Quick Share For Android Now Keeps File Transfers Going Over Mobile Data

Summary

Google is widely rolling out the “Use mobile data” toggle in Quick Share.
The toggle initially appeared for users on the Google Play services beta channel earlier this year.
The feature will ensure Quick Share file transfers can continue without a direct connection.

Google rolled out a handy AirDrop-like feature to Quick Share this February, adding a toggle to continue file transfers over mobile data. This allowed file transfers to continue seamlessly, even if the two devices lost their direct connection. However, the feature only made its way to users on the Google Play services beta channel. Three months later, the company seems to be expanding the toggle’s rollout to the public.

Google Quick Share options on a phone with a thumbs down emoji in front of it.

9to5Google reports seeing a “Use mobile data toggle” in the Quick Share settings menu on their phone on the latest Google Play services 25.18 build.

I also see the toggle on multiple devices, including the Google Pixel 8 Pro running the latest Android 16 QPR1 beta and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, indicating a wider release on Google’s part.

You can check if the feature is available on your phone by navigating to Settings > More connectivity options > Quick Share. If the option is missing, ensure you have the latest Google Play services update installed on your phone. And if rolled out, the feature should be enabled by default.

With mobile data support in Quick Share, you can “continue sharing if your device can’t connect over Wi-Fi.” Using mobile data for file transfers can lead to extra charges being applicable, especially if you are on a limited plan.

Being able to continue Quick Share file transfers over mobile data is a handy addition. However, large file transfers can take considerably longer to complete without a direct connection. So, stick to a direct connection in Quick Share for a reliable and speedy transfer experience.

The Google Quick Share visibility menu on an Android device with a black background.

With QR code support and mobile data integration, Google wants to make using Quick Share for file transfer as seamless as possible. On Windows, you can even use Google’s Quick Share app to make file transfers between your Android phone and PC easier.

Compared to AirDrop, Quick Share on Android now only lacks one option: the ability to pause ongoing transfers. Given how the company has improved the feature over the last year, it’s only a matter of time before it adds this option as well.