Key Highlights
- The files you AirDrop will go to the Photos or Files app on your iPhone and iPad.
- See AirDropped Photos & Videos: Open the Photos app → select Albums → choose Imports → view all AirDrop photos and videos.
- View AirDropped Files: Open Files app → click Browse tab → select On My iPhone → view all AirDrop files.
- The AirDrop files on Mac will go to the Downloads section.
- View AirDrop Files on Mac: Open the Finder app → click Downloads → view recent AirDropped files on Mac.
AirDrop is a unique feature for Apple devices to send and receive files within seconds. With its advanced sharing capability, you can share a large number of photos, videos, and files without any size limit. However, people may wonder where the AirDrop files go after receiving them from friends and families. If you’re one among them, you’ve landed at the right place.
This article will guide you through the possible locations where the AirDrop files will stored on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac after receiving them.
How to Enable the AirDrop Feature
Before sharing a file via AirDrop, make sure to enable the AirDrop feature on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Turn On AirDrop on iPhone/iPad
1. Unlock your iPhone/iPad and open the Settings app.
2. Now, enable the WiFi and Bluetooth options separately.
3. Further, scroll down and click General.
4. Select AirDrop from the list of available options.
5. After that, you can change the AirDrop settings on your iPhone or iPad to Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes.
Note: Besides opening the Settings app, you can pull down the Control Center and hold the Network pane to enable the AirDrop feature.
Enabling AirDrop on Mac
1. Launch your Mac device and open the Finder app.
2. From the left pane, scroll through and select the AirDrop option.
Note: Make sure to enable the WiFi and Bluetooth features on your MacBook by navigating the taskbar and clicking the respective icons.
3. After that, click the Allow Me to be Discovered by option.
4. Now, choose Everyone or Contacts Only to enable the AirDrop feature.
How to Receive AirDrop on Mac
After enabling the AirDrop feature, you can receive the AirDrop file on your Mac from your iPhone or iPad.
1. Open the app and choose the file you want to AirDrop.
2. Click the Share icon and choose the AirDrop option from the list.
3. After that, choose your Mac from the available devices to send files.
4. Further, click Accept from the AirDrop popup on your MacBook or iMac.
Now, the respective file will be saved on your Mac device.
Where Do AirDrop Files Go?
While sharing the file from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the recipient chooses to Accept or Decline the file. Once accepted, the received files will go to their respective destinations. But the destination will vary on iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
Where do AirDrop Files Go on iPhone/iPad
After AirDropping Photos and Videos, you can find it on the Photos app on your iPhone and iPad. You can view the Recents section on the Photos application to see the recently AirDropped images and videos. Also, you can follow the below procedure to view all the AirDropped photos and videos.
- Viewing All AirDropped Photos & Videos: Open the Photos app on your iPhone/iPad → click the Albums section →select Imports → View all the AirDropped photos and videos.
Unlike photos and videos, you must select the destination to save the AirDropped files on your iPhone and iPad. After accepting the AirDrop request from the sender, you’ll be requested to save the file in a certain destination. However, we recommend you save the files on the Files app on your iPhone and iPad.
- Viewing AirDropped Files: Open the Files app on your iPhone or iPad → Hit the Browse tab → select On My iPhone → View all AirDropped files.
Where do AirDrop Files Go on Mac
After receiving the AirDrop files from another Mac, iPhone, or iPad, the respective files will saved in the Downloads section on your Mac.
1. Launch your MacBook or iMac.
2. Open the Finder app.
3. Click the Downloads section from the left pane.
4. From there, you can see all the AirDrop files, photos, and videos on your Mac
Is It Possible to Change the AirDrop Location?
No, you can’t change the AirDrop location on your Mac devices. This means all the AirDropped files will automatically go to the Downloads section. Similarly, all the photos and videos AirDropped to your iPhones and iPads will save on the Photos app, and you can’t change the AirDrop location.
On the contrary, you have the option to choose your AirDrop location while sharing a file on your iPhones and iPads. You can choose the destination as iTunes,
FAQ
No, you can’t check the AirDrop History on your Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
If you haven’t found the AirDrop files in the Downloads folder on your Mac, you might accidentally disable the AirDrop feature. So, enable the AirDrop feature properly to receive and view the AirDrop files.