AirDrop to Android: how to send files between iPhone and Android

AirDrop support is built into Quick Share on these Android phones, according to Google's list in October 2026:

On the Apple side, Google says it works with all iPhones. Google started with the Pixel 10 family in November 2025 and has been adding phones since, so if yours isn't listed, it may get support in a later update. Google lists the Motorola razr fold 2026, the OPPO Find X8 series, the HONOR Magic8 Pro and the vivo X300 and X300 Pro as coming soon. Galaxy A phones, most Pixels older than the Pixel 9 and most other Android phones aren't on the list yet.

If you have a Samsung, make sure Share with Apple devices is turned on in your Quick Share settings first.

1. On the iPhone, go to Settings > General > AirDrop and tap Everyone for 10 Minutes. You can also open Control Center, touch and hold the connectivity controls, tap AirDrop and choose it there.
2. On the Android phone, open the photo, video or file and tap Share.
3. Choose Quick Share, then tap the iPhone when it shows up.
4. The iPhone gets an AirDrop request. Once they accept, the transfer starts.

Everyone for 10 Minutes really does only last 10 minutes. After that, the iPhone switches back to Contacts Only, and it won't show up in Quick Share anymore until the setting is turned on again.

1. On the Android phone, turn on Quick Share's receive mode so it's visible to nearby devices.
2. On the iPhone, open the photo, video or file and tap the Share button.
3. Tap AirDrop, then tap the Android phone.

When you AirDrop from the Photos app, the iPhone may leave out some details by default. To send the original file with its location, edit history and captions, tap Options at the top of the share sheet and turn on All Photos Data before you tap AirDrop.

Go through these in order. Most failed transfers come down to one of the first three.

• The phone isn't supported. Check the table above. If your Android phone isn't on it, AirDrop won't see it, whatever settings you change.
• The 10 minutes ran out. Turn Everyone for 10 Minutes on again on the iPhone.
• Something is switched off. Both phones need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on. On a Samsung, Share with Apple devices has to be on, and the Android phone needs Quick Share's receive mode on to receive.
• Personal Hotspot is on. Apple says to turn off Personal Hotspot before you use AirDrop.
• The phones are too far apart. Both features use Bluetooth to find each other, so stay within a few meters.
• The Android phone needs an update. Support arrives through software updates, so install any pending ones.

Don't install apps from the Play Store that call themselves AirDrop for Android. They aren't made by Apple or Google, and on a supported phone you don't need any app at all.

If your phone isn't supported, or the person you're sending to isn't next to you, these work with any iPhone and any Android phone.

1. Send a link (any file, any distance, full quality)

Upload the file from your browser and send the link by text, WhatsApp or email. Your recipient taps it and downloads the original file, so videos keep their full quality. With VeilShare:

1. Open the upload box on our homepage on your phone and choose your photos, videos or files.
2. Pick how long the link should last, 6, 24, 48 or 72 hours, and add a password if wanted.
3. Tap the upload button, copy the link and send it to the other phone.

It's free up to 3 GB without an account, and works the same in both directions. Your files are encrypted on your phone before they're uploaded, so we can't see them.

2. Text it with RCS

Since iOS 18, iPhones can send RCS messages to Android phones, with high resolution photos and videos instead of the blurry MMS versions. You need a carrier that supports RCS on iPhone, and you can check it's on in Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging. On Android, Google Messages lets you tap HD+ before sending to send photos and videos at their original resolution. Good for photos and short clips, but not for big files.

3. Use WhatsApp or Telegram

Both work on iPhone and Android, but they have their own limits. WhatsApp shrinks videos to 100 MB and 720p unless you send them as a document, as we explain in our guide to WhatsApp's file size limit. Telegram sends files up to 2 GB, see our Telegram guide.

4. Email it with Mail Drop

From the Mail app on an iPhone, Mail Drop sends attachments up to 5 GB as a download link, which works on any phone. The link lasts 30 days. Most other email attachments are capped at 20 to 25 MB, as we cover in our guide to email attachment size limits.

• You're together and the Android phone is supported: AirDrop and Quick Share. It's the fastest and needs nothing else.
• A few photos or a short clip: text them with RCS.
• Long videos, lots of files, or you're not together: send a link.
• The Android phone isn't supported: a link or RCS. For a long video, see our guide to sending large videos.