Quick Share, the Android equivalent of AirDrop, is getting a major update. The system that allows you to quickly transfer files from one device to another currently relies on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. According to Android Police, the new version of Google Play services, which manages many features on Android, allows Quick Share to use mobile data.
Galaxy smartphones are already capable of this feat, but only between Galaxy devices. Similarly, AirDrop has included this capability since iOS 17, released in 2023. In the coming weeks, while the update is being rolled out, all Android smartphones will be able to benefit from it in turn. To do this, you need to wait for version 25.04 of Google Play Services.
How does it work in practice?
More concretely, the new update should ensure that a transfer is not interrupted when the connection is lost or unstable. In this case, the interface should offer to switch to mobile data.
We can already see a similar setting on One UI 7, Samsung's latest interface based on Android 15. Called "Allow Internet sharing", it allows "if a direct connection to the other device is unavailable or unstable, authorize sharing on the internet via Wi-Fi or mobile data.".
While this may not be a big deal at first glance, adding mobile data to the Quick Share protocol should still make it more robust and easy to use. In fact, untimely disconnections can discourage its use in the long term. This probably contributes to the fact that Quick Share is much less known and used than Apple's AirDrop, which is appreciated for its reliability.
Source: Android Police
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