Google announced a Quick Share SDK at Android Dev Summit 2026 that will launch in the first half of 2027, enabling third-party Android and iOS apps to integrate peer-to-peer file sharing capabilities directly. The SDK will allow developers to add file transfer functionality within their applications, eliminating the need for users to open the system Share sheet and launch the fullscreen Quick Share experience.
The SDK automatically handles technical requirements in the background, including hotspot creation and leveraging Wi-Fi Direct on supported devices. Google emphasized that transfers will be end-to-end encrypted between devices over local networks, with photos and videos transferred without compression. The technology functions offline without cellular network connectivity.
This announcement builds on Google's prior interoperability efforts. In November 2025, the company introduced AirDrop compatibility through Quick Share on the Pixel 10 series, allowing users to send files directly to iPhones, iPads and Macs. Samsung subsequently brought AirDrop support to the Galaxy S26 series.
With the SDK, users will see a bottom sheet interface within apps displaying file previews during transfers, allowing completion of the sharing process without navigating away from the application. Google stated the SDK eliminates the need for developers to maintain their own file-transfer infrastructure.
The SDK supports both Android and iOS platforms, potentially making file exchange between Android phones and iPhones seamless within supported applications. The development represents Google's latest effort to reduce friction in cross-platform file sharing, a space where Apple's AirDrop has long held a perceived advantage due to its direct-device connectivity and quality preservation.
