Google is developing ways to streamline file sharing between Android devices. According to new information, the brand is working on a proximity-based transfer feature for Tap to Share, allowing users to share files by tapping their smartphones.
Quick Share "Tap to Share" in Works
Spotted first in an APK teardown by Android Authority, the Google Play Services v26.30.31 update includes a server-side switch to enable a Tap to Share feature. As the name suggests, once enabled, it should make file transfers easier with just a tap. The Tap to Share feature was first spotted a few months ago.
Image Credit: Android Authority
Image Credit: Android Authority
Image Credit: Android Authority
Currently, sharing a file on Android requires users to open their file manager or app, hit the Share button, manually locate the Quick Share icon within the share sheet, and then select a target device. This addition would allow users to bypass the Quick Share selection entirely.
Instead, once the share sheet pops up, users can simply bring their phone close to the recipient's Android device to automatically trigger the transfer. This process may function similarly to how Apple's AirDrop currently works when two iPhones are tapped together.
For users concerned about accidental transfers or unexpected connections from simply bumping phones, Google is also introducing new privacy controls. Code within the Play Services update reveals a dedicated toggle in the settings menu.
This switch will allow users to completely disable the Tap to Share functionality, reverting the system strictly to the traditional, manual Quick Share method.
While Quick Share's Tap to Share may first roll out to Pixel smartphones, some Chinese OEMs already have a similar feature in place. For starters, OnePlus phones can transfer files from a simple phone tap through their custom Gallery and Files apps. The same goes for other OEMs like Vivo and Oppo.
While the Tap to Share feature was previously spotted in development, Google has not officially announced a release date for the functionality. Considering it's already a part of the newest Google Play Services update, the feature may roll out very soon.
That said, it should be interesting to see if Google manages to mimic Tap to Share between Android and iPhone, as it did for AirDrop on Android. Most Chinese manufacturers do have a workaround where the other user will need to download a companion app to tap and share, but Google natively adding the same would be another massive win for the Android ecosystem.
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