Month: November 2025

• A new Google update enabled AirDrop and Quick Share interoperability between iPhone and Android devices.
• Apple and Pixel 10 users can now transfer files directly.
• Google plans to expand this secure, peer-to-peer sharing feature to more Android devices.

Another wall between iPhones and Androids just went down.

Starting this week, sharing files and photos between devices is getting a lot easier for iPhone and Android owners.

AirDrop and Quick Share are wireless file-sharing features that have been available on iPhones and Androids, respectively. Thanks to an update from Google, the two features can now talk to each other for the first time.

As part of a Thursday update, iPhone and Pixel 10 owners can now transfer files using Quick Share and AirDrop. It works with iPad, macOS devices, and the entire Google Pixel 10 series of devices.

The change is the latest example of increased feature compatibility between the two major smartphone operating systems. After a yearslong marketing campaign from Google aimed at Apple, the iPhone maker in 2024 adopted the RCS communication standard, which improved the messaging experience between iPhones and Androids — even if the much-maligned green text bubbles didn’t go anywhere.

To take advantage of the interoperability between AirDrop and Quick Share, Apple device owners must set their device to be discoverable by everyone, which will allow their device to show up on the Pixel 10 owner’s Quick Share options. On an iPhone, the request should be received like any other AirDrop interaction that can be accepted or denied. It works the same way the other way around.

Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by Business Insider.

Google said the compatibility feature was designed with security in mind, and there are plans to expand it to more Android devices.

“This feature does not use a workaround; the connection is direct and peer-to-peer, meaning your data is never routed through a server, shared content is never logged, and no extra data is shared,” the tech giant said in a blog post.

• We made a transatlantic move from San Francisco to Bristol, a port city in the UK.
• Missing familiar faces and a network of fellow parents, we’ve worked hard to build community here.
• An LGBTQ+ family coffee morning, improv classes, and fitness groups helped us meet people fast.

As former San Franciscans, my husband, toddler, and I quickly felt at home in Bristol.

The progressive UK port city boasts an iconic suspension bridge, heaps of counterculture, and — not least because it’s the birthplace of Banksy — a vibrant creative scene.

We’ve found comfort in these parallels, but we’ve faced challenges, too. One of the hardest parts was leaving behind my loving in-laws and the robust community of friends I’d met during my decade living in America.

What’s more, I grew up on the opposite side of England, which means Bristol is a new place for all of us.

Since arriving in the South West last year, we’ve worked tirelessly to find a new circle of friendly faces and allies who embrace and understand us as a queer family. Sadly, it’s not something we can ever assume will automatically be the case.

Bristolians welcomed us with open arms and open minds — once we bribed them with tea and biscuits

Upon arrival, we moved into a cozy Victorian terraced house on a densely populated street. We’d heard again and again that in big cities, people don’t really know their neighbors, but we wanted to challenge that stereotype.

A few weeks after moving in, we sent notes — and cookies — to people in the neighborhood, inviting folks to share a Saturday morning cuppa on our front doorstep.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. People were eager to meet and chat, and we found that sometimes all it takes is a little boldness (or shamelessness) to make the first move.

We also found a monthly coffee morning for LGBTQ+ families in our area, which became an instant support network for us, and joined a citywide WhatsApp group for queer parents.

As a queer family, sometimes it can feel disheartening when we feel like the odd ones out in the playground, at parenting groups, or during drop-off, but discovering other families that look like ours is always affirming.

By taking turns as ‘babysitter,’ we salvaged our social lives and explored our new city

It can be challenging to maintain a social life as young parents, and even harder to meet new people.

Because building community was so important to us, we came up with a game plan. By taking turns staying at home with our sleeping toddler, we’ve both been able to regularly spend social time with other adults multiple times a week.

From board-game nights and volunteering to trying out improv classes, we’ve pushed ourselves to leave our comfort zones and meet new people. Improv, in particular, has given me a lot of newfound confidence, along with friends.

It’s time away from my spouse, but I ultimately find that it nourishes our marriage and family life because I come home recharged and energized.

We learned that recurring outdoor activities help us build friendships

As we’ve settled in, our family’s mental and physical well-being has been boosted by time together outdoors. Beyond the health benefits, the best part has been the continuity of meeting the same people and parents in the same place, week after week.

Every weekend, we attend a kid-friendly, 2-kilometer “race” in a nearby park. Dozens of families gather to complete the leafy circuit and cheer each other on. You can’t beat fresh air and the splash of muddy puddles in the rain.

Meanwhile, I’ve joined an outdoor fitness boot camp. My husband heads to a running club at dusk once a week. Both groups provide plenty of opportunity for conversation and camaraderie, which have helped us get to know others over time.

Seasonal festivities create opportunities for us to bond with other families

As the seasons change, it’s clear that Bristol has so much going on year-round. We’re especially looking forward to Pride and the city’s famous hot-air-balloon festival each summer, when around 100 colorful balloons ascend over the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Festive occasions, such as our recent Halloween party, have been the perfect excuse to invite new friends to gather together. Surrounded by spooky decorations, I loved seeing our daughter laugh and play with her new pals.

These moments reassured me that our efforts have paid off, and we’re building the kind of life we hoped for.

With each passing day in this city, I realize there’s much more to Bristol than Banksy and its famous bridge. I am grateful to have found a community of warm, welcoming people where our transatlantic queer family can truly thrive.