Galaxy AirDrop Support Arrives with One UI 8.5
Samsung’s One UI 8.5 update introduces full Galaxy AirDrop support, allowing recent flagship phones to share files directly with Apple devices. The update brings AirDrop compatibility to the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra, following its earlier debut on Google’s Pixel lineup and Samsung’s newer Galaxy S26 series. Instead of a separate app, Samsung is leaning on Quick Share, Android’s native wireless sharing tool, to handle these cross‑platform transfers. Once One UI 8.5 is installed, users can toggle Apple device support in settings and start discovering nearby iPhones, iPads, and Macs alongside Android devices. This marks a major interoperability milestone, ending the long‑standing wall between Quick Share and AirDrop and making Samsung iPhone file sharing far more seamless for people who live across both ecosystems.
How Quick Share AirDrop Integration Works in Practice
Quick Share AirDrop integration is designed to feel almost identical to Apple’s native experience. When you tap Share on a photo, video, or document on a supported Galaxy phone running One UI 8.5, Quick Share scans for nearby devices using Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi. In addition to Android phones, compatible Apple hardware—like iPhones, iPads, and Macs—now appears in the target list. Selecting one initiates a peer‑to‑peer transfer, so files move quickly without consuming mobile data or relying on the cloud. On the Apple side, recipients see a familiar AirDrop prompt to accept or decline the file. Google achieved this by reverse‑engineering Apple’s AWDL wireless protocol and implementing it in a secure, Rust‑based networking layer, enabling Galaxy phones to speak the same low‑level language as AirDrop while keeping the process simple for users.
Compatible Galaxy Devices and Google’s Official List
Not every Samsung phone will gain Galaxy AirDrop support, even with One UI 8.5. Google has published a list of high‑end Galaxy devices that either have the feature now or will receive it soon via Quick Share. Officially supported models include the Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra, along with foldables such as the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Z Flip 7, Z Fold 6, Z Fold 7, and the Galaxy Z TriFold. While One UI 8.5 also extends cross‑platform Quick Share capabilities to earlier S‑series devices like the Galaxy S23 and S22 lines, Google’s AWDL‑compatible list omits these, as well as mid‑range Galaxy A, F, M, and Tab A models for now. Hardware‑level requirements and networking optimizations mean only select chipsets can support this Samsung iPhone file sharing upgrade today.
Updating to One UI 8.5 and Enabling Apple Device Sharing
To use the new Quick Share AirDrop capability, Galaxy owners must first update to One UI 8.5. On supported devices, this arrives as a standard system update that also refreshes the interface with more transparency and blur effects, expands Galaxy AI features, and refines apps like Camera and Samsung Health. After installing the update, users should open Settings, find the Quick Share section, and enable Apple device support. From there, sharing a file is as straightforward as before: choose Share, select Quick Share, and pick a nearby Apple device from the list. The receiving iPhone, iPad, or Mac will handle the request through AirDrop’s familiar dialog. With just this software update and a single toggle, Samsung’s flagship users gain a powerful new bridge between Android and iOS, making everyday cross‑platform file transfers far less painful.