How to Turn On AirDrop on iPhone
1 Open Control Center
Swipe down from the upper-right corner of your screen (on iPhone X and later) or swipe up from the bottom (on older models).
2 Access Network Settings
Press and hold the network settings card in the top-left corner (where you see the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons).
3 Tap the AirDrop Icon
Look for the AirDrop icon (a blue radar-like symbol) and tap it to open AirDrop settings.
4 Choose Visibility
Select either:
- Receiving Off - Disables AirDrop
- Contacts Only - Only people in your contacts can see you
- Everyone - Any nearby Apple device can see you
How to Turn On AirDrop on iPad
The process is identical to iPhone, but here's a quick reference:
- Swipe down from top-right to open Control Center
- Long-press the network settings card
- Tap the AirDrop icon
- Choose your visibility preference
How to Turn On AirDrop on Mac
1 Open Finder
Click the Finder icon in your Dock (the smiling face icon).
2 Select AirDrop
In the Finder sidebar, click on "AirDrop" under the "Locations" section.
3 Enable AirDrop
At the bottom of the AirDrop window, click the text that says "Allow me to be discovered by:"
4 Choose Visibility
Select either:
- No One - Disables AirDrop
- Contacts Only
- Everyone
AirDrop Not Working?
Quick Fixes
- Toggle Airplane mode on/off
- Restart both devices
- Ensure Bluetooth/WiFi are on
- Check for iOS/macOS updates
Advanced Solutions
- Reset network settings
- Check firewall settings (Mac)
- Verify both devices are signed in to iCloud
- Check device compatibility
Quick Tips
- Both devices need AirDrop enabled
- Works up to 30 feet apart
- No internet connection required
- End-to-end encrypted transfers
Compatibility
Supported Devices
- iPhone 5 or later
- iPad Pro, iPad (4th gen+), iPad Air, iPad mini
- Mac (2012 or later, except 2012 Mac Pro)
Older devices may have limited functionality
Security Note
When using "Everyone" mode:
- You'll receive a request to accept each transfer
- Only use in trusted environments
- Switch back to "Contacts Only" when done