AirDrop sends photos, links, documents, contacts, and other supported items directly between nearby Apple devices. It uses Bluetooth to discover devices and a direct wireless connection for the transfer.
Turn on AirDrop
Open Control Center, press and hold the connectivity group, and open AirDrop. Choose an available receiving option such as Contacts Only or Everyone for a limited period, depending on your iOS version.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth need to be available. Personal Hotspot can interfere with AirDrop in some situations.
Send something with AirDrop
- Open the photo, file, webpage, or other item you want to send.
- Tap the Share button.
- Tap AirDrop.
- Choose the nearby recipient or device.
- Wait for the transfer to complete.
If you are sending between your own Apple devices signed in appropriately, the transfer may be accepted automatically.
Receive an AirDrop
When another person sends an item, review the sender and preview information before accepting. The received item normally opens in the app associated with that type of content, such as Photos for an image.
If the other iPhone does not appear
Move the devices closer together, unlock both devices, and confirm Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirDrop receiving are enabled. If Contacts Only does not work, a temporary Everyone setting can help determine whether contact matching is the problem.
Turning AirDrop off and back on or restarting the devices can clear a temporary discovery problem.
Use AirDrop with privacy in mind
Do not leave broad receiving enabled longer than necessary in crowded public places. Check the recipient carefully before sending sensitive files, especially when several nearby devices have similar names.
Where AirDropped files go
The destination depends on what you receive. Photos and videos generally go to Photos, while documents may open in Files or the app associated with that file type. A website opens in a browser. If you cannot find an item after accepting it, think about which app normally handles that kind of content.
AirDrop works best for nearby transfers
AirDrop is designed for devices that are physically near one another. It is not a general Internet file-transfer service. For someone in another location, use iCloud Drive, shared albums, email, Messages, or another cloud-sharing method instead.
Additional Information
Menu names can vary slightly by iOS version and iPhone model. If a setting is not where the steps describe it, use the search field in Settings to look for the feature name. On newer iOS releases, many app-specific options are grouped under Settings > Apps.
Matthew Roberts created this site to help his friends and family with questions that they might have about how to change the settings on their iPhones. It now serves as an archive of iPhone how-to guides to help anyone that stumbles upon this website.