Does Android Have Airdrop

Airdrop is a popular file-sharing feature these days. You have probably heard people saying “Can you airdrop those photos to my phone.” Well, that’s because it’s one of the most convenient ways to transfer files such as photos, videos, documents, and more, wirelessly. However, Airdrop is exclusively available between Apple devices.

Still, many are wondering: Does Android Have Airdrop? That’s what we are going to discuss below. If you’re also asking the same question, read this article and find out whether or not Android can use Airdrop and if there are other alternatives for it.

FYI: Does Android Have AirDrop

As mentioned, Airdrop is an exclusive file-sharing feature that’s built-in on iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers. These devices run on a completely different operating system– iOS, iPadOS, and MacOS respectively. Therefore, other platforms like Android don’t have Airdrop, which means you can’t use it to transfer any file.

But this doesn’t mean there’s no other way for you to send files to another phone. There are many alternatives to transfer files that work like Airdrop. Yes! You can use the following apps and features instead:

• Nearby Share
• Quick Share
• Shareit

These work the same way as Airdrop, and they are available on Android phones, regardless of brand, except for Quick Share which is exclusive on Samsung phones. These three use the WIFI feature/Bluetooth to transfer data, but it does not necessarily use an internet connection.

Airdrop Alternative 1: Transfer Files Using Nearby Share

Like Airdrop, Nearby Share uses Bluetooth and WIFI features to establish a secure connection between two phones to make the transfer. You can use it to transfer photos, videos, documents, contacts, and more.

However, it only works on Android phones,  Windows PCs, and Chromebooks. It’s a built-in feature on Android phones running on OS version 6 or later. You can say it’s the “Airdrop” version for Android.

Step 1

On your Android phone’s Settings, Tap on Google > Devices & Sharing > Nearby Share. There, toggle it on and hit Device Visibility. You may choose from the options: Everyone, Contacts, or Your Devices.

Step 2

Go back and tap on the Data section below Device Visibility. Select WIFI only. After that, you can start sharing files with Nearby Share. Just go to the file and hit the Share button.

There, select Nearby and choose the target device to start the transfer. Just wait until the circle above the device name turns green.

Airdrop Alternative 2: Transfer Files Using Quick Share

If you have a Samsung phone, you can still use Nearby Share, but we recommend using Quick Share as it’s easier to enable. It’s more like Airdrop as it’s ready to go once you need to use it.

Like the previous one, Quick Share can transfer a variety of files such as photos, videos, documents, and more. However, this feature only works if both phones are Samsung and they should be running on Android 11 or later. Here’s how to use it.

Step 1

Enable Quick Share on both devices. You can do it via the Quick Settings panel by scrolling down the notification bar. Set the visibility to Everyone. After that, proceed to the source Samsung phone.

Step 2

Look for the files you want to share. Select them and tap the Share button. There, you will see all the nearby devices. Choose the target Samsung phone and it should receive a request prompt. Accept it and the files should start sending.

That’s it! After the process is complete, you may turn off Quick Share on both devices the way you enabled it. Moreover, transfer speeds are the same as Nearby Share.

Airdrop Alternative 3: Transfer Files Using Shareit

Another way to ‘Airdrop” files is via Shareit. It’s a popular file-sharing app that’s available to download on the Google Play Store as long as your phone runs on Android 4.1 or later. It can share photos, videos, apps, music, documents, and more.

However, the app must be installed on both devices before you can send any file. If you want to try it, here are the steps to follow:

Step 1

Install Shareit on both phones. After that, select RECEIVE on the target device to make the device visible and tap SEND on the source device to scan for nearby devices.

Step 2

Once detected, tap on the target iPhone’s name/icon to establish a secure connection. Then, you can select from the files you need to transfer. Then, hit Next and send them. Just wait until the transfer process is over before disconnecting both devices.

But to our recent experience, Shareit can be inconsistent when it comes to scanning as some nearby devices don’t show up on the radar, especially the receiver is an iPhone. Not to mention, it sometimes heats up when transferring many large files.

Bonus: Transfer Files from Your Android Phone with MobileTrans

While the wireless Airdrop alternatives above seem great, they have limitations that could be deal breakers. Nearby Share and Quick Share only work on Android/Windows-supported devices. Shareit may be useful for Android to iPhone transfers, but it’s glitchy at times. You need to transfer files the wired way.

So, if you are transferring files from Android to Android, iPhone, iPad, PC, Mac, and other external storage devices, MobileTrans is the way to go. It’s a phone transfer program that you can install on a computer (Mac/Windows) and it can manage cross-platform transfers effortlessly.

All you need to do is connect your Android phone via a USB cable (connect other devices, too, if they’re the destination). Then, MobileTrans will scan all the data and sort them according to file types, making it easier for you to locate and select them. Once selected, you can do the transfer in just one click. How convenient!

With MobileTrans, you can transfer various files such as photos, videos, music, documents, notes, voice memos, apps, text messages, contacts, call logs, and more. Rest assured quality is preserved. Size, resolution, etc. will remain intact even after the transfer.

Plus, MobileTrans is a great transfer app if you have an Android phone that’s already set up and you’re moving to it. It doesn’t require a factory reset at all.

It’s indeed a perfect tool for transferring files for backup or switching purposes. Speed is reliably consistent, too. It can transfer 64 GB of data in just 5 minutes. Moreover, compatibility is the last of your worries. MobileTrans supports phones running on Android 5.0 and up.

Now, if you want to use MobileTrans, just click on the banner above to download and install the app for free.

Conclusion

You can’t have Airdrop unless you have an iPhone. Well, it may not be available on Android, but there are features and apps you can use that offer the same file-sharing capabilities. Besides that, there are more ways to share your files on Android, be they wireless or wired. It’s up to your situation and needs which one is the best.