Google brings AirDrop-style Tap to Share to Android users, starting with Pixels

We’ve long spotted Google working on an AirDrop-style Tap to Share feature that would let users send files to each other right from the share sheet, by simply tapping their phones together. With the launch of the Pixel 11 series, Google is also launching Tap to Share, allowing users to instantly swap contact cards or transfer files with any nearby Android device with a quick physical tap.

Starting today, Pixel 6 and newer Pixel phones can share files and other information by bringing their phone close to another compatible phone. When you’re on your home screen, you can swap contact information. To share photos or videos, select the media file in any app of your choice, tap the “Share” button to open the share sheet, then tap the two phones together.

To make this tap gesture practical, Google has engineered a crucial hardware change on the Google Pixel 11 series. The NFC tag has been repositioned to the top rather than being closer to the center on these phones. Moving the sensor to the top frame removes the awkward guessing game users would otherwise have to play as they struggle to align the centrally-mounted NFC chips on the backs of their phones. The top-mounted NFC enables Apple-like intuitive tap to initiate a device handshake and establish a direct connection.

From a usability perspective, this is a highly welcome upgrade. Moving the NFC antenna to the top of the device shows Google is thinking about real-world ergonomics, even at the risk of being called an Apple copycat. Tap to Share as a whole will help propagate Quick Share for contact and file transfers, as many Android users are still unaware of it on their phones, while Apple’s AirDrop and tap-to-share gesture have become quite popular.

On older phones, you would need to tap devices back-to-back à la Android Beam from back in the day because of the NFC chip placement.

Google says that Tap to Share is coming soon to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8. Google also plans to expand Tap to Share to more Android devices by the end of the year.