How to AirDrop
Step 1: Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and unlock iPhone
Before you start sharing through AirDrop, ensure your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on for your, and your sender’s or receiver’s iPhone and the devices are unlocked. Apple also recommends turning off any personal hotspots if you have them on.
Step 2: Choose the photo you want to share
You can AirDrop different kinds of files, but I’ll select a photo for this example.
Step 3: Tap on the Share button
Tap on the Share button to send your photo. This is the little square with an arrow pointing upwards on the bottom left of your screen.
Step 4: Tap the AirDrop button
When you tap on Share, most of the sharing options appear – select AirDrop.
Step 5: Choose a contact to send the photo
You’ll only be able to see whoever is nearby and has their AirDrop receiving to Contacts Only and is in your contact list or set up for Everyone. I’m sending this photo to my iPad, but there’s also an iMac nearby with AirDrop on.
Step 6: Make sure contact accepts
When you AirDrop a photo or file to someone, they have to accept it in order to receive it. This is what comes up on the receiver’s device when you send a photo to someone else. The only exception to this rule is when both the sender and receiver devices are using the same Apple ID, meaning they are both your devices. When I sent a photo from my iPhone to my iPad, it was automatically added to my iPad’s Photo Library without having to accept it. You can also AirDrop to a nearby Mac if AirDrop is enabled.
Alternatively, you can swipe down to your control center and press and hold the network settings card (where the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are). The card will expand to include AirDrop; tap on that and then choose to receive from contacts only or everyone.
- Go to Settings
- Select Screen Time
- Go to Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Tap Allowed Apps
- Make sure AirDrop is enabled
