Google has expanded AirDrop compatibility via Quick Share to additional Pixel devices, extending a feature previously limited to its newest flagship models and broadening cross-platform file-sharing support across its smartphone lineup.
Google first introduced AirDrop interoperability in Quick Share in November alongside the Google Pixel 10 series, positioning the update as a way to streamline wireless transfers between Android devices and Apple devices.
The latest expansion now brings the same functionality to the Google Pixel 9 family, including the Google Pixel 9 Pro, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, aligning last year’s premium devices with Google’s most recent software features.
Quick Share integrates AirDrop compatibility directly into the system-level sharing menu, allowing supported Pixel phones to detect nearby Apple devices and initiate local wireless transfers without requiring third-party applications or cloud-based workarounds.
The update places Google’s sharing solution closer to Apple’s tightly integrated ecosystem approach, reflecting broader industry efforts to reduce friction between competing platforms as users increasingly operate across multiple operating systems.
Google plans to release the feature in phases over the coming weeks rather than enabling it immediately for all supported devices, though the company has not provided a detailed rollout timetable.
The expansion notably excludes the Google Pixel 9a, creating a clear divide between flagship and mid-range models despite hardware similarities within the wider Pixel 9 lineup.
Google has also not confirmed whether older Tensor-powered Pixel devices outside the Pixel 9 family will receive equivalent AirDrop compatibility, leaving the broader long-term support strategy unclear.
By limiting availability to flagship devices, Google reinforces a tiered software feature approach that mirrors industry trends, where advanced interoperability tools often serve as differentiators for premium smartphones rather than standard features across an entire product range.
Google has not announced a firm completion date for the rollout, and eligible Pixel 9 devices will receive the Quick Share update automatically once the phased deployment reaches their region.
