Google has made sharing files and information between Android phones easier with the introduction of the new Tap to Share feature, bringing an AirDrop-like capability to the Android ecosystem.
According to ITNA quoting AndroidPolice, this feature is essentially an update to Quick Share and allows users to send various information-such as contact details, photos, videos, links, and location-by bringing two phones close together or tapping them together.
Alongside its simplicity, Tap to Share can make the sharing experience on Android faster and more natural. According to the provided explanations, this feature even works from the phone’s home screen and when the Android Share Sheet is open; therefore the user does not necessarily have to select Quick Share first for the information sending process to begin.
To use this feature, NFC on both phones must be turned on, and users should consider the location of the NFC antenna. On new Pixel 11 phones, the NFC antenna is located at the top of the device to make using Tap to Share and mobile payments easier. If direct tap communication fails, Google suggests users place the displays of the two phones on top of each other or bring the phones back-to-back close together.
The thickness of the phone case can also affect Tap to Share performance. In some cases, users may need to remove a thick phone case to establish proper communication.
The feature was initially released for Pixel 6 phones and newer models running Android 17 or later, and its rollout has already begun. Google has also announced that Tap to Share will soon be available for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Flip 8, and other Android devices will gain access to this feature by the end of the year.