How to AirDrop Files Between Your Apple Devices

AirDrop is a wireless file transfer feature that allows you to rapidly share files between Apple devices, such as a Mac and iPhone, iPhone and iPad, etc. You can send files between your devices or with other Apple users’ devices. Once you know how to set up and use AirDrop to transfer files, you’ll never go back to other slower solutions!

Also have an Android phone in your network? We show you how to “AirDrop” between Android and iPhone.

How Does AirDrop Work?

Apple AirDrop uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to create a peer-to-peer connection between devices, allowing you to share files quickly and easily without needing a network connection.

Once the devices are within range, select the file you want to share and choose the AirDrop option from the share menu for a specific file.

This will automatically search for nearby devices compatible with AirDrop and display them in a list.

Select the recipient from the list, and the file will be sent wirelessly to their device. The recipient will receive a notification that they have received a file and can choose to accept or decline the transfer. The file will be saved to their device if they accept the transfer.

Good to know: if you’re an Android user and looking for something like AirDrop, learn how to share files and apps on Android with Nearby Share.

The Advantages of Using AirDrop

AirDrop is only one way to share data between Apple devices. For example, you can use cloud services like iCloud, send emails, and even copy data to a USB drive and transfer your digital goodies. So why choose AirDrop? There are several great advantages to this technology:

• With AirDrop, it’s easy to share files between compatible Apple devices without an Internet connection or additional software.
• AirDrop uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to create a peer-to-peer connection between devices, allowing (much) faster file transfer speeds than other methods.
• Encryption is used to protect the privacy of your files during the transfer process.
• AirDrop supports a wide range of file types.
• AirDrop is available on all Apple devices that support Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) technology, which is virtually all of them released in recent years.

Once you’ve used AirDrop, it’s almost certain to become your go-to file-sharing choice between your Apple gadgets, but before you can start flinging those files through the air, you’ll need to ensure that AirDrop is enabled.

Good to know: Bluetooth technology is an amazing, power-efficient way to send and receive data. If you’re not totally familier with it, it’s worth learning about all the ways Bluetooth can be used.

Enabling AirDrop in macOS

AirDrop should be enabled by default on your Mac, but you may need to check its settings and make sure it’s ready to use.

To enable AirDrop on a Mac, follow these steps:

1. Open Finder and click on the “Go” menu in the top menu bar.

2. From the Go menu, select “AirDrop.” This will open a new window showing nearby devices that are compatible with AirDrop.

3. If AirDrop is not already enabled, click on the “Allow me to be discovered by” option at the bottom of the window and select either “Contacts Only” or “Everyone.”

Once AirDrop is enabled, you will see a list of nearby devices that are compatible with AirDrop. You can drag and drop files onto a device in the list to share them wirelessly.

If you just want to make sure you can receive files via AirDrop, enable it from the Control Center on your Mac by following these steps:

1. Click on the Control Center icon in the top menu bar.

2. From Control Center, click on the AirDrop icon.

3. From the AirDrop menu, make sure “AirDrop” is toggled on. then select either “Contacts Only” or “Everyone” to enable AirDrop.

Once AirDrop is enabled, you can share files with nearby devices as described above. To disable AirDrop, click on the AirDrop icon again and toggle it off.

Good to know: if you can’t seem to get AirDrop working on your Mac or another supported device, you can check our AirDrop troubleshooting guide for solutions.

Enabling AirDrop in iOS and iPadOS

Now that you know how to enable AirDrop on macOS, let’s learn how to enable AirDrop on an iOS or iPadOS device:

1. Open Control Center on your device by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen (on an iPhone without a home button) or swiping up from the bottom of the screen (on an iPhone with a home button or an iPad).

2. From the Control Center, tap on the AirDrop icon. (It looks like a group of circles with a triangle shape missing at the bottom.)

3. From the AirDrop menu, select either “Contacts Only” or “Everyone” to enable AirDrop. In some regions, you’ll see “Everyone for 10 Minutes” instead.

To enable AirDrop from the Settings app on an iOS or iPadOS device, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.

2. From the main Settings menu, select “General.”

3. Select “AirDrop.”

4. From the AirDrop menu, select either “Contacts Only” or “Everyone” to enable AirDrop. In some regions, you’ll see “Everyone for 10 Minutes” instead.

Once AirDrop is enabled, use it to share files with nearby devices, as described above. To disable AirDrop, go back to the AirDrop menu in the Settings app and select the “Receiving Off” AirDrop option.

How to AirDrop Files Between Macs

Now that AirDrop is ready to go on all your devices, let’s look at how to send files. First, we are AirDropping a file between two Macs:

1. Make sure that both Macs are within range of each other and have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled.

2. On the Mac that will be sending the files, open Finder and click on the “Go” menu in the top menu bar.

3. From the Go menu, select “AirDrop.” This will open a new window showing nearby devices that are compatible with AirDrop.

4. If AirDrop is not already enabled, click on the “Allow me to be discovered by” option at the bottom of the window and select either “Contacts Only” or “Everyone.”

5. In the AirDrop window, you will see a list of nearby devices that are compatible with AirDrop. Drag and drop the files that you want to share onto the device you want to send them to.

The recipient will receive a notification that they have received a file and can choose to accept or decline the transfer. The file will be saved to their device if they accept the transfer.

Remember, AirDrop is only available on Macs running macOS Lion or later. If you’re not running the latest update, learn how you can improve your Mac experience with macOS Ventura.

How to AirDrop Files Between iOS and iPadOS Devices

It’s also possible to AirDrop files between Apple’s mobile devices. See the complete steps below:

1. Make sure that both devices are within range of each other and have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled.

2. On the device that will be sending the files, locate the files that you want to share ,and tap on the share button. (It looks like a square with an arrow pointing up.)

3. From the Share menu, tap on the “AirDrop” option. This will search for nearby devices that are compatible with AirDrop and display them in a list.

4. In the list of nearby devices, tap on the device that you want to receive the files.

The recipient will receive a notification that they have received a file and can choose to accept or decline the transfer. The file will be saved to their device if they accept the transfer.

Good to know: you can connect external storage to an iPad if you want to transfer data that is too large for an AirDrop.

How to AirDrop Files Between macOS and iOS/iPadOS

Sending files from a Mac to an iOS device or vice versa works the same as described above. Follow the same initial steps for macOS or iOS, respectively, and pick the target device in the list.

Receiving AirDrop Files

Assuming that you’ve enabled AirDrop on your macOS, iOS, or iPadOS device and that it’s set to receive files from your contacts or everyone, receiving files is easy.

If you’re sending files between your own devices, you don’t have to confirm the transfer, as the file will open in the right app or be saved to a folder you’ve specified. On macOS, your downloads folder is the default.

If you’re receiving files from someone else, you’ll have to choose whether you want to keep the files or reject them. If you don’t want anyone to send you files (some people do this maliciously), change your AirDrop settings to “No one” or “Contacts only” as shown earlier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use AirDrop to share files with devices that are not made by Apple?

No, AirDrop is only available for use between Apple devices. It uses proprietary technology that is not compatible with devices made by other manufacturers. If you want to share files with a device not made by Apple, you will need to use a different file-sharing method, such as email, a cloud storage service, or a third-party file-sharing app.

Can I share files of any type using AirDrop?

Yes, as long as the recipient’s device is compatible with the file type. AirDrop supports the sharing of many different file types, including photos, videos, and documents. However, some file types may not be supported by certain devices, in which case the recipient may not be able to open the file. The recipient may have to download the right type of app on their device to open a file.

Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Sydney Butler.