How to Access and Use AirDrop
On iPhone or iPad:
- Swipe down from the upper-right corner to open Control Center
- Press and hold the network settings card (top-left section)
- Tap the AirDrop icon
- Choose your visibility: "Receiving Off", "Contacts Only", or "Everyone"
- To send files, open the file and tap the share icon, then select AirDrop
On Mac:
- Open Finder and select AirDrop from the sidebar
- At the bottom, choose who can see your device: "No One", "Contacts Only", or "Everyone"
- To send files, right-click the file and select Share > AirDrop, or drag the file to the recipient in the AirDrop window
Troubleshooting AirDrop Issues
- Make sure both devices have AirDrop turned on
- Check that both devices have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled
- Ensure devices are within 30 feet (9 meters) of each other
- Verify that both devices are signed in to iCloud
- Restart both devices if AirDrop isn't working
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, AirDrop works seamlessly between all Apple devices including iPhone, iPad, and Mac as long as they meet the system requirements and are signed in to iCloud.
This could be due to several reasons: the other device might have AirDrop turned off, your visibility might be set to "Contacts Only" and you're not in each other's contacts, or there might be network interference. Try setting both devices to "Everyone" temporarily.
Quick Tips
- AirDrop uses Bluetooth to create a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi network
- Works with photos, videos, contacts, documents and more
- No internet connection required
- Files transfer with end-to-end encryption
System Requirements
To use AirDrop, you need:
- iPhone 5 or later
- iPad Pro, iPad (4th gen or later), iPad Air or later, iPad mini or later
- Mac from 2012 or later (excluding 2012 Mac Pro) running OS X Yosemite or later