Once upon a time, moving electronic files from one computer to another required cables, know-how, and fair dose of determination. Now-a-days we have options like the Messages app, email, and Dropbox, as well as Apple’s AirDrop ①.
① If you have a Yosemite or El Capitan Mac and an iOS 8.1 or later device that both meet Apple’s hardware requirements, you can use AirDrop sharing between them.
Prior to Yosemite, AirDrop simplified transferring files between Macs on the same network, and later between iOS devices in close range of each other, too. Now, AirDrop takes on the whole kit-n-caboodle, promising instant sharing between Macs, iPhones, and iPads with just a few taps or clicks…if you have the right hardware.
Check the Requirements
To use AirDrop between a Mac and an iOS device, your Mac and iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch must meet the stringent Handoff Requirements. As is the case with Handoff, this cool feature is available only to people with recently-made devices.
If you just want to use AirDrop Mac to Mac, you can get away with older hardware; see this Apple article for details. However, some features covered in this chapter, like limiting discoverability to contacts only, won’t work.
Turn On Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
AirDrop uses Bluetooth to create a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi network between devices. With that in mind:
Ensure all devices have Wi-Fi turned on. (They don’t have to be on the same network.)
On your Mac, go to System Preferences > Network, click Wi-Fi, and click Turn Wi-Fi On ②. On an iOS device, tap Settings > Wi-Fi and turn on Wi-Fi.
② To make sure Wi-Fi is on, go to the Network system preference pane and click Wi-Fi at the left. You can also select the Show Wi-Fi Status in Menu Bar box, near the bottom of the pane, to be able to turn Wi-Fi off and on from the menu bar.
Check that Bluetooth is turned on.
On your Mac, go to System Preferences > Bluetooth and click the Turn Bluetooth On button. On an iOS device, tap Settings > Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth.
Bring devices into Bluetooth range—no more than 33 feet (roughly 9 meters) away—the closer the better.
Get Ready to Share
On your Mac, Click AirDrop in a Finder window’s sidebar, or choose Go > AirDrop (Command-Shift-R).
Click Allow Me to be Discovered By at the bottom of the window and choose from three options:
No One: Don’t pick this if you want to share via AirDrop.
Contacts Only: This limits sharing to people listed in your contacts. You must be signed in to iCloud to use this option ③. Go to System Preferences > iCloud and sign in with your Apple ID.
③ If you want to limit AirDrop to contacts only, you must sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID.
Everyone: This broadcasts your location to everyone in range. It’s the simplest one to use, if you’re willing to get AirDrop requests from the occasional stranger.
If You Want to Share with iOS
On the iOS device, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Control Center.
Tap AirDrop to adjust the settings for your iOS device; they work basically the same as on your Mac.
An icon for the iPhone or iPad should appear now in your Mac’s open AirDrop window.
If You Want to Share with Another Mac
Make sure a Finder window is open to AirDrop. Click AirDrop in a Finder window’s sidebar, or choose Go > AirDrop (Command-Shift-R).
AirDrop from the Finder: In the Finder, drag the file to your Mac’s AirDrop window and drop it on the iOS device or Mac’s icon ⑤.
⑤ To share a file, drag its icon onto the receiving device’s icon in your Mac’s AirDrop window.
AirDrop from a Mac App: AirDrop is also available in your Mac’s Share menus. So, for example, if you want to share a Safari link, click the Share button in Safari’s toolbar and choose AirDrop. An AirDrop dialog opens. Click the receiving device’s icon to send, and then click Done. Send Contacts cards to iOS or another Mac in the same way.
AirDrop from iOS to a Mac: If you’re sending an image from your iPhone to your Mom’s Mac, for example, tap Photos, choose a photo, and then tap the Share button. Under the Tap to Share with AirDrop header, tap the icon for the Mac.
After the file has transferred, it appears in the Mac’s Downloads folder.
What Happens on the Recipient’s Device?
A notice appears on the receiving device. If you’re signed in to that device with the same Apple ID—say, the transfer is between your iPhone and Mac—the file downloads automatically.
If you’re not (it belongs to someone else), the recipient will receive a notice saying the sender wants to share a file, complete with the filename or a preview ⑥. Recipients can decline the transfer if they choose.
⑥ On the receiving device, a notice appears asking if the recipient wants to accept the file transfer.
When in Doubt: Try Other Sharing Methods
AirDrop is amazing, but it has its limitations: not everyone’s hardware meets the requirements and sometimes the technology can be cranky. In those cases, consider these easy ways to share between Macs, iOS devices, or between the two:
Email: A tried and true method for getting files from one place to another is email. Note that as of Yosemite, as long as you’re using Mail, you can send files as large as 5 GB without worrying about bumping into attachment size limits (see this Apple page about Mail Drop Limits). The monthly Mail Drop storage limit is 1 TB; each attachment expires after 30 days.
iCloud Drive: To share files with another one of your own devices, use iCloud Drive. Note that files can be no larger than 15 GB and you can’t exceed your iCloud storage limits. (See Navigate iCloud Drive.)
Messages: If the Messages app is set up on your Mac with an iMessage account, as well as on the target Mac or iOS device, it’s a cinch to send an attachment (100 MB or smaller):
Start a conversation with someone (or yourself) and then drop the attachment onto the iMessage field ⑦. Press Return to send.
⑦ Drag and drop an attachment in Messages’ iMessage field to send it to another person (or yourself on a different device).
Alternatively, when you’re in an app, click the Share button and choose Messages to send the attachment.
Dropbox: If you’re a Dropbox user, it’s easy to share files with others (see this Dropbox page for details on file size limits):
Drag a file (or folder) into your Dropbox folder in the Finder sidebar or on Dropbox.com. Once the file is copied to Dropbox, do one of the following:
In a Mac Finder window, navigate to the item, Control-click it and choose Share Dropbox Link ⑧. A link copies to your Clipboard. Paste it into an email or text message and send.
⑧ If you need an easy way to send a big file and you’re a Dropbox user, Control-click on a file in your Dropbox folder and choose Share Dropbox Link.
On Dropbox.com, select the file and then click the Share button that appears. You can now either copy the URL, close the Share dialog, paste the URL into an email or text message, and send it; or you can type in the recipient’s email address and click Send.
On Dropbox.com, you can also select a folder and then click the Share button that appears. Click Send link and then proceed as in the above paragraph.
button in Safari’s toolbar and choose AirDrop. An AirDrop dialog opens. Click the receiving device’s icon to send, and then click Done. Send Contacts cards to iOS or another Mac in the same way.
