AirDrop is a file-sharing feature available only on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices. Before sharing a file, it is vital for anyone to turn on the AirDrop feature on their respective Apple devices. Upon considering those new to the Apple ecosystem, I have come up with this article to give a clear idea of how to turn on the AirDrop feature. The thought came to me when one of my colleagues purchased the latest iPhone and sought my support to know more about the AirPlay option.
Henceforth, you will find the step-by-step procedure to turn on the AirDrop feature on your iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac in easy ways. After enabling it, you can transfer data and files with no size limits across Apple devices without breaking a sweat.
How to Turn On AirDrop on iPhone/iPad/iPod
Enabling and using the AirDrop feature on your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad is easy and straightforward. You can open the Control Center or navigate the Settings app to turn on the AirDrop feature.
Enable AirDrop using Control Center
You can pull the control center on models like iPhone 13, iPhone 12, iPhone 11, iPod touch, iPad Pro, and other models to turn on AirDrop easily.
1. Open the Control Center on your iPhone, iPod, or iPad.
2. Make sure both WiFi and Bluetooth are turned on.
3. Press and hold the network options panel from the Control Center.
4. Now AirDrop symbol will appear; tap on it.
5. You can choose who can send files to your device from the options.
6. After selecting a name, you can AirDrop photos, videos, and files.
Enable AirDrop using Settings
1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone, iPod, or iPad.
2. Turn on the WiFi and Bluetooth options separately
3. Select General from the left menu.
4. Click on the AirDrop.
5. The AirDrop options will appear, select Contacts Only or Everyone to turn on the AirDrop option.
How to Turn On AirDrop on Mac
Unlike other Apple devices, you must open the Finder app to turn on AirDrop on Mac devices, including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac.
1. Open the Finder app or select the Go tab at the top of the MacBook or iMac.
2. Click on AirDrop from the drop-down menu.
3. A option to turn on Bluetooth will appear if your Bluetooth is not turned on.
4. Once the Bluetooth is turned on, click Allow Me to be Discovered by
5. Choose who can send files to your device, from the list that appeared.
How to Use AirDrop
Once enabled, you can change the AirDrop settings according to your preference to send or receive files among Apple devices.
1. Turn on WiFi and Bluetooth on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
2. Enable the AirDrop option by selecting from whom to receive files.
3. Open the file you want to share and tap on the Share icon.
5. Click on AirDrop.
6. Select the person or device you want to share the file with.
7. If you’re receiving a file, click Accept to view the photo or video on the Photos app.
Can I Turn On AirDrop Permanently?
No. With the iOS 16 update, you can only turn on AirDrop for 10 minutes. So, you can’t enable AirDrop permanently on your iPhone running on the latest versions.
Meanwhile, you can also permanently turn on the AirDrop feature on old iPhones running on iOS 15 and below. Just open the Control Center and change the AirDrop settings to Everyone to turn AirDrop permanently.
How to Enable AirDrop If Greyed Out
While proceeding with AirDrop, you may see the AirDrop icon is greyed out on the Control Center. This is because you’ve accidentally disabled AirDrop on the settings menu.
1. Head over to the Settings app on your iOS device.
2. Select the Screen Time option.
3. Click on Content and Privacy Restrictions.
4. Then tap on the Allowed Apps tab.
5. Toggle On the AirDrop switch.
Now, you can turn on the AirDrop option from the Control Center to share files.
How to Enable and Use Proximity Sharing on AirDrop
With the latest iOS 17 update, you can turn on the Proximity Sharing option for AirDrop on your iPhones to share files with anyone next to you.
1. Unlock your iPhone and open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to the General app.
3. After that, open the AirDrop menu.
4. From there, toggle on the Bring Devices Together option.
5. After activating the option, choose a file to share and select the AirDrop option.
6. Instead of selecting a name, bring the iPhones closer to transfer the data from an iPhone to iPhone.
Can I Fix AirDrop Not Working Issue?
Yes. Sometimes, you may face AirDrop issues while transferring your files from one device to another. Here are some fixes to try if your AirDrop is not working.
1. Make sure your device is unlocked.
2. Turn off your hotspot on both devices.
3. Enable both Bluetooth and WiFi on sending and receiving devices.
4. Make sure your device is updated to the latest version.
5. Try restarting your device to eliminate bugs and glitches.
FAQ
Yes, press the AirDrop icon on your iPhone or iPad and click Receiving off to turn off the AirDrop option.
AirDrop can’t be turned on if you disabled the screen time option on your iPhone, iPod, or iPad. You can open the Settings app and select Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Allowed Apps → AirDrop → Turn On.