We suggest using the Everyone option in order to avoid discoverability issues. This is a recommended option for most users. Everyone: All nearby devices using AirDrop can see your device.This option is good for added privacy as it’ll prevent AirDrop requests coming in from random or unknown users. Both devices must be signed in to iCloud, and the email address or phone number associated with your Apple ID must be in the Contacts app of the receiving device. Contacts Only: Only contacts in your address book can see your device as an AirDrop destination.Receiving Off: No one can see your device, but you can still AirDrop items to others.
To control whom you can share content with, use the following AirDrop options: On iOS, go to Settings > General > AirDrop to select your discoverability mode. Is AirDrop not working? First, you have to enable AirDrop on your iOS devices and in Mac’s Finder for it to work. AirDrop is not showing up at all on your deviceįix AirDrop not working Make your AirDrop device discoverable.You cannot detect other AirDrop devices around you.This is a non-comprehensive list of symptoms you may experience when trying to use AirDrop: Older iOS devices such as the iPhone 4s and earlier do not support AirDrop due to limited Wi-Fi functionality. AirDrop between iOS devices requires iOS 7 or later. Fourth-generation or later iPad, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, and iPad Pro.To send items from a Mac to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or vice versa, your Mac must be one of these models or newer:ĪirDrop between Macs and iOS devices requires iOS 8 or later and OS X Yosemite or later.ĪirDrop between iOS devices works on these iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models, and all newer models: Early-2009 Mac Pro with AirPort Extreme cardĪirDrop between Macs requires OS X Lion or later.Early-2015 MacBook with 12-inch Retina display.Late-2008 MacBook, excluding late-2008 white MacBook.Late-2008 MacBook Pro, excluding late-2008 17-inch MacBook Pro.The following models ( and newer) support AirDrop between two Macs: We’ve included the full AirDrop system requirements below.
AirDrop system requirements and compatible Apple devices There is no restriction on the size of the document that AirDrop will accommodate.įor security, AirDrop encrypts content as it travels through the air.ĪirDrop sharing works between iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad devices that run iOS 7 or later, between Macs running OS X Mavericks and later, as well as across OS X Yosemite Macs and iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad devices running iOS 8 or later. ICloud is not necessary for AirDrop unless you only want to AirDrop with your contacts, in which case both parties have to sign in to iCloud. Likewise, switching Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on automatically enables AirDrop, though you can control the visibility by turning it off, enabling it only for your contacts, or keeping it enabled for everyone around. Your Mac doesn’t need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or other Mac in order to take advantage of AirDrop.įurthermore, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are automatically switched on when AirDrop is enabled. It works between nearby devices over Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi, so both must be switched on on your Mac, iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. AirDrop uses a low-latency, high-speed peer-to-peer protocol to transfer data over the air. 5) AirDrop still not working? Try these tips! About AirDropĪirDrop was introduced in OS X Lion and iOS 7.