Google is testing a long-missing Android feature that iPhone users already enjoy

Google is gearing up to launch a highly anticipated cross-device connectivity feature in Android 17, reminiscent of a function that Apple users have enjoyed for years. According to a report from Android Authority, this new functionality aims to eliminate the need for third-party applications when transferring copied content between Android devices. The forthcoming feature is expected to mirror Apple's Universal Clipboard, which allows users to copy text, links, images, and videos on one device and seamlessly paste them on another. At present, syncing the clipboard among Pixel phones and Windows PCs necessitates setting SwiftKey as the default keyboard. Some Android devices, however, can sync their clipboard with PCs using a preinstalled system utility that bypasses Android’s background restrictions, allowing clipboard data to be fed directly to Microsoft’s Phone Link app. With Android 17, Google intends to introduce a similar functionality that will enable synchronization between Android phones and Chromebooks through Google Play Services. This development aligns with Google's increasing focus on Android PCs, and previous reports have suggested the company is also exploring a Handoff feature. Internally, Google’s adaptation of the Universal Clipboard is reportedly using the same name as Apple’s, though it remains uncertain if the final release will retain this title. The latest beta and canary releases of Android include a new UniversalClipboardManager class, located under the android.companion.datatransfer.continuity path—this is also where the Handoff feature is situated. Interestingly, it appears that Google Play Services will not directly access the clipboard; instead, the Pixel System Service app will manage this task. It will request the READ_CLIPBOARD_IN_BACKGROUND permission to determine the data type. When text is detected, it broadcasts this information to Google Play Services, which will relay it to connected devices via the Handoff framework. However, the current setup lacks support for photos, videos, and files, which could be seen as a limitation compared to Apple’s Universal Clipboard. The feature was first spotted in Play Services last November, indicating that Google has been developing it for some time. However, users may have to wait until the rollout of Android 17 to experience its capabilities fully.