How To Turn On AirDrop On iPhone, iPad, and MacBook

We may earn compensation from reviewed products. Learn about our editorial policies.

Thanks to AirDrop, sharing files between Apple devices is incredibly easy and one of the major reasons for investing in the Apple ecosystem. Whether you’re sending photos, documents, or contacts, AirDrop makes the process seamless when it works correctly.

But if you’ve never used an Apple device before, then it isn’t immediately obvious how to turn AirDrop on. Sometimes, you might even have AirDrop turned on and it still doesn’t work. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you enable AirDrop, open it, and troubleshoot common issues.

What You’ll Learn in This Article

• How to turn on AirDrop on iPhone, iPad, and MacBook
• How to open AirDrop and access it on your Apple device
• How to allow AirDrop from different sources
• How to receive AirDrop files and where to find them
• Troubleshooting tips if AirDrop isn’t working

What Is AirDrop?

AirDrop is Apple’s wireless file-sharing feature that allows you to quickly transfer files (including images and videos) between iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. It uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to create a peer-to-peer connection, so your files transfer securely and quickly without the need for an internet connection.

What You Can Share with AirDrop

AirDrop allows you to send:

• Photos and videos
• Contacts
• Documents (PDFs, Word files, etc.)
• Website links
• Notes
• Voice memos
• Locations from Maps

How to Turn On AirDrop on Any Apple Device

Before you can use AirDrop, you need to activate AirDrop on your device. Here’s how to do it on iPhone, iPad, and MacBook.

How to Turn On AirDrop on iPhone

1. Open Control Center: Swipe down from the top-right corner (on iPhone X or later) or swipe up (on older models).
2. Press and hold the network settings box (the one with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and airplane mode icons).
3. Tap and hold ‘AirDrop’, then choose:
   • Receiving Off: Disables AirDrop.
   • Contacts Only: Allows sharing only with saved contacts on your phone.
   • Everyone: Allows anyone nearby with an Apple device to send you files.

How to Turn On AirDrop on iPad

The steps for how to turn on AirDrop on iPad are the same as on iPhone:

1. Open Control Center.
2. Press and hold the network settings box.
3. Tap ‘AirDrop’ and select an option (Contacts Only or Everyone).

How to Turn On AirDrop on MacBook

1. Open Finder.

2. Click ‘AirDrop’ in the sidebar.

3. Find the down arrow at the bottom of the page titled ‘Allow me to be discovered by: Contacts ‘Only’ or ‘Everyone’ and choose an option.

How to Set Up AirDrop for Seamless Sharing

How to Allow AirDrop from Everyone or Contacts Only

You can customise AirDrop settings based on who you want to receive files from:

• Contacts Only: Only people saved in your contacts can send files.
• Everyone: Any Apple device nearby can send files.
• Receiving Off: Disables AirDrop.

To adjust these settings:

1. Open Settings on iPhone or iPad.
2. Go to General > AirDrop.
3. Choose ‘Contacts Only’ or ‘Everyone’.

How to Change AirDrop Settings for Privacy and Security

• Keep AirDrop on ‘Contacts Only’ to prevent random strangers from sending files.
• Turn AirDrop off in public places to avoid unsolicited AirDrop requests.
• Use Airplane Mode to temporarily disable AirDrop without changing settings.

How to Share Using AirDrop

You can share directly from various apps using AirDrop for a quick and seamless process. Here’s how:

1. Find and tap the ‘Share’ icon which is often in the bottom left of the screen.
2. Tap the AirDrop option. This will bring up the AirDrop menu.
3. Find the device you want to send the files to. Tap the device and wait for the recipient to accept the share request.

How to Receive AirDrop Files and Where They Go

How to Accept or Decline AirDrop Requests

1. When someone tries to AirDrop a file, a pop-up appears.
2. Tap ‘Accept’ to receive the file or ‘Decline’ to reject it.
3. Files will automatically open in the default app (e.g., Photos for images, Files for documents).

Where to Find Received Files on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

• Photos & Videos → Found in the Photos app.
• Documents → Located in the Files app.
• Contacts → Added to the Contacts app.
• Links → Open in Safari automatically.