The caveat is that iPhone users will need to switch AirDrop to “All for 10 minutes” mode instead of “Contacts only” mode. Google says this is not a workaround of any kind. This is a direct, peer-to-peer relationship; Your data is not routed through any servers, shared content is not logged, and no additional data is shared. Naturally, iPhone owners will be able to send data back to Pixel 10 phones as well.
Google has not worked with Apple on this cross-compatibility, as the company says it “welcomes the opportunity” to work with Apple to make this sharing function work only in Contacts mode. “We accomplished this through our own implementation,” a Google spokesperson told WIRED. “Our goal is to provide an easy and secure file-sharing experience for our users, regardless of who they are communicating with.”
In a security blog post, Google says that the underlying strategy for this new synergy between Quick Share and AirDrop work is the memory-safe Rust programming language. “These overlapping protections on both platforms work together with secure connections to provide comprehensive protection for your data when you share or receive it,” writes Dave Kledermacher, Google’s vice president of platform security and privacy.
Google used NetSPI, a third-party and independent penetration testing firm, to validate the security of the new sharing feature. conclusion? Interoperability is “remarkably strong” compared to other industry implementations. This is pretty significant, given that the last time anyone tried to improve cross-compatibility between iOS and Android without Apple: Startup Beeper tried to make text from Android phones show up as blue bubbles on iPhones and caused all kinds of drama.
The number of people who can actually use this feature is limited because it’s only available on Google’s latest Pixel 10 smartphones, which just launched last August. However, Google says it wants to expand the feature to more Android devices in the future.
This new feature in Quick Share is rolling out today to the Pixel 10 series, which includes the Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. As it’s rolling out, you may not see it on your device right away. To use it, all you have to do is choose something to share, whether it’s a file, contact or photo, select share soon In the Sharing menu, and make sure the iPhone owner has their AirDrop set to “Everyone only for 10 minutes.” The iPhone Pixel 10 will be able to see the device and receive or send data.