You can also share with Macs running on Yosemite or later if your iPhone runs on iOS 8 or later. For AirDrop to work, both WiFi and Bluetooth must be turned on, and you must be signed into your iCloud account. I love using Airdrop to easily transfer pictures from my iPhone to my Mac.
- To use AirDrop to securely share app and website passwords with someone using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, see Share passkeys and passwords securely with AirDrop on iPhone.
- As is typical of Apple’s ecosystem, it’s a very easy – and incredibly useful – tool to take advantage of.
- Sometimes, your phone’s privacy or screen time settings might prevent you from making your device discoverable to AirDrop.
- Open AirDrop in the Finder window by either clicking the Finder icon itself or searching for AirDrop using the Search key.
You can put your AirDrop receiving setting to Contacts Only or Receiving Off at any time to control who can see your device and send you content in AirDrop. The Contacts Only option is available on devices that support iOS 10 and later, iPadOS or macOS Sierra 10.12 and later. If AirDrop is set to Contacts Only on your device with an earlier software version, you’ll need to adjust AirDrop settings to the Everyone option in Settings or from Control Centre. You can select the Everyone option while using AirDrop and disable it when not in use. You’ve probably heard of AirDrop before, but you may be wondering what AirDrop is, how it works, and of course, how to use it! AirDrop is a feature that allows you to wirelessly send and receive photos, videos, websites, locations, and more with nearby Apple devices running on iOS 7 or later.
You can easily send something to a friend — or use AirDrop as a handy way of transferring files between your own products. Then, you’ll want to tap the AirDrop button, which looks like a radar icon. Tap the profile picture of that device’s user to share your chosen content.
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She is currently writing a book, creating lots of content, and writing poetry via @conpoet on Instagram. She lives in an RV full-time with her mom, Jan and dog, Jodi as they slow-travel around the country. Axel is a London-based Senior Staff Writer beginner’s guide to buying and selling cryptocurrency at TechRadar, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest movies as part of the site’s daily news output. The method is the same for iPhone models prior to the iPhone 11, save for the added functionality of point-to-pair.
Turn off cellular data for AirDrop
With AirDrop, Apple creates a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection between the two devices in an AirDrop exchange. These devices communicate directly and aren’t required to be using the same internet connection. This option will only be available if both you and your contact are using an iPhone that’s running iOS 17. To use AirDrop to securely share app and website passwords with someone using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, see Share passkeys and passwords securely with AirDrop on iPhone. Conner Carey’s writing can be found at conpoet.com.
Just make sure that both devices are signed in with the same Apple ID. If you see a red numbered badge on the AirDrop button, it means there are multiple devices nearby that you can share with. Tap the AirDrop button and then select the user you want to link to. You’ll also need to check the recipient device isn’t connected to a Personal Hotspot, since this disables AirDrop functionality. Then, it’s wise to check whether the device you’re sending to has its AirDrop set to receive from Contacts Only. Before you use AirDrop, there’s a few things you’ll want to check beforehand to make sure you can share content with ease.
Airdrop is also a great way to share photos with friends after you’ve attended an event together. Let’s get started learning how to enable AirDrop on our iPhones, and how to use it. The Contacts Only option is available on devices that support iOS 10 and later, iPadOS, or macOS Sierra 10.12 and later. If AirDrop is set to Contacts Only on your device with an earlier software version, you’ll need to adjust AirDrop settings to the Everyone option in Settings or from Control Center. Apple’s AirDrop is a hugely convenient feature for transferring photos, videos, documents, and other files between the company’s devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
Using Finder, drag an icon into the AirDrop window. Any available devices will appear right there in the window, enabling you to easily drop the icon to them. First, open an app and identify the piece of content you want to share. Then, tap the Share button, which is often iconized by a square box with an arrow protruding upwards out of it. If you share a photo from the Photos app, you can swipe left or right and select multiple photos. If it does, and you’re in its Contacts, you’ll need to make sure your Apple ID’s email address or mobile number is listed in your contact card on that device for AirDrop to work.
If it doesn’t, the device will need to switch its AirDrop receiving setting to Everyone in order to receive files. You now know how to share files using AirDrop. Check out how to share files between Android and iPhone. Looking to transfer all your data to a new iPhone? Check out how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone. Want to take Safari to the next level?
Our experts obsessively test each tip, guide, and video we release to ensure you get all the hidden steps you won’t find anywhere else. The macOS Photos app uses AI to detect details like addresses in images. Here’s how to open the addresses in Apple Maps. Alternatively, if Bluetooth or Wi-Fi aren’t in your menu huge surge in britons investing in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin bar, you can head into System Preferences and select Networks or Bluetooth to enable your connectivity settings. If you’re not signed in with your Apple ID on your device, this setting reverts to Receiving Off after 10 minutes. If they’re not in your Contacts, you’ll see just their name without an image.
If they’re not in your Contacts, you’ll just see their name without an image. Typically this is a one-time setting, but you might want to change it if, for example, you’re traveling and want to avoid roaming charges. At iPhone Life, we use our 35 years of experience as a tech publisher to help millions of people master their Apple devices.
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When someone tries to send you a file, you’ll receive a notification asking whether you’d like to accept the file. Tap Accept if you’re expecting a file. Check your Photos or Files apps to find the relevant file. To share a file, open the image or file you want to send. If you’re not signed in with your Apple ID on your device, this setting will revert to Receiving Off after 10 minutes. Transfers are encrypted for security, and the recipient can accept or decline each transfer as it arrives.
It’s easy to AirDrop content from a Mac to an iPhone, too. Open AirDrop in the Finder window by either clicking the Finder icon itself or searching for AirDrop using the Search key. Once you’re there, you’ll be presented with the same discovery options as on iPhone (Off, Contacts Only and Everyone) along the bottom of the window.
Some people get a kick out of sending memes — or more unwelcome, lewd content — to complete strangers with AirDrop. Thankfully, Apple gives you a few different options for limiting how easily you can be reached with the feature. If you AirDrop something to yourself, such as a photo from your iPhone to your Mac, you won’t see an option to Accept or Decline – it will be sent to your device automatically. Just make sure both devices are signed in with the same Apple ID. If you AirDrop something to yourself, like a photo from your iPhone to your Mac (see below), you won’t see an option to Accept or Decline – it’ll be automatically sent to your device.
Additionally, it’s important to note that you need to be within WiFi or Bluetooth range to use AirDrop. Before starting, make sure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on both the sending and receiving devices. The AirDrop feature is often the quickest way to transfer content between iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. With AirDrop, you can wirelessly send photos, videos, documents, and more to other nearby devices and Mac computers. Secondly, you can use the Share button just like in iOS. In most apps, including Photos, it’ll be found in the top right corner and will allow you to pick a device to send it to.
Tap Contacts Only to ensure your device is only visible to contacts. Or tap Everyone to allow your device to be seen by any compatible devices nearby (you still have to accept any file transfers). What’s great about AirDrop using react devtools is its simplicity. Use AirDrop to share and receive photos, documents and more with other Apple devices that are nearby. There are two ways to share items using macOS’ AirDrop. The first is a simple drag and drop.