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How to Use Apple's AirDrop on Samsung Galaxy S26 Phones

The new feature makes it easier to exchange media across the two mobile ecosystems.

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Headshot of Abrar Al-Heeti
Abrar Al-Heeti Senior Technology Reporter
Abrar's interests include phones, streaming, autonomous vehicles, internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. In addition to her current role, she's worked for CNET's video, culture and news teams. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco -- steep inclines and all.
Expertise Abrar has spent her career at CNET analyzing tech trends while also writing news, reviews and commentaries across mobile, streaming and online culture. Credentials
  • Named a Tech Media Trailblazer by the Consumer Technology Association in 2019, a winner of SPJ NorCal's Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2022 and has three times been a finalist in the LA Press Club's National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.
Abrar Al-Heeti
2 min read
iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra

Sharing photos between my iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra is now a breeze.

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At long last, sharing content between iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones just got a lot simpler. Samsung has added support for Apple's AirDrop feature in Quick Share, so you can quickly send media between the two platforms with a few taps. 

The compatibility is launching first on the Galaxy S26 series, though Samsung says it'll expand to more devices soon. You can share content with any Apple device that supports AirDrop, like iPhones, Macs and iPads.

This long-overdue update removes a persistent bottleneck. Sharing a batch of photos and videos after a hangout can be a pain if not everyone is using an Apple or Android device. This should help remove that friction. 

Watch this: Galaxy S26 Ultra, 48 Hours Later: My Top New Features

Samsung isn't the only Android phone maker to add AirDrop support. Google brought it to Pixel 10 phones in November, and expanded the feature to Pixel 9 devices in February. It may only be a matter of time before more Android phones join the roster.

How to send content from a Galaxy S26 phone to an iPhone 

To go from a Galaxy device to an iPhone, use Quick Share's new AirDrop compatibility. 

  1. First, go to your Galaxy S26's Settings, and tap on Connected Devices.
Quick Share settings on the S26 Ultra
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2. Tap on Quick Share.

Quick Share settings on the S26 Ultra
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3. Hit the toggle next to Share with Apple devices to turn that on. You won't have to do this again, unless you manually turn this setting off later.

Quick Share settings on the S26 Ultra
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4. Make sure AirDrop on your iPhone is set to Everyone for 10 Minutes.

AirDrop settings on iPhone
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5. Now, back to the Galaxy device. Find the photo or media you want to send and hit the Share button. 

Quick Share settings on the S26 Ultra
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6. Tap Quick Share.

Quick Share settings on the S26 Ultra
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7. Tap the Apple device you want to send to.

Quick Share settings on the S26 Ultra
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Success!

AirDrop notification on iPhone
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How to send content from an iPhone to a Galaxy phone

Now let's go the other way around. 

  1. First, swipe down to access the Quick Settings Panel on your Galaxy device. Tap Quick Share Contacts.  
Quick Share settings on the S26 Ultra
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You'll see this window appear, which lets you receive content from nearby devices. Make sure you keep it open. 

Quick Share settings on the S26 Ultra
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2. Go to your iPhone and find the photo or media you want to send. Tap the Share button.

AirDrop on iPhone
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3. Find your Galaxy device and tap on it to send.

AirDrop on iPhone
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And you're all done!

Quick Share settings on the S26 Ultra
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