Your iPhone, iPad, and Mac are powerful, but file transfer between the devices can be difficult. It sometimes takes forever to share images, videos, and PDF documents, making you rage-quit in the middle of the transfer.
However, don’t throw in the towel just yet because AirDrop comes to the rescue. This cutting-edge technology speeds up your file exchange and eliminates the need for cables.
But what if you’ve never used this feature? No worries – we’ll show you how to turn AirDrop on and send data from one Apple device to another.
How to Activate AirDrop on iPhone and iPad
You may have several Apple gadgets in your fleet. For example, you might want to send pictures and clips from your latest travel to your Mac, freeing up more space on your iPhone or iPad. If that’s the case, take the following steps to utilize AirDrop:
- Go to the app from which you wish to share files.
- Select the item you want to send to the other device.
- Press the Share key represented by a square and up-pointing arrow.
- Strike the AirDrop button and choose the person or device that will receive the file. If a red badge shows up on your screen, it means you can relay the information to multiple gadgets.
- Wait for the transfer to complete, which shouldn’t take more than two or three seconds. Of course, the larger the file, the longer it’ll take for AirDrop to finalize the shipment.
How to Activate AirDrop on Mac
If you’re one of the 100+ million people who own a Mac, you enjoy hundreds of cutting-edge features of your machine, one of which is AirDrop. It utilizes state-of-the-art technology to send your files, but this doesn’t mean you need to be an advanced user. On the contrary, it only takes a few clicks to activate the feature:
- Head to your Finder app and choose AirDrop. If you can’t find the feature, start Spotlight and type in “AirDrop” in the search field. Click the program that appears at the top of the results.
- Explore the window and select who can discover you. The most convenient option is to make your device discoverable by everyone but avoid doing so in public. Otherwise, people may try to send malicious files that could damage your computer.
- Navigate to the file you wish to share via your Mac.
- Tap the Share key, which looks the same on a Mac as it does on an iPhone (square box with an up-pointing arrow).
- Select your recipient and wait for the other party to accept your file.
- Watch as AirDrop works its magic and sends the data within seconds.
How to Accept AirDrop Files
No AirDrop transfer can be completed without consent from the other device. After all, if you didn’t have some control over the files you receive, you’d be exposed to several cybersecurity threats associated with sending data.
The designers at Apple considered this when they rolled out AirDrop, which is why they’ve included the “Accept” or “Decline” feature. Once someone tries to feed you a file, it doesn’t automatically land in your storage. Instead, iOS gives you a preview of the information and lets you choose from two options: Accept and Decline.
If you accept the file, the transfer begins and completes within a couple of seconds, depending on the size. If you decline, the exchange is terminated, and the sender is notified that the sending has failed.
However, the Accept/Decline choice isn’t always available. For example, suppose you’re sending a file from your Mac to your iPad. Both devices use the same Apple account, so the software assumes you’re the one handling both gadgets. As a result, it automatically launches the transfer without asking whether or not you wish to receive the file.
What If AirDrop Doesn’t Work?
Even if you follow the above steps, AirDrop might fail to send files. The good news is that there are many easy solutions:
- Get in range – Although powerful, AirDrop doesn’t have unlimited range. It generally has the same radius as Bluetooth, so make sure your devices are no more than about 30 feet apart.
- Turn off hotspot – Your hotspot can interfere with AirDrop, so turn it off before you start.
- Tweak reception settings – The other person might only be able to receive files from their contacts. If so, have them change the settings or add you to their contacts.
No More AirDrop Problems
If you want to send and receive files at breakneck speeds, AirDrop is your best friend. It’s flexible and wireless, allowing you to exchange information without extra equipment. Plus, it’s super-easy to activate, both on your Mac and iPhone/iPad.
