How to AirDrop from iPhone to Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

AirdDop is available for any Apple device that is compatible with iOS 7 and up. This feature allows users to wirelessly share photos, documents, websites, locations, and more with other AirDrop-compatible Apple devices.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll cover:

What to know about AirDrop before getting started

AirDrop isn’t usable on every version of iPhones and Macs. Before trying to AirDrop from your iPhone to a Mac, you must ensure that both devices meet current AirDrop specification requirements.

The iPhone must run on at least iOS 7 (the oldest iPhone that supports iOS 7 is the iPhone 5). The Mac must run on OS X 10.10 Yosemite or later.

Macs that are capable of running iOS X 10.10 Yosemite or later include:

• MacBook Air (2012 or newer)
• MacBook Pro (2012 or newer)
• iMac (2012 or newer)
• Mac mini (2012 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)

How to turn on AirDrop on an iPhone

To send and receive AirDrops from your iPhone, you must enable AirDrop. This involves turning on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

First, make sure you’re signed into your Apple ID account. Then follow these simple steps to turn AirDrop capabilities on:

1. On iPhone versions earlier than iPhone 11, swipe up from the bottom of your phone screen to open the Control Center. If you’re using an iPhone 11 or later, swipe down from the top right corner of your screen to open the Control Center.
2. Tap the Bluetooth icon once to enable Bluetooth on your iPhone.

After you tap the Bluetooth icon, it’ll turn blue to indicate Bluetooth is on
3. Tap the Wi-Fi icon once to make sure your Wi-Fi is turned on.

Once the Wi-Fi button is tapped, it will turn blue to indicate success
4. Press and hold the Wi-Fi icon to launch your iPhone’s Wi-Fi settings.
5. If you are currently using a Personal Hotspot, it must be turned off to use AirDrop. Tap the Personal Hotspot button once to turn it off.

If the Personal Hotspot button is blue, it’s turned on; tap once to toggle it off
6. Next, tap the AirDrop button in the pop-up menu to display your AirDrop settings.
7. From the AirDrop settings menu, select either the “Contacts Only” or “Everyone” option to turn AirDrop on for your iPhone.

To limit AirDrop to your contacts, choose the Contacts Only option

How to turn on AirDrop on a Mac

If you want to receive content from an iPhone on your Mac via AirDrop, you need to make sure the feature is enabled.

Make sure you are signed into your Apple ID account and your Wi-Fi is on and connected, then follow these simple steps to turn on AirDrop capabilities for your Mac.

1. Place your cursor at the bottom or side of your desktop screen (depending on where it is anchored) to open the Dock.
2. Click on the “Finder” icon.

Select the “Finder” icon from the Dock on your Mac
3. Select the AirDrop tab in the menu on the left side of the screen.

Click the AirDrop tab on the left to reveal your AirDrop settings
4. At the bottom of this screen, click on the caret next to the “Allow me to be discovered by:” link. Choose either the “Contacts Only” or “Everyone” option to turn on AirDrop.

Turn on AirDrop by clicking the down caret next to the link at the bottom of the page and selecting a sharing option

How to Airdrop content from iPhone to a Mac

To transfer files via AirDrop from an iPhone to a Mac, follow these simple steps:

1. Tap the file, photo, video (or other content that you want to share) once to reveal content options.
2. Locate and tap the “Share” button (or three horizontal dots, depending on the application) to open sharing options.

To AirDrop a photo from your camera roll, tap the blue box with the up arrow to reveal sharing options
3. On the screen that appears, tap the AirDrop icon.

Click the AirDrop icon from the options menu
4. On the next screen, you will see nearby available devices that can receive your AirDrop. Select the Mac you want to AirDrop content to by tapping on the device’s name or icon.

To AirDrop to a Mac, select the Mac you want to share content with from the list of devices available for AirDrop

Use file sharing software when you need secure transfers

AirDrop is an ideal solution to transfer files and photos that don’t contain sensitive information, such as a work party invite or a headshot.

When you need to share documents, photos, or other content containing confidential or private information, opt for file sharing software that prioritizes security to avoid damaging data leaks.

Explore top file sharing solutions on Software Advice.