AirDrop is a feature that everyone seems to forget about. It’s a really simple way of sharing your photos, videos, websites, locations, and other items wirelessly. AirDrop uses Bluetooth to create a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi network between devices. Sure, you can send things over iMessage, but AirDrop has one clear advantage. It is a device-to-device transfer so it can transfer files even when there is no Internet access. Here’s how.
How to share files with AirDrop
- Make sure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is turned on
- Sign into iCloud using your Apple ID
- Open an app and find the content you want to share
- Tap
- Tap the AirDrop user that you want to share content with
How to receive content with AirDrop
The first thing you’ll want to do is to set your receiving options. You have three options.
- Receiving Off: You won’t receive AirDrop requests
- Contents Only: Only your contacts can see your device
- Everyone: All nearby iOS devices using AirDrop can see your device
- Swipe up from bottom of home screen to open Control Center
- Force touch (press deeply) on the network settings square on the top left.
- Tap AirDrop
- Choose your receiving option
When someone sends you something through AirDrop, you’ll be able to see a preview of what they want to send you. Based on the preview, you can decide to accept or decline the transfer. If you accept the AirDrop, you’ll see the content in the app it was sent from. For example, if you were sent a photo it will be located in the Photos app. You can also send content to yourself so you can view files from your iPhone to your Macbook.
AirDrop is a powerful feature to easily send files even when you don’t have Internet access. The next time you want to send a picture of your dog or kids, send it with AirDrop!