AirDrop is a proprietary wireless ad hoc service in Apple Inc.s iOS and macOS operating systems, introduced in Mac OS X Lion (Mac OS X 10.7) and iOS 7, which can transfer files among supported Macintosh computers and iOS devices by means of close-range wireless communication. AirDrop transfers information using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and both must be turned on. To use AirDrop, you need to be signed in with your Apple ID, and transfers are encrypted for security.
Here are the steps to use AirDrop on an iPhone or iPad:
- Open an app, then tap Share or the Share button.
- Tap the AirDrop button.
- Choose who you want to share with: AirDrop only works with Apple devices that are nearby.
- If the person doesn’t appear as a nearby AirDrop user, ask them to open Control Center on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and allow AirDrop to receive items.
- Tap the person's photo or the name of the device.
- If you're sharing an item and the recipient is nearby, they'll be asked if they want to accept the item. If they accept, the item will be sent to their device. If they decline, no one will receive the item.
- If you're receiving an item, you'll see an alert with a preview of the item and the option to Accept or Decline it. If you tap Accept, the AirDrop will come through within the same app it was sent from. For example, photos appear in the Photos app and websites open in Safari. App links open in the App Store so you can download or purchase the app. 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. Just make sure that both devices are signed in with the same Apple ID.
You can also adjust AirDrop settings to control who can see your device and send you content in AirDrop.
