Airdrop mac how does it work

Lifewire Technology Review Board Member. He is also a systems administrator for an IT firm in Texas serving small businesses. Article reviewed on Mar 04, Tweet Share Email. Apple iPad Macs. Learn how to use Airdrop on an iPhone. What is AirDrop receiving? What is AirDrop Contacts? How far does AirDrop work? Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Email Address Sign up There was an error.

Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Tell us why! You can choose the Everyone option when using AirDrop and disable it when not in use. AirDrop uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to transfer items between devices. Receive items using AirDrop When someone uses AirDrop to send an item to you on your Mac, you can choose whether to accept and save it.

Drag one or more documents, photos, or other files to the recipient shown in the window. Receive content with AirDrop When someone nearby attempts to send you files using AirDrop, you see their request as a notification, or as a message in the AirDrop window.

If you can't see the other device in AirDrop Make sure that your devices meet these requirements: Both devices are within 30 feet 9 meters of each other and have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on. If set to receive from Contacts Only, both devices must be signed in to iCloud, and the email address or phone number associated with the sender's Apple ID must be in the Contacts app of the receiving device.

If AirDrop is set to Contacts Only on a device with an earlier software version, you can change the option to Everyone while using AirDrop, then change it back when not in use. The advantage of using AirDrop in a Finder window is that you can share multiple files quickly and adjust AirDrop's discovery feature. Open Finder. An AirDrop finder window will open. At the bottom of your screen you can click on "Allow me to be discovered by:" and toggle it to "No one," "Contacts only," or "Everyone.

Wait a moment for nearby devices to appear. Follow the steps above if you don't see the device you are looking for. If you continue to have trouble connecting, click on "Don't see what you're looking for? Drag files you want to share into the AirDrop window to share them instantly.

You can keep AirDrop in Favorites in Finder, to easily use it any time. It just takes a few clicks to AirDrop a photo, video, or file from your Mac. Find the sharing symbol a small box with an arrow pointing up out of it at the top of the window for your file, and click on it.

Choose AirDrop from the sharing menu that drops down. A new window will appear showing nearby devices you can share with. If you don't see the device you're looking for, be patient.