{"id":7025904,"date":"2026-08-03T23:56:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T23:56:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/apple-2\/how-to-airdrop-photos-videos-links-and-more\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T23:56:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T23:56:27","slug":"how-to-airdrop-photos-videos-links-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7025904","title":{"rendered":"How to AirDrop photos, videos, links and more"},"content":{"rendered":"


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If you want to know the fastest and easiest way to send someone photos, videos, files and so, so much more, you should know how to AirDrop. There\u2019s no need to send an iMessage \u2014 Apple\u2019s slick AirDrop feature will immediately send and open the content on someone else\u2019s iPhone (or other Apple device). There\u2019s no middle step.<\/p>\n

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AirDrop works iPhone-to-iPhone, iPhone-to-Mac, iPhone-to-iPad, Vision Pro-to-Mac \u2014 any combination and permutation of two Apple devices. And, if your friend has a Google Pixel 10, you can AirDrop with them, too!<\/p>\n

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about how to take advantage of AirDrop<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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How to AirDrop, the fastest way to share stuff from iPhone to iPhone<\/h2>\n
\"The<\/a>
You can access AirDrop anywhere you see a share sheet.
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones\/Cult of Mac<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just about anywhere you see the Share icon (left) or the share sheet (right) on your iPhone<\/a>, you have something that can be sent using AirDrop. The most common use is sending pictures and videos, but there\u2019s so much more you can do. There\u2019s no limit on how much stuff you can send over AirDrop.<\/p>\n

For instance, say you bring up a restaurant menu on your phone in Safari<\/a>. You can easily AirDrop it to your iPhone-carrying friends so they can see it, too. If you\u2019re looking at a product on Amazon, looking to share a game on the App Store<\/a>, or inviting someone to share a Note or Reminders list, AirDrop is the way to go.<\/p>\n

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AirDrop works using a system called Apple Wireless Direct Link. Even if you\u2019re not on Wi-Fi, both devices create a temporary peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection to each other to carry the file transfer. The benefit is that while you may not have great service or a Wi-Fi 6e network, you\u2019ll still get the fastest possible speeds on AirDrop.<\/p>\n

Table of contents: How to AirDrop<\/h3>\n
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  1. How to AirDrop on iPhone<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. How to share with somebody who\u2019s not in your contacts list<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. How to make sure AirDrop is enabled<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. How to AirDrop from Android<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. More iPhone basics<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/p>\n

    How to AirDrop on iPhone<\/h3>\n
    \"AirDrop<\/a>
    AirDrop from the share sheet.
    Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones\/Cult of Mac<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    To use AirDrop, hit the Share button. If someone in your contacts is standing nearby and their device is active (screen on, unlocked) they should appear at the top of the list of potential recipients. (You\u2019ll also see your own Apple devices here, too, in case you want to send something from your iPhone to your Mac or iPad.)<\/p>\n

    Then, simply tap the recipient\u2019s contact image to share the desired content with them via AirDrop. The person on the other end will need to tap Accept<\/strong> when they receive the AirDrop prompt. If you\u2019re both on iOS 17.1 or later<\/a>, you don\u2019t even need to keep standing nearby \u2014 you can walk away and the AirDrop will continue remotely over the internet.<\/p>\n

    How to share with somebody who\u2019s not in your contacts list<\/h3>\n
    \"The<\/a>
    Hold your phones together to exchange contact info. With the share sheet open, it\u2019ll instantly AirDrop photos or files.
    Photo: Apple<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    If the person isn\u2019t in your contacts, you can still use AirDrop (see the next section below), but there\u2019s actually an even easier<\/em> way to share files quickly, assuming you\u2019re both running iOS 17 or later. With the share sheet open, simply hold your phones together \u2014 top to top \u2014 to make the transfer instantly. You also get to see a really cool pulsing animation with a cool haptic effect!<\/p>\n

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    If you do the same gesture normally, without the share sheet open, you can use this feature to instantly exchange contact information. This feature is called NameDrop<\/a>. It\u2019s much easier than exchanging your phones and typing in your number by hand. (Interestingly, these features don\u2019t work if one of the devices is connected to wireless CarPlay<\/a> or a Personal Hotspot.)<\/p>\n

    How to make sure AirDrop is enabled<\/h3>\n
    \"Enabling<\/a>
    Make sure they have AirDrop enabled from everyone.
    Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones\/Cult of Mac<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    If the above features don\u2019t work, you can make sure AirDrop is enabled in Control Center<\/a>. Have the other person open Control Center, tap and hold on the box in the upper left, tap on the AirDrop<\/strong> button and set it to\u00a0Everyone for 10 minutes<\/strong>. It\u2019ll automatically revert to Contacts Only, so you\u2019ll need to do this every time you share with someone who isn\u2019t in your contacts list.<\/p>\n

    From your end, you\u2019ll need to tap the AirDrop<\/strong> option in the share sheet. You\u2019ll see the name of the person\u2019s device, which is\u00a0probably<\/em> something like \u201cGriffin\u2019s iPhone,\u201d unless they\u2019ve renamed it to something else.<\/p>\n

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    How to AirDrop with an Android device<\/h3>\n

    Some Android phones now work with AirDrop (although the feature\u2019s called Quick Share<\/a> on those devices). The capability might come to more devices in the future.<\/p>\n

    From Android to iPhone: <\/strong>On the iPhone, make sure AirDrop is enabled for everyone from Control Center. On the Android device<\/a>, bring up Quick Settings<\/strong> by swiping down from the top of the screen, and tap Quick Share<\/strong>. Select what you want to share, then under \u201cSend to nearby devices,\u201d tap on the iPhone you\u2019d like to share it with. The iPhone will receive a notification; tap\u00a0Accept<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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    From iPhone to Android:<\/strong> On the iPhone, tap the\u00a0Share<\/strong> button to bring up the share sheet. Tap AirDrop<\/strong> to see all the nearby devices. Select the Android device from the list.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    More iPhone basics<\/h3>\n
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    • You can fully customize your iPhone\u2019s Home Screen<\/a>. Place icons anywhere on the screen. Fans of dark mode can now enjoy alternate dark mode icons. If you have a color theme you want to match, you can tint icons to any hue you want.<\/li>\n
    • You can edit the buttons in Control Center<\/a>. Add many more toggles and buttons, including those from third-party apps. You can resize some buttons to make them more prominent, and you can arrange your controls across multiple pages. In one fluid motion, you can swipe down to activate Control Center<\/a> and continue swiping down to scroll through your pages.<\/li>\n
    • StandBy mode<\/a> turns your iPhone into a smart display when it\u2019s sitting on your desk, your nightstand or the kitchen counter.<\/li>\n
    • Customize your iPhone\u2019s Lock Screen<\/a> with a bunch of widgets, aesthetics and styles. You can choose from loads of fonts, colors, styles and themes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      <\/p>\n

      We originally published this article on how to AirDrop files on June 4, 2024. We updated it with the latest information on November 28, 2025, and again on August 3, 2026.<\/em> <\/p>\n

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      \"\"<\/div>\n
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      D. Griffin Jones<\/strong> was a writer, podcaster and video producer for Cult of Mac<\/em>. Griffin has been a passionate computer enthusiast since 2002, when he got his first PC \u2014 but since getting a Mac in 2008, he hasn\u2019t turned back. His skills in graphic and web design, along with video and podcast editing, are self-taught over 20+ years. Griffin has a bachelor\u2019s degree in computer science and has written several (unpublished) apps for Mac and iOS. His collection of old computers is made up of 40+ desktops, laptops, PDAs and devices, dating back to the early \u201980s.<\/p>\n

      Griffin writes for his personal blog, Extra Ordinary<\/a>, and is currently looking for work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n