How to Activate AirDrop on Your Mac

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Launch the Mac’s Finder application.

Choose "AirDrop" from the Favorites section on the left side of the window.

Select the discoverability option that best fits your needs from the list at the bottom of the window when you launch AirDrop on Mac.

If you choose "Everyone" from this list, files can be sent to you from any nearby Apple device. When in public, keep this in mind.

Get your iPhone’s Settings app open.

Choose "General."

Choose "AirDrop."

Select the option for discoverability that best fits your needs.

Select the file, webpage, image, or other content you want to share.

Choose the "share sheet" icon, which appears as a box with an upward-pointing arrow, from the bottom of the screen.

Pick "AirDrop" from the list of options. Note: If AirDrop is enabled on the device you wish to send the file to and your device can send files to it as a contact, the device may appear on the top row.

Choose the Mac to which you wish to send the file.

Locate and select the Share button in PowerPoint, Word, or Excel.

There will be sharing options displayed to you. Select "Send a Copy."

Click the sharing icon to open a new box and select AirDrop.

Select the device you wish to AirDrop your file to when a window displaying the nearby devices opens.

AirDrop files are saved directly to the Downloads folder on your Mac.

Photos sent to your iPhone (and iPad running iPadOS) will open in your Photos app by default on iOS devices.

A website forwarded from a Mac to an iPhone or iPad will launch in your usual browser out of the box.

If you email a file, such as a PDF, to yourself, AirDrop will open it in the Files app.

It will provide you with a popup menu to choose which cloud storage service to save it to if you have multiple accounts, such as iCloud and Google Drive.

Let’s investigate why my Mac is unable to enable AirDrop.

  1. From the list of sharing options, select AirDrop.

  2. In the Finder window’s sidebar, choose AirDrop. Or use the menu bar to select Go > AirDrop.

  3. Nearby AirDrop users are displayed in the AirDrop window. To the recipient displayed in the window, drag one or more documents, images, or other files.

  4. Ensure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on on both devices and that they are within 30 feet (9 meters) of one another.

  5. Select Go > AirDrop from the Finder’s menu bar, then enable discovery by checking the box in the AirDrop window.

  6. Update the software on your Mac and other devices with the most recent versions.

  7. Verify that the firewall settings are not preventing incoming connections.

Let’s investigate how to turn on AirDrop.

  1. AirDrop must be enabled on both devices, and Bluetooth and WiFi must be turned on.

  2. On an iPhone or iPad, swipe up to open the Control Center, or swipe down from the top-right corner if you’re using an iPhone X or later, to enable AirDrop.

  3. Next, choose AirDrop and decide who can send files to your iPhone by tapping and holding the WiFi button.

  4. On a Mac, right-click anywhere on your desktop to enable AirDrop.

  5. After that, choose AirDrop from the drop-down menu by clicking Go at the top of your screen.

  6. Lastly, select who can send files to your Mac by clicking Allow me to be discovered by at the bottom of the pop-up window.

  7. Open the file you wish to share on your iPhone before using AirDrop to send it to another iPhone or Mac.

  8. After that, choose AirDrop by tapping the Share button.

  9. Lastly, select the device to which you wish to send the file.

  10. Open a Finder window, choose a file or folder, and then use AirDrop to transfer files from one Mac to another Mac or an iPhone.

  11. Next, choose AirDrop by clicking the Share icon at the top of the Finder window.

  12. Lastly, select the device to which you wish to send files.

Now let’s explore if AirDrop is supported on my Mac.

  • MAC: AirDrop is compatible with all Mac models released in 2012 and later that are running OS X Yosemite or later.

  • By selecting GO from the menu bar and clicking the FINDER icon in the Dock, you can verify if your Mac is AirDrop compatible.

  • Your Mac is not capable of using AirDrop if it is not indicated as an option.

  • AirDrop currently has two active settings: It can be configured to accept shares from all users or just those whose mobile number or email address shows up in your contacts.

  • As an alternative, you can turn off the feature entirely.

  • Control Center is where you can also adjust your AirDrop settings.

  • Anywhere you see the Share Sheet icon (a small square with an arrow pointing out of it), you can share files within iOS.