How to use AirDrop on iPhone, iPad, and Mac to transfer photos, videos, and other files.

The main purpose of the AirDrop service is to exchange files between iOS devices and computers running

operating OS X.AirDrop was previously not available for sharing files between a Mac and an iOS device, but this feature was first supported starting with OS X Yosemite and iOS 8.

Requirements

To share files between twoMac computers, or between a Mac computer and an iOS device, you must have one of the following Mac computer models running OS X Lion or higher.

Advertising

Advertising

  • MacBook Pro (Late 2008 or later)*
  • MacBook Air (Late 2010 or later)
  • MacBook (Late 2008 or later)*
  • iMac (Early 2009 or later)
  • Mac Mini (Mid 2010 or later)
  • Mac Pro (Early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2010)

*MacBook Pro (17-Inch Late 2008) and white MacBook (Late 2008) laptops do not support AirDrop.

Your iOS device must be running at least iOS 7 or later to share files between two iOS devices or an iOS device and a Mac.

On an iOS device

Procedure for sending a file from your iOS deviceto a Mac computer is no different from a similar procedure for exchanging files via the AirDrop service between iOS devices. Just in the list of devices present and ready to accept the file, you will also see your Mac computer:

Advertising

Advertising

  • You can send a file through the service“AirDrop” via the Share panel. So you can send photos, videos, contact details and more via AirDrop from any app.
  • If the service is activated on any iOS devices“AirDrop”, then these devices will automatically appear in the list of detected devices in the “Share” panel. As you can see in the screenshot below, the devices in the Share panel are presented as photographs of the owners of these devices and all you need to do is click on the photo and send the file or information you want to share.

  • When you receive a file via the AirDrop service, youReceive a warning notification on your device screen with a preview of the photo or video that you can accept or decline. For example, if you receive a photo through AirDrop, it will automatically launch the Photos app once the reception is complete. While receiving a file, the file transfer status will be displayed in the form of a circle.

  • The AirDrop service is activated by default, but itcan be turned off in the Control Center. You can also set the option for your device to be accessible to everyone, or only to the devices of users in your contacts list.

Please remember that for the service to work“AirDrop”, you need to activate the “Bluetooth” and “Wi-Fi” communication protocols at the same time. However, there is no need for the devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Your devices just need to be about 9 meters apart from each other.

On the computerMac

To send a file

  • Open the Finder window and go to the menu Go > AirDrop or select the AirDrop tab in the sidebar of the Finder window.
  • Here you will see a list of devices that support the AirDrop service. Using the "Drag and drop" function, transfer the necessary files to the avatar of the desired device.
  • Click on the Submit button

Alternatively, if the fileopened in an application that has a “Share” button, then when you click on this icon, select the “AirDrop” option. As you can see from the figure below, a window will appear with a list of devices present on the network, by clicking on which you can initiate the file transfer process.

To receive a file

If you are trying to get a file from a device,which is linked to the same iCloud account as your computer, you don’t need to do anything. The file will be automatically accepted and added to the “Downloads” folder.

Advertising

Advertising

If you receive a file from a device on whichIf you use another iCloud account, a notification window with the options “Save”, “Save and Open” or “Refuse to receive the file” will appear on the screen of the receiving device. Selecting any of the Save, Save and Open options will save the file in the Downloads folder.

Below you will find additional scenarios whenwhich the use of the “AirDrop” protocol on your iPhone device will become a more justified step compared to other methods of exchanging files, and we also provide some other arguments in favor of more regular use of this functionality.

Advertising

Advertising

Dispatch linksofapplication "Safari"

When a few years ago this functionality wasadded to the iOS user interface, many users should be wondering who the hell wants to get a link to a web page using the AirDrop protocol.

We answer: if not in practice, then at least in theory: to everyone. A simple click on the “Share” icon at the bottom of the Safari application interface, and then one touch on your friend’s round avatar icon, literally everything that is required for the recipient’s iPhone to automatically open an open web page. For comparison, the same task, solved through the iMessage application or by means of any other application, will mean first sending a link, to open which the recipient will first have to switch to the corresponding application, then click on the link, and only after that be redirected to Safari app. That is, we observe a significant difference between what sounds like “no big deal” and the situation in practice: sending data using the super fast AirDrop protocol effectively eliminates the whole stage of actions between sending a web link and opening it on the recipient’s device.

Exchange contactdata

As with the Safari app, sharingcontact information is considered a routine and has probably been performed on a global scale several thousand times since you started reading this sentence. Alas, I am absolutely sure of this, only a small part of the total number of contact data exchanges was carried out according to the AirDrop protocol.

Why alas, you ask? Because, I repeat once again, the transfer process via AirDrop is superior to all others: sending a card with contact data through the iMessage application or through similar applications, implies launching the corresponding application, selecting the received card by touching, which subsequently leads to the launch of the Contacts application ”, Which will either request to create a new contact or“ Add to existing ”. After choosing, you will be asked to edit the contact details and then save the received contact card. In “AirDrop”, the opposite of the process described above: agree to receive a card with contact details in the “AirDrop” protocol and with one click in the upper right corner just agree to save the received card with contact details. Done.

Submitting recommendations on useapplicationsfromAppStore

Similar to sending links to web pages inSafari application, sending recommendations for installing applications (either through the App Store, or 3D Touch gesture on the iPhone device) through AirDrop eliminates intermediate actions, namely physically open the link to the recommended application on the receiving device. Click on the “Share” button, select the recipient’s avatar and watch how the receiving device jumps from the main screen directly to the page of the recommended application. There is nothing easier and more direct than the described action.

Submitting recommendations for listening to podcasts

This section could probably be called “ADo you know that you can recommend a podcast? ” In any case, yes, you can. And if you ever feel the need for this action, try using the AirDrop protocol, if circumstances permit. In accordance with the previous examples, sending recommended listening podcasts using the “AirDrop” protocol will reduce the number of necessary gestures for the receiving party to a minimum, compared to other sending methods that simply send a simple link to this podcast. If you want to be sure that the episode of the podcast that you have chosen will certainly be viewed by the receiving party, then the AirDrop application will take care of this. If the receiving party agrees to receive the recommended podcast, the iPhone will directly launch the page of this podcast.

Advertising

Advertising

Albums and songs from the libraryApple Music

Although this method is only relevantApple Music users, this is again the most direct, brash and almost intrusive way to impose your musical tastes on your friend through his mobile device. A recommended album will send your friend's smartphone straight to that album's page. Even cooler is if you recommend a song via the AirDrop protocol, and if consent is received, the receiving device will immediately start playing the track. If you and your friend are having fun, now you can control his/her iPhone almost like a real DJ… straight from your own device. Needless to say, how much better this method is than sending recommendations using the iMessage app!

There are no doubt other areas wherethe use of the AirDrop protocol outperforms other forms of file and data exchange in efficiency, simply because this function is so deeply rooted in iOS 10. Keeping this in mind, if you have any of your thoughts up the sleeve regarding the use of AirDrop, then voice them in the comments below!