A lot has been told about AirDrop since it came into existence in 2011. The airDrop was an incredible addition to the Apple ecosystem almost a decade ago. Over time, it remained, and languished, and fell behind many competing services.

AirDrop is a quick and simple way to share images, documents, and other files between Apple devices. But before you use it, you will require to turn the feature on. The AirDrop feature is often the fastest way to transfer content between iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. And more than sharing images and documents, users can also AirDrop website links, pass from Wallet, Apple Maps locations, and very much anything else that can be shared via the Share sheet.

What is AirDrop, and how does it work

The idea of AirDrop is simple: transferring files. It runs over WiFi and Bluetooth, recognizing devices nearby that can accept file transfers.

You can decide to accept files from everyone or just those in your contacts list. You can also prefer to have AirDrop block all incoming file transfers, though this setting will also make your device undiscoverable by others, so you will not be able to send files either.

OS X Yosemite ushered in a new era for AirDrop on the Mac. Before this version of OS X (now macOS), AirDrop for Mac and iOS were not interoperable. This made transferring files between a Mac and iPhone or iPad hard; now that these systems play well together, there is no such problem. When you want to share a file using AirDrop, you must choose AirDrop from the share-sheet when right-clicking on a file or folder, then select AirDrop. An available list of devices to share will appear.

System Requirements of AirDrop

Sending or receiving items from an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch needs a 2012 or later Mac with OS X Yosemite or newer. This eliminates the Mac Pro (Mid 2012) by default. To send items to another Mac device, you need a MacBook Pro (late 2008) or newer, excluding the MacBook Pro (17-inch, late 2008), MacBook Air (late 2010), MacBook (late 2008), iMac (early 2009), Mac Mini (mid-2010), Mac Pro (early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or mid-2010). However, many of these models did not come with compatible software by default but may be compatible with system upgrades. You can verify if your Mac is compatible by checking for the AirDrop feature in Finder’s “Go” menu.

How to Turn On AirDrop and Use It on an iPhone and Mac

With AirDrop, it’s simple to wirelessly transfer any files, photos, or videos to and from your iPhone and Mac. You can also use AirDrop to share files with your friends and family, as long as they have an Apple device and are within range. Here’s how to turn on AirDrop and how to use it to transfer files from an iPhone to a Mac, and the other way around.

How to Turn On AirDrop on an iPhone 

To turn on AirDrop on an iPhone or iPad, open the Control Center by swiping up on older models or swiping down from the top-right corner on an iPhone X or later. Then touch and hold the WiFi button, select AirDrop, and choose who can send files to your iPhone.

• Open the Control Center on your iPhone. You can do this by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen on an iPhone X or a newer model. If you have an older iPhone, you can open the Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of your screen.
• Then click and hold the WiFi button. You will see the WiFi signal that looks like three curved lines in a blue circle in the upper-left corner of your screen.

Note: From here, you can determine if your WiFi and Bluetooth are turned on. If not, you can turn them both on from here by tapping their respective icons.

Next, tap AirDrop. 

Finally, pick who can send files to your device. If you choose Contacts Only, you will only get files from people in your Contacts list. If you select Everyone, any Apple device in range can transfer files to your device. You can turn AirDrop off at any time by choosing Receiving Off.

Note: If you only view Receiving Off and can’t change it, go to Settings then, Screen Time then, Content and Privacy Restrictions. Then select Allowed apps and hit the slider next to AirDrop. You will know it is enabled if it is green. 

How to Turn on AirDrop on a Mac

To turn on AirDrop on a Mac:

1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop.
2. Click Go at the top of your screen and select AirDrop from the drop-down menu.
3. Click Allow me to be discovered at the bottom of the pop-up window and choose who can send files to your Mac.

Note: To use AirDrop, your Mac needs to have WiFi and Bluetooth turned on. To do this, click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen and click System Preferences. Then select Bluetooth > Turn Bluetooth On and Network then, WiFiten, Turn WiFi On.

• Right-click anywhere on your Mac desktop. Alternatively, you can also open a Finder window on your Mac.
• Then touch Go in the Apple Menu Bar. You will see this at the very top of your screen.
• Next, select AirDrop. You can also press the Command + Shift + R keys on your keyboard at the same time to skip the previous step.

Then select Allow me to be discovered by. You will notice this at the end of the pop-up window.

Finally, determine who can send files to your device. If you select Contacts Only, you will only receive files from people in your Contacts list. If you choose Everyone, any Apple device in range can transfer files to your device using AirDrop. You can turn AirDrop off at any time by selecting Receiving Off.

How to AirDrop From an iPhone to a Mac

To use AirDrop to transfer files from an iPhone to another iPhone or Mac, open the file you want to share on your iPhone. Then tap the Share button and select AirDrop. Finally, choose the device you want to send the file to.

• Open a file on your iPhone that you need to AirDrop. For instance, if you like to share a photo, you can open the Photos app or the Camera app.
• Then click the Share button. This is the icon that looks like a box with an arrow pointing up. You can find this icon in various parts of the screen, depending on what you are trying to share. You can also get it by touching and holding text, images, and more.
• Next, tap AirDrop. You will notice this in a row along with other apps.

Then select the device that you like to send the files to. If the recipient is in your contacts list, you will notice their name and photo next to their device. Otherwise, you will only see a gray circle with the owner’s initials under it.

• Finally, the files will be sent to the Downloads folder on a Mac.

Note: Depending on who you are transferring files to, they might have to approve the AirDrop by hitting or clicking the Accept button in the pop-up message that shows on the other device.

How to AirDrop from Mac to iPhone

To use AirDrop to transfer files from a Mac to another Mac or an iPhone, open a Finder window and click a file or folder. Then select the Share icon at the top of the Finder window and select AirDrop. Finally, click the device you like to send files to.

• Select a file on your Mac that you want to AirDrop.
• Then click the Share button at the top of the Finder window. This is the icon with the arrow pointing up out of a box. If this is greyed out, make sure to choose the file you like to AirDrop.
• Next, select AirDrop.

Finally, double tap the iPhone recipient from the list. If you are transferring a photo or video, it will be sent to the Photos app on the iPhone.

Alternatively, you can also follow the steps below to send files from Mac:

• Open a Finder window.
• Then choose AirDrop from the left sidebar if you don’t notice this in the left sidebar, select Finder and click the Command + Coma keys on your keyboard at the same time. Then hit the Sidebar tab and check the box next to AirDrop.
• Finally, move a file onto the profile image of the recipient you like to send files to.

Where do Airdrop Files go on Mac, iPhone

Accepting AirDrop files is one thing – but where do they end up once you’ve accepted the download?

On your Mac, AirDrop files go directly to the Downloads folder. It makes sense: an AirDrop is still a download. The delivery is just more direct. For iOS devices, photos sent to your iPhone and iPad using iPadOS will directly appear in your Photos app. If you transfer a website from Mac to iPhone or iPad, it will open now in your default browser. Should you send yourself a file, like a PDF, AirDrop will open it directly in the Files app. If you have many cloud storage services, like Google Drive and iCloud, it will enable you to save it to one of them via a popup menu.

AirDrop Alternatives

Instead it is due to the age of your device or personal choice, if Airdrop is not the perfect solution for you, there are quite a few third-party alternatives that can work very similar to Airdrop. We will discuss just a few of these below. Although the list is quite long and far beyond what we can cover in the scope of this article, a quick online search shows close to a hundred different options!

1. Zapya: Available for free on just about every platform, including Mac, Zapya proclaims itself the quickest file transfer tool. Zapya is simple to use, fast and. You can download Zapya and get it set up in less than 5 minutes. Once set up, transferring files is a matter of one to two taps (or clicks) on any device. Any file type can be transferred and speed depends only on the proximity of the two devices, determining signal strength.
2. AnySend: This tool is available directly in the App Store and is generally recognized as the easiest solution. Any Send will add a simple icon to your menubar (and on any Mac installed). Click to send, it’s as easy as that! The receiving Mac gets a brief notification, and the file begins to transfer; no unique configuration or messy menus are required.
3. FileDrop: Another easy-to-use service, FileDrop, is available on the App Store and via their gorgeous website. The idea of FileDrop is to make things simple, as they say, “No Clouds, No Cables”. The main goal of file drop is to transfer files as easy and a simple click and drop with minimal effort and configuration. This tool is free and well worth a quick look if you need an alternative to Airdrop.

Reason For AirDrop Not Working on Mac

There are a few things to watch for when using AirDrop on your Mac, especially if you are running into difficulties. Here are a few things to consider:

Your iPhone or iPad settings are wrong: Just like your Mac’s AirDrop, iPhones and iPads have three alternatives. If you cannot send or receive from any of these devices, check how AirDrop is configured on each device.

The device is not a contact. If you have your AirDrop set to “Contacts Only,” it will only accept AirDrop files from people in your contacts list. It’s likely your device is not using an account listed under any contact. If your work phone was using a work email as its account – but that email is not listed in your contacts card in Settings – your Mac would not recognize it as a contact. This can also be an issue with new devices.

Your Mac is old: Does AirDrop work on older Macs? Yes – just not as well as more modern Macs. This can be questionable if you have an older Mac that does not support AirDrop or uses a macOS version older than Yosemite. The AirDrop protocol has changed, and your devices may not be compatible if you have an older Mac.

Your Mac settings are off. Keep in mind when using AirDrop, you have three options: accept files from everyone, accept files from contact, and not accepting AirDrop files at all. If you have your AirDrop settings set to “No One,” as we discussed earlier, you can’t send or receive files.

Bluetooth or WiFi are not working correctly: AirDrop works either with Bluetooth or WiFi to send and receive files. If you are on the same WiFi network, you should not have problems unless it’s a public WiFi or something is prohibiting your devices from connecting (a VPN may cause issues, for example). It’s also great to make sure your Bluetooth is on for both devices.

Conclusion

AirDrop is incredible for sending and receiving files. It is utilized all over the world and supported by many who have a Mac and iPhone. The capability to instantly and effortlessly send yourself a file appears like magic.  Apple’s iCloud has become more reliable but syncs slowly across devices. AirDrop is just more solid across the board – but it’s not perfect. You can end up without whack settings, duplicate files, and missing backups.