What you need to know
- Google is rolling out QR code file sharing from Android phones to iPhones through Quick Share.
- iPhone users can scan a QR code and download shared files through a secure Google webpage.
- Shared files stay available for 24 hours and are protected with end-to-end encryption.
Google has started rolling out a new Quick Share feature that lets Android users share files with iPhones simply by scanning a QR code.
One of the biggest announcements from this week’s Android Show was improved compatibility between Android phones and iPhones. Google announced that it would make switching from iPhone to Android easier by allowing more complex data, like passwords and even home screen layouts, to transfer across devices. Another major part of the announcement was the expansion of Quick Share to AirDrop support across more Android phones.
However, it looks like Google won’t be bringing native Quick Share to AirDrop support to every Android phone, at least not yet. For devices that don’t support it, Google announced a fallback feature that lets iPhone users scan a QR code and receive files through the cloud, and that feature is now beginning to roll out.
As spotted by Android Authority, the feature is already appearing on some devices. When sharing a file through Quick Share, users now see a new option labeled Share with iPhone and other devices, which generates a QR code that the other person can scan directly from their phone.
Android Central’s take
Native Quick Share to AirDrop support is still the better solution, but honestly, even this QR code workaround feels surprisingly practical. Anything that reduces the friction between Android and iPhone sharing is a win in my book.
Once scanned, the QR code takes the recipient to the quickshare.google website, where they can download the shared files. Google says the files are end-to-end encrypted and remain available for only 24 hours.
This feature is mainly meant for Android phones that don’t support native Quick Share to AirDrop compatibility. It does seem to be rolling out gradually, though. I tried it on both my Oppo Find X9 Pro and Google Pixel 8a, and neither had received the feature yet, so it looks like Google is still in the middle of the rollout.