Add MobiGyaan as a preferred source on GoogleGoogle has expanded Quick Share on Android 17 with a new “Tap to Share” feature that makes wireless sharing more intuitive by allowing users to bring two compatible phones together to exchange information and files.
The proximity-based feature lets users share contact information, photos, videos, files, links, and locations simply by bringing the top portions of two phones close together. It is initially rolling out to select Google Pixel devices running Android 17 or newer.
How “Tap to Share” Works
Tap to Share uses the proximity of two unlocked Android phones to initiate a sharing interaction. Both devices need to have their screens facing upward, and the top portions of the phones need to be brought close together.
When the phones detect each other, a glow effect appears on the displays, indicating that the devices are ready to exchange information.
For sharing files and media, the feature works through Android’s existing Share Sheet:
- Open the photo, video, file, link, or location you want to share.
- Tap Share.
- Bring the top portions of both unlocked phones together.
- Wait for the receiving device to accept the transfer.
Users can separate the phones at any point to cancel the interaction.
Contact Sharing Gets A New Option
Tap to Share also supports direct contact card sharing. When two unlocked phones are brought together from their home screens, users can choose which fields from their contact card they want to share.
The recipient can then choose whether to save the incoming information directly to the Contacts app.
This provides an alternative to manually exchanging phone numbers or searching for contacts through traditional sharing methods.
Android 17 Required
Google says Tap to Share is currently rolling out to Pixel 6 and newer devices running Android 17 or higher.
The feature is enabled by default on supported non-managed devices, although users can change the setting or disable it through Quick Share > Tap to share.
Google plans to expand the feature to more devices, with upcoming support including:
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8
- Other eligible Android 17+ devices by the end of the year
Enterprise Restrictions
Tap to Share is disabled by default for apps operating within an Android Work Profile and on enterprise-managed accounts. This prevents the proximity-based sharing mechanism from being used in managed environments without appropriate administrator controls.
