Mac 911

HOW TO USE AND TROUBLESHOOT AIRDROP FOR SIMPLE FILE TRANSFERS AND HANDOFFS

Apple’s AirDrop feature first appeared in 2011 for transferring files and other kinds of information. It first worked only intra-platform: from iOS to iOS and macOS to macOS. Later versions could cross between iOS and macOS. It’s useful for your own equipment, when you want to send a photo from your Mac to an iPhone, and just as handy as when you’re reading an article and want to share the URL with someone you know nearby.

AirDrop relies on proximity, and requires both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on. It also won’t work on an iPhone or iPad while you have Personal Hotspot enabled, as it relies on a some Wi-Fi functions that are shifted to other purposes.

Readers often report difficulties getting AirDrop to work correctly, and that can be for a number of factors. Here’s a brief guide to the latest in setting up, constraining, and troubleshooting AirDrop.

Whom you’re sharing with

You control what AirDrop on your device will receive by selecting among Everyone, Contacts Only, and disabled. That last state is labeled as Receiving Off in iOS