Whether you're in a hurry because your train is coming, your hands are full, or you've had a few drinks at the bar, the ability to quickly swap contact details with someone feels like something that modern-day tech should've figured out by now. Luckily, it has—though it's not always obvious how to most easily send someone your information. There's no reason to um and ah and fumble around with your phone (or even a pen and paper, if you're going old school). Maybe you'll even get the relationship off to a good start by impressing them with how adept you are at sharing data between phones.
For iPhone-to-iPhone exchanges, there's a specific feature, called NameDrop, where all of the hard work is done for you. You just need to hold your unlocked iPhone close to someone else's unlocked iPhone (or Apple Watch), and after a few moments NameDrop is initiated. You'll confirm the contact sharing by tapping on your screen and selecting whether you want it to be a one-way or two-way contact share. Android has a feature similar to AirDrop on Apple devices, and it's called Quick Share. First, tap who can share with you, then enable Everyone and check the Only for 10 minutes box (this should be ample time for you to share a contact card). Unlike NameDrop, there's no sexy touch-your-phones-together action. You need to head into your Contacts app and share from there.
Like star-crossed lovers, cross-platform sharing is a bit harder (one of the reasons Apple/Android relationships are doomed from the start). On an iPhone, open the Contacts app on iOS, then tap your name, choose Share Contact, and you'll be given a choice of options for sharing—from email to WhatsApp message to social media. On Android, choose the Quick Share option and you'll find alternative methods of sharing that are compatible with iPhones.
Read our full guide on how to swap contact info using your phone. Be sure to check out our related guides, like how to set up your Android phone, how to factory-reset your phone before you sell it, how to set medication reminders on your phone, and which Google Pixel phone you should buy.
