everyone,” and Galaxy devices must have similar visibility settings enabled when sharing files. The feature is also available on select Google Pixel phones after a recent update.
Android 17 could eventually support an AirDrop-like tap-to-share experience that works across multiple devices and brands.
