Before you use AirDrop, there’s a few things you’ll want to check beforehand to make sure you can share content with ease. The first is making sure the recipient device is nearby and within Bluetooth or Wi-Fi range, meaning it’ll need to have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on. You can share almost any type of file using AirDrop. You can also share items from apps, such as sharing links from Safari.
How to adjust AirDrop settings
For example, accepting a transfer of images over AirDrop saves the photos to your phone and opens the images in the Photos app, URLs launch in the Safari browser, and so on. To receive files on your iPhone via AirDrop, simply ask the sender to select your iPhone on their AirDrop device list. In case you’re new to the feature, AirDrop is Apple’s file transfer feature that allows you to share files between your Apple devices. This feature works wirelessly so you don’t have to use cables to transfer your files. You’ll be shown a list of all nearby AirDrop users.
How to use AirDrop on iPhone and iPad to send files
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. 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.
Choose Accept or, if it’s a photo, you can also choose Open hire ios developer hiring ios programmers with lemon in Photos. If you choose Accept, the file will appear in your Downloads folder; choosing Open in Photos, will open the file in the Photos app. This article explains how to use AirDrop on your iPhone including how enable it, send a file, and accept or decline a file AirDropped to you on iPhones with iOS 14 through iOS 11. An alternate method is supplied for older iPhones with at least iOS 7. If you AirDrop something to yourself, like a photo from your iPhone to your Mac, you won’t see an option to Accept or Decline—it’ll automatically get sent to your device.
AirDrop uses a combination of both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to transmit files, so your iPhone, iPad, or Mac have to be within about 30 feet of each other. Some third-party apps support AirDrop. However, it’s up to developers to include AirDrop support in their apps, so not everything you download from the App Store works with AirDrop.
Use AirDrop to share and receive photos, documents, and more with other Apple devices that are nearby. If you’d like to use AirDrop to share files, first, launch the app in which the file you want to share is located. For the example, we’ll use the Photos app.
After you send the content over AirDrop, wait for the other user to accept or decline the transfer. A Waiting message displays as the file is sending, a Sending message displays during the transfer, and a Sent message appears after the file is accepted and delivered. If the other user declines your AirDrop request, a red Declined message appears instead. By turning on AirDrop on your iPhone, you allow nearby iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices to send and receive files from you. You can enable this feature just for your contacts or for everyone.
AirDrop from a Mac to an iPhone
- The method to using AirDrop on iPhone differs slightly depending on the generation of iPhone you’re using, but only in terms of the shortcuts enabled by iPhone 11 devices onwards.
- Use AirDrop to share and receive photos, documents, and more with other Apple devices that are nearby.
- With AirDrop selected, the Finder window will show all nearby AirDrop users.
- Apple introduced AirDrop in 2011, and in the years since, it’s become the go-to service to share photos, documents and more between iOS and macOS-enabled devices.
You’ll need to know how to turn on and use AirDrop on iPhone and iPad if you want to start making use of Apple’s seamless file sharing method. Gone are the days when transferring data on mobile devices was a headache. Now, using AirDrop, you can share files quickly and easily with most Apple devices nearby that have receiving enabled. That includes other iPhones and iPads, as well as Macs. Today it’s easier than ever to share files and photos across devices. With Apple devices, you can use AirDrop to send files – even ones too big for email – between an iPhone, Mac, or iPad with just a tap, as long as they are in range.
To do this, head to Settings, General, then AirDrop, where you’ll see all discovery options. On an iPhone, you can also access this page via the control centre. Swipe down from the top right corner, hold down the Bluetooth button, then apply further pressure to the AirDrop button. 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. Your recipient will get a prompt to accept or reject your file transfer request.
You can select the Everyone option while using AirDrop and disable it when not in use. In the share menu, at the top, select an AirDrop-enabled device to send your file. Just as with sharing to another iPhone, you can share to a Mac using the same method, as long as it has Bluetooth what is bitcoin and why is the price going up 2021 enabled (the settings for which can be accessed using the top toolbar). 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. Just make sure that both devices are signed in with the same Apple ID.
Thankfully, they’re both super simple and covered in detail below. If you’re not signed in with your Apple ID on your device, this setting reverts to Receiving Off after 10 minutes. When someone shares something with you using AirDrop, you see an alert. If the person you’re sharing content with is in your Contacts, you’ll see an image with their name. If they’re not in your Contacts, you’ll see just their name without an image.
Here, we explain how to get started with AirDrop and become a file-sharing pro. If you tap Decline, the transfer is canceled, and the other user is notified that you declined the request. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. To share a file, open the image or file you want to send. By Chris Welch, a reviewer specializing in personal audio super scalper forex trading review and home theater.
Turn On AirDrop Using iPhone Settings
Peter is Reviews Editor at Tom’s Guide. As a writer, he covers topics including tech, photography, gaming, hardware, motoring and food & drink. Outside of work, he’s an avid photographer, specialising in architectural and portrait photography. Save time by starting your support request online and we’ll connect you to an expert.
Sharing Files from the Share Menu
What’s great about AirDrop is its simplicity. There are two ways to share items using macOS’ AirDrop. 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. If you see a red numbered badge on the AirDrop button, it means there are multiple devices nearby that you can share with.
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. Receiving files on the Mac is as easy as can be. Assuming AirDrop is turned on, you’ll be prompted to accept or decline a file whenever someone shares it with you. When you accept the transfer, your Mac will download the file and save it to your Downloads folder. With AirDrop selected, the Finder window will show all nearby AirDrop users.
This option may make the most sense when you have a file open and want to share it with someone immediately. Open the file in question, click the “Share” icon in that app, and then click the “AirDrop” command. Fire up the app and then open the file you want to share. In our example, we’re sharing a photo from the Photos app, but this could be almost anything.