How to Turn on AirDrop on iPhone
Quick Navigation:
- What Is AirDrop
- How to Turn on AirDrop on iPhone
- How to Use AirDrop on iPhone
- How to Turn on AirDrop on Mac
- Bonus Tip: How to Transfer Files Without AirDrop
- The Bottom Line
What Is AirDrop
AirDrop is the built-AirDrop is a file-sharing service on Apple devices that allows you to transfer videos, photos, contacts, locations, and more between two AirDrop-supported devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Mac, using WiFi and Bluetooth.
Whether you want to transfer photos from iPhone to iPhone or send videos from iPhone to Mac, AirDrop is a convenient way to get it done.
How to Turn on AirDrop on iPhone
Enabling AirDrop on iPhone is a straightforward process, but the steps may vary depending on the iPhone model. If you're using an iPhone 8 or later, go to Settings > General > AirDrop, then select "Receiving Off" and choose who you want to share with. If you're using an iPhone 7 or earlier, go to Settings > General > AirDrop, then select "Receiving Off" and choose who you want to share with. If you're using an iPhone 5S or later, go to Settings > General > AirDrop, then select "Receiving Off" and choose who you want to share with.
Turn on AirDrop on iPhone X or Later:
Step 1. To access the "Control Center" on your iPhone, simply swipe down from the upper-right corner of your screen.
Step 2. Press and hold the network settings card.
Step 3. To enable AirDrop, tap to turn on both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Then, touch and hold the AirDrop icon and select "Contacts Only" or "Everyone" to change the visibility of your device to others nearby. "Contacts Only" means only your contacts can see your device, while "Everyone" means all nearby Apple devices using AirDrop can see your device.
Turn on AirDrop on iPhone 8 or Earlier:
Step 1. To access the "Control Center" on your iPhone, simply swipe up from the bottom of your screen.
Step 2. Press the network settings card.
Step 3. To enable AirDrop, first tap to turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, then press and hold the AirDrop button. You can then choose to share files with "Contacts Only" or "Everyone".
You can also enable or disable AirDrop from the Settings app, aside from Control Center.
Step 1. Go to "Settings" and tap "General".
Step 2. Tap "AirDrop" and choose "Contacts Only" or "Everyone".
To turn off AirDrop on your Apple device, select the "Receive Off" option.
How to Use AirDrop on iPhone
To share files between devices using AirDrop, turn on AirDrop on both the source device and target device, and make sure the person you're sending to is nearby and within Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range.
Step 1. Open the app that contains the item you'd like to share on the source device.
Step 2. Select the file or files you wish to share and then tap the "Share" button.
Step 3. To share files with someone using AirDrop, select the AirDrop option and choose the person you want to share files with.
Step 4. On the target device, click "Accept" in the prompt to start receiving the files.
If AirDrop is not working on your iPhone, go to the related article to see how you can fix it yourself.
How to Turn on AirDrop on Mac
You can share files between your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and Mac by turning on AirDrop on Mac.
To turn on and use AirDrop on Mac:
Step 1. Open "Finder" and choose "AirDrop".
Step 2. In the AirDrop window, select the option to allow being discovered by either "Contacts Only" or "Everyone".
Step 3. To AirDrop from your Mac, click the "Share" button in an app, choose "AirDrop" and select the recipient, or drop files into the AirDrop window to share them with the person shown.
Bonus Tip: How to Transfer Files Without AirDrop
While AirDrop is convenient for sharing files between Apple devices wirelessly, it has its limitations, such as not allowing music files or multiple contacts to be shared at once. For a more comprehensive solution, I recommend using the iPhone transfer software, Qiling MobiMover.
Qiling MobiMover allows data transfer between two iDevices or between an iPhone/iPad/iPod and a Mac or PC, transferring photos, videos, music, ringtones, voice memos, contacts, books, and more.
Qiling MobiMover not only serves as an iPhone transfer tool, but also allows you to download online video and audio files to your computer or iPhone/iPad using a URL.
To transfer files from iPhone to iPhone using Qiling MobiMover, first download and install the app on both devices. Then, connect both iPhones to the same Wi-Fi network and launch the app on both devices.
Step 1.Connect the two iPhones to your computer with compatible USB cables and tap on "Trust This Computer" on the devices by requirement. Then, launch Qiling MobiMover, select the "Phone to Phone" mode on the main screen, switch to the direction you wish to transfer data, and click "Next".
Step 2.MobiMover allows you to transfer your iPhone data directly without using iTunes, giving you the flexibility to choose what to sync. Simply check the boxes next to the data types you want to transfer, and click "Transfer" to initiate the process.
Step 3.The data transfer process from iPhone A to iPhone B begins, automatically syncing data without the need for iTunes. Do not disconnect your devices until the process is complete. Once finished, access the corresponding apps on iPhone B to verify the synced items.
The Bottom Line
Learning how to use AirDrop on your iPhone is essential for sharing files, but issues like "AirDrop not working" are common due to various reasons. To avoid this problem, it's also recommended to explore alternative methods for transferring files to or from your iPhone, such as using an iOS data transfer software tool.
Follow the steps above and start sharing your files with ease.
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