AirDrop lets you send files wirelessly to nearby Apple devices

AirDrop is a feature built into macOS that lets you send files, photos, links, and other content to other Macs, iPhones, and iPads nearby without using email or a cable. To turn it on, you open Finder, click AirDrop in the sidebar, and then set your Mac to be discoverable. The whole process takes about 30 seconds.

Your Mac needs to be running macOS 10.7 or later, and the receiving device needs to support AirDrop too. Most Macs from 2012 onward have AirDrop built in. Both devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi network and have Bluetooth turned on, though they don't need to be paired.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Finder, click AirDrop in the sidebar, and choose whether to allow discovery from Contacts only or from Everyone nearby.
  • Both your Mac and the receiving device must have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, even though the transfer happens over Wi-Fi.
  • You can drag and drop files directly onto a person's name once they appear in the AirDrop window.
  • If no one appears in AirDrop, check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and that Bluetooth is on on both sides.

Open Finder and locate the AirDrop section

Click the Finder icon in your dock — it looks like a blue and white face. Once Finder opens, look at the left sidebar. You should see AirDrop listed there, usually near the top under Favorites. If you don't see it, click the Finder menu at the top, then Preferences, and make sure "AirDrop" is checked in the Sidebar tab.

Click on AirDrop in the sidebar. A window will open showing nearby devices that are ready to receive files. At first, this window may be empty because you haven't set your Mac to be discoverable yet.

Set your Mac to discoverable

At the top of the AirDrop window, you'll see a dropdown menu that says "Allow me to be discovered by:" with options below it. Click that dropdown. You have two choices: "Contacts Only" or "Everyone."

Choose "Contacts Only" if you want only people in your Contacts app to be able to send you files through AirDrop. Choose "Everyone" if you want any nearby Mac or iOS device to be able to see your Mac and send you files. Once you make this choice, your Mac is now discoverable, and nearby compatible devices will start to appear in the AirDrop window on their screens.

If you want to turn AirDrop off, go back to that same dropdown and select "Off." Your Mac will no longer be discoverable.

Make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both on

AirDrop requires both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to be active on your Mac, even though the actual file transfer happens over Wi-Fi. Bluetooth is used to discover nearby devices. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar at the top right of your screen and make sure you're connected to a network. Then click the Bluetooth icon (if you see one) and make sure it says "Bluetooth: On."

If you don't see a Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs), click Bluetooth, and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. You can also check the box that says "Show Bluetooth in menu bar" so you can toggle it more easily in the future.

Send a file using AirDrop

Once you have AirDrop open and set to discoverable, and the receiving device is also ready, you'll see the person's name or device appear in your AirDrop window. To send a file, you can drag it directly from your Mac onto their name in the AirDrop window. You can also right-click a file in Finder, select "Share," and then click AirDrop and choose the recipient.

The receiving person will see a notification asking whether they want to accept the file. Once they click Accept, the file appears in their Downloads folder (or in the app that received it, depending on the file type). The transfer usually takes a few seconds to a minute, depending on file size.

Troubleshoot when devices don't appear

If you don't see any devices in your AirDrop window, start by checking that both Macs (or your Mac and iPhone/iPad) are on the same Wi-Fi network. Open System Preferences or System Settings and verify the Wi-Fi connection on both devices. Then make sure Bluetooth is on on both sides — this is the most common reason AirDrop doesn't work.

If both devices are on the same network and Bluetooth is on, try restarting AirDrop by closing the Finder window and opening it again. You can also restart your Mac or the other device. If your Mac is very old (before 2012), it may not support AirDrop at all. Check Apple's support page for your Mac model to confirm.

Control who can send you files

If you set AirDrop to "Everyone," anyone nearby with an Apple device can see your Mac and try to send you files. You don't have to accept anything you don't want. When someone sends you a file, you'll see a notification with their name or device, and you can click Decline if you don't recognize them or don't want the file.

If you find that too many people are trying to send you files, switch back to "Contacts Only." This way, only people whose contact information is in your Contacts app can send you files. You can change this setting at any time by going back to the AirDrop window and adjusting the dropdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use AirDrop to send files to a Windows computer?

No. AirDrop only works between Apple devices — Macs, iPhones, and iPads. If you need to send files to a Windows computer, you'll need to use email, cloud storage like iCloud Drive or Google Drive, or a file-sharing service.

Why does AirDrop say "No one nearby" even though my friend is right next to me?

Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and that Bluetooth is on on both sides. Also check that your friend's device has AirDrop turned on and set to either "Everyone" or "Contacts Only" (not "Off"). If it's still not working, try restarting both devices.

Does AirDrop work over the internet, or only on the same Wi-Fi?

AirDrop only works when devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and nearby. It does not work over the internet or across different networks. Both devices must be in the same physical location.

Can I send files larger than a certain size through AirDrop?

There is no strict file size limit for AirDrop, but very large files (several gigabytes) may take a long time to transfer. For very large files, cloud storage or an external drive may be faster.

What happens if I close the Finder window while a file is transferring?

The transfer will continue in the background. You don't need to keep the AirDrop window open once the file has been sent and the recipient has accepted it.