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You are here: Home / How-To / How to Use AirDrop on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac: Guide

How to Use AirDrop on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac: Guide

Last Updated On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 by GeeksModo Staff

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AirDrop is a neat little feature you can use to quickly and easily transfer files of all kinds between Apple devices. AirDrop allows users to send and receive photos, videos, passwords, contacts, map
location, and pretty much anything else that can be transferred from a Share Sheet. The feature uses Bluetooth technology to detect nearby compatible devices and helps you transfer data over Wi-Fi. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to use AirDrop on an iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

It’s easy to use AirDrop on your Apple device, however, the process for turning the feature on and off varies between a Mac and an iOS device.

AirDrop Device Compatibility

  • iPhone, and iPad:
    To use AirDrop on iOS, you’ll need an iPhone 5 or newer, iPad 4 or newer, iPad mini, or fifth-generation iPod touch.
  • Mac:
    All Mac models launched in 2012 and later running OS X Yosemite or later support AirDrop.

To check if your Mac is compatible with AirDrop: simply click the Finder icon in the Dock and select Go in the menu bar. If AirDrop is not listed as an option, it means your Mac is not compatible with theAirDrop.

Activate Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

For AirDrop to work, both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi must be enabled on your device. In addition, make sure personal hotspot is turned off.
You can check the status of the above services in the Control Center of your iPhone by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen (swipe up from
the bottom for older models of iPhones). If you own aMac, you can check the status of the above services at the Menu Bar in the upper-right corner of the screen. Your device don’t have to be connected
to a Wi-Fi network for AirDrop to work. AirDrop just uses the signal to transfer data.

Turn on AirDrop in iOS

For you to send and receive files with other people, AirDrop must be enabled on your iOS device. To turn on AirDrop on iOS: Head over to Settings > General > AirDrop to turn it
on. You can set AirDrop to accept shares from just your contacts or from everyone who might be nearby.

For you to use the Contacts Only option, both devices must be registered with iCloud, and each user must be in the other’s contacts. The Everyone option May sound insecure. However, AirDrop lets you choose whether or not to receive a file from someone, therefore, you can easily block the transfer at any time. Receiving Off means
no one can send you anything via AirDrop.

Select AirDrop Destination

If you want to share a file from your iPhone or iPad via AirDrop, just open it in the appropriate app and tap the Share icon. a list of nearby people
able to receive the file will appear. Select the person you want to share with, and they will receive a notification. Once the file is delivered on the other person’s device, AirDrop
will notify you that it has been transferred successfully. The sent file then automatically appears in the appropriate app.

Restrict AirDrop on iOS

You can block AirDrop to prevent a kid or someone not authorized to use your device from sharing files. Simply head over to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy
Restrictions and toggle Content & Privacy Restrictions to on. Then tap Allowed Apps and toggle AirDrop to off.

Turn On AirDrop on Mac

You can easily interact with AirDrop from any window in Finder on MacOS. Simply launch Finder and click AirDrop on the side navigation panel. The service will instantly
scan for nearby devices, however, you have options to choose whom you’d want to see you. Make sure this option is set to either Contacts Only or Everyone and you’ll be all set.
.

To share between a Mac and iOS device, your Mac has to be from 2012 or newer(excluding the mid-2012 Mac Pro) and running OS X Yosemite or higher. For iPhone users,
Your device need to be running iOS 7 or higher.

How to AirDrop Files on Mac

You can send files using AirDrop on a Mac through various methods. The simplest way is to just drag and drop the file into the AirDrop window or the name
on the navigation bar. Alternatively, you can right-click and select Share > AirDrop before choosing the person. Just like on iOS, you can also tap the Share button
on a file, select AirDrop, and choose the destination.

Turn Off AirDrop on Mac

To turn off AirDrop, simply follow the steps you used to turn it on. Go to Finder > AirDrop, then select Allow me to be discovered by, and select No One.

How to use AirDrop on iPhone, iPad and Mac? Now you know

I Trust this guide has taught you how to use AirDrop to send and receive photos, videos, documents, contacts, passwords and other files on your iPhone, iPad and Mac.
If you have any question on how to use Airdrop on Apple devices, let us know in the comments section below. We also have plenty of other articles that i suggest you check right now.

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