Google announced in August 2026 a tap-to-share mode for its Quick Share feature, allowing Android users to exchange contacts, photos, videos, and more by bringing two compatible devices close together.
The update was revealed alongside Google’s Pixel 11 product launches on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The new mode enables what Google describes as an “instant, two-way exchange” when two Android devices are held near each other. Users can also share photos or videos directly from a phone’s Share Sheet and complete the transfer by tapping devices together.
The rollout began on August 12 for Pixel 6 and newer devices. Support for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8, and Flip8 is coming soon, with Google saying more devices will be supported by year-end.
Google’s Quick Share is the company’s answer to Apple’s AirDrop. The new tap-to-share capability brings Android devices closer in line with the iPhone’s NFC-powered NameDrop feature, introduced in Apple’s iOS 17, which similarly lets iPhone users share contacts, photos, or videos by touching phones together.
For Android users, the update may simplify everyday file and contact sharing without requiring manual setup or searching for nearby devices — a friction point that has historically made cross-device sharing less seamless on Android compared to Apple’s ecosystem.
Source: TechCrunch