Samsung is quietly building toward a more seamless sharing experience on Galaxy devices, and the next big step might arrive with One UI 9.
Google is developing a feature called Tap to Share for Android 17. It works exactly how it sounds: bring two Android phones close together, screens facing up, and a glow effect appears on both devices signaling they are ready to exchange content. Contacts, photos, links, locations, videos — the transfer happens without opening an app or scanning a QR code.
The feature has not launched yet, but a leaked One UI 9 build already shows a Tap to Share toggle sitting inside the Quick Share settings menu. That is a strong signal Samsung is not waiting around. The company has been actively expanding Quick Share’s capabilities, most recently by adding AirDrop compatibility for cross-platform transfers between Galaxy and iPhone users.
Hardware placement matters here. Devices like the Galaxy S26 series, where the NFC antenna sits near the top of the phone, are likely to handle proximity detection most reliably. Phones with rear-mounted antennas should still work, but alignment becomes more important.
Whether this will extend to Apple devices remains unclear. iOS has its own proximity sharing tools, and bridging that gap would require cooperation that does not yet appear to be on the table.
Google is expected to formally unveil Tap to Share at Google I/O 2026, scheduled for May 19 and 20. If Samsung’s early integration work is any indication, Galaxy users may not have long to wait after that.
Via – 9to5Google
