News in Short

• Google has started rolling out Tap to Share to Pixel 6 and newer phones.
• The feature was introduced alongside the Pixel 11 series.
• Users can tap compatible Android phones together to share contact information.
• Photos, videos and other files can also be shared through the Quick Share menu.
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 series will get the feature next.

Google Brings Pixel 11’s Tap to Share to Older Pixel Phones

Google has started rolling out one of the Pixel 11 series’ new features to older devices. Tap to Share is now reaching Pixel 6 and newer models, giving users a simpler way to exchange contact information and share content.

Google announced Tap to Share alongside the Pixel 11 series launch. However, the company has now confirmed that users with older compatible Pixel phones can also use the feature.

The rollout effectively brings back the convenience of Android Beam in a newer form. Instead of relying on the older Android Beam system, Google has built Tap to Share as an extension of Quick Share.

How Tap to Share works

Tap to Share makes sharing between compatible Android phones more direct. From the home screen, users can bring two supported Android devices close together to start an exchange.

For contact information, the process works without requiring users to first open a separate sharing menu. Once the compatible phones come close, users can exchange their contact details between the devices.

Meanwhile, sharing photos, videos and other media requires one additional step. Users first need to open the system Share sheet and select the content they want to send. They can then bring the two phones together to initiate the transfer.

This approach keeps the feature connected to Google’s existing Quick Share system. Therefore, users do not need to rely on a completely separate file-sharing platform.

Google is starting the rollout with Pixel 6 and newer devices. The company also plans to expand Tap to Share to more Android smartphones later this year.

Pixel 11 introduces Tap to Share

The feature arrives as part of Google’s broader push to make device-to-device interactions simpler. Tap to Share was one of the features introduced with the new Pixel 11 lineup.

The Pixel 11 series also introduces a hardware change that supports the feature. Google has moved the NFC antenna to the top of the Pixel 11 phones.

That placement makes it easier for users to bring the phones together for sharing. However, the rollout to older Pixel models means users do not need the latest hardware to access the feature.

Google is also preparing to bring Tap to Share to Samsung’s latest foldables. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 are next in line to receive the feature.

Furthermore, Google says it plans to expand Tap to Share to more Android devices by the end of 2026. That could make the feature more useful as compatibility grows across the Android ecosystem.

A simpler take on phone-to-phone sharing

Tap to Share is not an entirely new idea for Android users. Android Beam previously offered a similar tap-based approach for exchanging content between phones.

Google has instead integrated the concept into Quick Share, which remains the company’s primary solution for sharing files across Android devices.

For Pixel 6 and newer users, the rollout means a feature initially presented as part of the Pixel 11 experience is now becoming available without upgrading to Google’s latest phones.

The bigger change could come once Samsung and other Android manufacturers join the rollout. If Google expands compatibility as planned, tapping two Android phones together could once again become a familiar way to start sharing.