It seems that the invisible barrier between Android and iOS is becoming a little more blurred, even if only in dribs and drabs. Thanks to several reports from users on Redditwe have learned that the long-awaited AirDrop compatibility is starting to appear on the Google Pixel 9. However, before you run to try it with a friend's iPhone, an important warning: it is a very irregular rollout and not available to everyone the owners of the terminal yet.
According to the threads opened on the platform, this function Quick Share It appears almost randomly, which suggests that Google is activating it from its servers (server-side) for a small group of people as a test. It is the typical “update lottery” that we are accustomed to: some wake up with the function active and others will have to wait days or weeks. There is no clear pattern, so for now you have to be patient if your unit still does not detect the apple devices.
A feature inherited (and expected) from the Pixel 10
It is fair to mention that Quick Share of Android was already compatible with Apple AirDrop in it Pixel 10 since its launch in November 2025. That temporary exclusivity left a bittersweet taste in the community, as it showed that it was technically possible. Now, seeing that the series 9 begins to receive it confirms that Google is fulfilling its promise to bring the interoperability to its previous models, even if it is at a slower pace than desired.
The way it works, for the lucky ones who already have it, uses the standard protocols that Apple uses to discover devices, allowing you to send photos or documents without compression. Of course, the criticism here is necessary: we still depend on the iPhone user having visibility set to “Everyone for 10 minutes”, since it is not a 100% native integration. Even so, it is a huge advance for the coexistence between both operating systems.
Seeing that the rollout is being so selective and staggered, has the option already appeared on your Pixel or do you think Google should launch these functions globally from day one?
