Sharing Files with AirDrop from your Mac

​Learn how to use AirDrop to share photos, videos, pictures, files, contacts and web links to an iPhone, iPad or another Mac.

AirDrop uses Bluetooth to create a WiFi network between two Apple devices. It’s a very safe way of transferring data, as the devices sending and receiving the data create a firewall around the connection, ensuring that all files are sent encrypted. And there is no limit to the size of files that can be sent using AirDrop, unlike via email or other applications.
 
To use AirDrop, both devices must be within 9 metres / 30 feet of each other and have AirDrop, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
 
Where is AirDrop on Mac and iPhone? That’s not super easy to answer, as AirDrop isn’t available as a standalone app. However, you can access it in several different ways.

Turning on AirDrop on a Mac

• Click anywhere on your desktop.
• Then click ‘Go’ in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
• Select ‘AirDrop’ from the drop-down menu.
• Then click on the little blue text ‘Allow me to be discovered by:’ at the bottom of the pop-up window.
• Select either ‘Contacts Only’ (if the person you are sharing with is in your Contacts app) or ‘Everyone’ **.

Turning on AirDrop on an iPhone or iPad

• Open the Control Centre on your device. (On an iPhone X or newer, you can do this by swiping down from the top right corner of the screen. On an older iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen).​​

• Tap and hold the Wi-Fi button (from here you can check whether your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both turned on).

• Tap on AirDrop, then choose who can send files to your device (‘Contacts Only’ or ‘Everyone’ **). Note: you can also turn AirDrop off here by selecting ‘Receiving Off’.

**If you select ‘Everyone’, your AirDrop name will then be visible to all nearby Apple devices, so be mindful of this while in public places.

How to AirDrop from Mac to iPhone, iPad or another Mac

You can send an item via AirDrop from your desktop, the Finder or from within apps such as Word, Photos or Contacts.
 
Firstly, ensure that the person you want to AirDrop to has their iPhone, iPad or Mac unlocked.

Sending from your Mac desktop:

• right-click on the item you want to share
  
• scroll down to ‘Share’ (or in the menu bar at the top of your Mac, click on ‘File’, then scroll down to ‘Share’)
  
• click on ‘AirDrop’
  
• click on the recipient’s name.

Sending from within Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint:

• find and click the ‘Share’ button in Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint
• click on ‘Send a copy’ in the bottom left corner of the pop-up
• click on the sharing icon, bottom right corner
• scroll down and click on ‘AirDrop’
• select the device you want to AirDrop your file to.

Sending from within the Photos app on Mac:

• open the Photos app and click on the photo(s) or video(s) you wish to share
• click on the share icon at the top right of the window
• scroll down and click on ‘AirDrop’
• select the device you want to AirDrop your file to.

Sending a Contact via AirDrop on Mac:

• open the Contact app on your Mac
  
• locate and click on the contact you want to share
  
• click on the share icon in the bottom right corner of the window
  
• scroll down and click on ‘AirDrop Card’
  
• select the device you want to AirDrop the contact to.

Sending a web link via AirDrop in Safari:

• navigate to the web page you want to send a link of
  
• click on the share icon in the top right corner of the window
  
• scroll down and click on ‘AirDrop’
  
• select the device you want to AirDrop the link to.

Where do AirDrop files go to on Mac and iPhone?

You’ve accepted a file via AirDrop on your Mac or iPhone/iPad, but where do the files go to?

• On a Mac, AirDrop files generally go directly to the Downloads folder (they are essentially downloads after all!). However, if you share a contact to a Mac, it will be added to the Contacts app. And a web link will be opened in your default web browser.
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• On an iOS device (iPhone or iPad), if you’ve been sent a photo or a video via AirDrop, it will go directly to your Photos app. A contact will go to your Contacts app. A web link will open up in your default web browser. Other file types (such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc) will go into the Files app on your iOS device, where you will be prompted to select a location to save them to.