With AirDrop, you can wirelessly send photos, videos, documents, and more to a nearby iPhone, iPad, or Mac. AirDrop works for sending files to your own devices or sharing them with others.
It’s secure, too, since transfers are encrypted for security, and the recipient can accept or decline each transfer as it arrives. You can even share an item with an AirDrop code. And if you leave Bluetooth or Wi-Fi range after a transfer starts, it continues over the internet.
Here’s how to use AirDrop to send items to nearby Apple devices.
Note: After an AirDrop transfer starts, it continues over the internet if you leave Bluetooth or Wi-Fi range.
Before you begin
Before you send anything with AirDrop, make sure both of these are true:
- Both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® turned on.
- The devices are within 30 feet (10 meters) of each other.
If you’re on a VPN, its configuration shouldn’t block local networking, since that may interfere with some Continuity features.
When you use AirDrop to send items between your Apple devices, signing in to your Apple Account means your devices accept and save them automatically.
Turn on AirDrop
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On an iPhone or iPad: Open Control Center, touch and hold the top-left group of controls, then tap the AirDrop icon. Tap Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes to choose who you want to receive items from.
Note: The Contacts Only and Everyone for 10 Minutes options are available only on devices with minimum system requirements for AirDrop.
- On a Mac: Click the Control Center status menu in the menu bar, then click the AirDrop icon. When it’s blue, it’s on.
To choose who can send items to you, click the right arrow next to AirDrop, then click Contacts Only or Everyone.
Share an item with an AirDrop code
With iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, macOS 26.2, or later, if someone tries to send you an item with AirDrop and they’re not in your contacts, they must use an AirDrop code. If you choose to receive the item, select Continue. The AirDrop code appears on your device. After you share the code with the sender and they enter it on their device, the item is shared. You can continue to share and receive items using AirDrop with that person for 30 days without needing to use another AirDrop code. If you no longer want to share items before the 30 days are up, go to the Contacts app , find the sender in your Other Known list, then select Forget This Person.
Send an item using AirDrop
To send an item to someone over AirDrop, you and your recipient both need AirDrop turned on.
Some people only accept items from a contact. To send items to them, you must be in their contacts list, and your contact card there needs to include your Apple Account email address or phone number.
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On an iPhone or iPad: Open the item, then tap the Share icon, Share, the AirDrop icon, or another button (depending on the app). Tap the AirDrop icon, then tap the recipient you want to share with. The recipients you see are those who are nearby, have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and are able to accept files from your device.
Tip: If you’re within close range of someone in your contacts, you can initiate an AirDrop transfer by opening the file you want to share, then moving your iPhone close to your contact’s iPhone (on supported models with iOS 17 or later).
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On a Mac: Open the item on a Mac, click the Share icon in the toolbar, then click AirDrop. Select the recipient you want to share with. The recipients you see are those who are nearby, have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and are able to accept files from your device.
Tip: You can also share items with AirDrop in the Finder. To open a Finder window, click the Finder icon in the Dock. Click AirDrop in the sidebar, then drag the item you want to share to the recipient you want to send it to.
When a notification asks you to enter a code to share the item, enter the AirDrop code that’s generated on the recipient’s device.
Receive items with AirDrop
On your device, tap or click Accept on the AirDrop notification.
If you see a notification that you need an AirDrop code in order to receive the item, tap or click Get AirDrop Code and share it with the sender. The sender enters the code on their device in order to send the item with AirDrop.
Note: Between devices where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account, items you send are accepted automatically.
Items usually land in the app they were sent from. Say someone uses AirDrop to send you a photo from their Photos app. It’s saved in the Photos app on your device.
Your files may also end up in other places, depending on the device. On an iPhone or iPad, the Files app may hold some items. On a Mac, some items end up in the Downloads folder automatically, though you may get the option to choose where to save items, like saving a photo in the Downloads folder or opening it in Photos.
Note: When you open AirDrop in the Finder on a Mac, you’ll see the notification to accept or decline here instead of in Notification Center.
Send items from one of your Apple devices to another, say from your Mac to your iPhone, and the receiving device automatically accepts and saves them, as long as you’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both.
Turn off cellular data for AirDrop
Cellular data charges may apply when you use AirDrop.
If you don’t want to use cellular data when you’re out of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi range, go to Settings > General > AirDrop, then turn off Use Cellular Data.
You’ll usually set this only once. But you might want to change it when you’re traveling and want to avoid roaming charges, for example.
If AirDrop isn’t working
- Make sure that both the sender and recipient have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on and that you’re both using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Check that the recipient has their AirDrop settings set to receive from Everyone or Contacts Only.
- If you’re having difficulty getting AirDrop to work, restart your device and try again.
AirDrop is best for sharing a small selection of files between devices.
