AirDrop can be very handy in many situations to quickly transfer photos or videos between Apple devices. However, very few people know about AirDrop’s ability to share passwords and keychains within a matter of seconds. I always use AirDrop to share the login credentials of video streaming services with my family members. I find it the easiest and most secure way to share passwords with my family.
Since I use my iPhone more, I quickly send the passwords from the device settings. For Mac users, passwords can be AirDropped from the Safari browser Settings. With the iOS 17 update, the password-sharing process has become easier and fun. All I need to do is select the password I wish to share and bring both iPhones closer to share the passwords.
Why do you have to write down passwords or send your passwords via text message anymore when you can use AirDrop to share passwords with your family securely and effortlessly? Learn how to send passwords via AirDrop using this detailed guide.
Pre-Requisites to AirDrop Passwords
To share passwords or any media files using the AirDrop function, you must ensure that you know the following prerequisites.
- For the AirDrop feature to work reliably, the sender and receiver Apple device must be within 30 feet or 9 meters of distance from each other.
- Ensure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on the sending and receiving Apple devices.
- AirDrop only works on iPhones running on iOS 7 and above or MacBook running on macOS Yosemite or above.
- You must change the AirDrop settings to Contacts Only or Everyone on your Apple device to send or receive files.
How to AirDrop Password & Keychains From iPhone, iPad or Mac
You can share the passwords and keychains between Apple devices from iPhone, iPad, or Mac. On the iPhone and iPad, you can AirDrop the passwords from the device Settings. To share passwords using the Mac, it can done through the Safari browser app. Follow the steps below to securely share your passwords with your family or friends.
How to AirDrop Password From iPhone/iPad
1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings.
2. Scroll down and find the Passwords option.
3. Use your Face ID or Touch ID to get into the Passwords.
4. Select the password you want to share.
5. Use your Face ID or Touch ID to authenticate, and click the Share icon in the top-right. Choose AirDrop from the popup.
6. Select the receiver’s device, and the selected password will be AirDropped.
7. Click Accept on the receiving device to save the password to your device.
How to AirDrop Password How to Share From Mac
1. On your Mac, open the Safari browser app.
2. Click on the Safari option and select Settings.
3. Select the Passwords option and enter your device Admin password, or use the Touch ID to access the tab.
4. Select the password you want to AirDrop and select the Share with AirDrop option.
5. Now, select the receiving Apple device to AirDrop the password.
6. Click Accept to receive and save the Password on your Mac.
How to Share Password Using Proximity Sharing
If you are using an iPhone with the latest iOS 17, you can use the Proximity Sharing feature to AirDrop the Passwords. Here is how to do it.
1. Open the Settings on your iPhone.
2. Select the General option and click on the AirDrop option.
3. Enable the Bringing Device Together option to enable Proximity Sharing.
4. Now, go back to Settings and select Passwords.
5. Authenticate using Face ID (or Touch ID) and select the password you want to AirDrop.
6. Authenticate again and click on the Share icon.
7. Bring the iPhones closer to AirDrop with the selected password.
8. Click Accept on the other iPhone to save the password.
Why Can’t I AirDrop Passwords – Causes and Fixes
Sometimes, the AirDrop feature on my iPhone and Mac may refuse to work properly. AirDrop might not work properly due to some user error and technical issues, which can be fixed easily. If you are facing issues with sharing Passwords via AirDrop, I would suggest the following fixes to rectify them.
- Disable Personal Hotspot: Whenever the Personal Hotspot was turned on my iPhone, the AirDrop function refused to work properly. So, I would recommend turning off Personal Hotspot during the AirDrop process.
- Disable Do Not Disturb: I use DND (Do Not Disturb) mode very often on my iPhone. I very recently noticed that DND modes on iPhones restrict AirDrop. If you are facing issues with AirDrop, check and disable the DND mode on your Apple device.
- Keep Both Devices Unlocked: To transfer files or passwords between two Apple devices, you must keep both devices unlocked to complete the process. If the receiving device is locked, AirDrop will fail.
- Restart Apple Device: If I face any issues with AirDrop, even after numerous times, I usually restart my iPhone and Macbook. Restarting the Apple device will help you clear out any temporary bugs or glitches that affect AirDrop.
- Bring the Device Closer: If the distance between the receiver and sender Apple device is longer, the chance of AirDrop failing is higher. Ensure the distance between the Apple devices is less to ensure reliable file transfer.
- Enable iCloud Password & Keychain: You won’t be able to share passwords and keychain using AirDrop if the iCloud KeyChain is turned off. To enable Keychain, go to Settings → <your name> → iCloud → Passwords & Keychain and turn it on.
- Reset your Apple Device: As the final solution, I would suggest resetting your Apple device to clear out any system issues that affect the AirDrop feature.
FAQ
No. You cannot use the AirDrop feature to AirDrop Wi-Fi passwords on any Apple device.