Samsung's newest flagship phones can now share files directly with iPhones, ending a decade-long platform barrier for Galaxy users. The Galaxy S26 series gained AirDrop compatibility through Quick Share this week, but only after installing a specific Google Play Services update.
The cross-platform sharing feature requires Google Play Services version 26.11 or newer, according to Samsung's Korean community forums. Users must update through the Play Store before accessing the new "Share with Apple devices" option in Quick Share menus.
Rollout began in South Korea on March 23 and expands to the United States later this week. Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan will follow in subsequent waves.
This marks Samsung as the first Android manufacturer beyond Google to implement AirDrop support after Pixel devices. Google confirmed in February that Quick Share would expand beyond Pixel phones this year, with Android VP Eric Kay stating "we're going to be expanding to a lot more devices" in 2026.
Only Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra models currently support the feature. Earlier Galaxy devices including last year's S25 series remain incompatible, though Samsung may expand support over time.
The implementation allows Galaxy S26 users to transfer files directly to iPhones and Macs without third-party apps or cloud services. Quick Share detects nearby Apple devices automatically when both platforms have sharing enabled.
Google began testing AirDrop compatibility on Pixel 10 devices earlier this year before extending it to Samsung's latest flagships. The company merged Nearby Share with Quick Share under unified branding in 2024 to simplify cross-platform file transfers.
Samsung made the announcement official on March 22 through its U.S. newsroom, noting that expansion to additional devices will be announced later.
