Use AirDrop on your iPhone or iPad
Turn on and use AirDrop to share and receive photos, documents, and more with nearby Apple devices.
Before you begin
Make sure that the person you're sending to is nearby and within Bluetooth range, and that you both have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on. If either of you have Personal Hotspot on, disconnect.
If both devices are on iOS 17 or later, try holding them together to share via AirDrop.
Choose your AirDrop settings
Go to Settings > General > AirDrop.
Tap one of these options to determine who can send you content via AirDrop:
Receiving Off (won't receive AirDrop requests)
Contacts Only (only your contacts can see your device)
Everyone for 10 Minutes (all nearby Apple devices using AirDrop can see your device)
Ask the other person to check their AirDrop settings. If their device is set to Contacts Only, and you're in their contacts, they need to have your Apple Account email address or phone number in your contact card for AirDrop to work. If you're not in their contacts, have them set AirDrop to Everyone for 10 minutes.
In iOS 16.2 and later, the setting called Everyone for 10 Minutes changes after 10 minutes. If you're signed in to your Apple Account, it reverts to Contacts Only. If you're not signed in to your Apple Account, it reverts to Receiving Off.
Send content with AirDrop
Open an app, find and tap the content you want to share, then tap the Share button
. If you share a photo from the Photos app, swipe left or right and select multiple photos.Tap AirDrop, then tap the name of the person (or one of your own devices) that you want to share with.
If you're using iOS 26.2 or later, or iPadOS 26.2 or later, and you're sending to someone who is not in your contact list, you need an AirDrop code in order to send via AirDrop. Ask the other person for the code generated on their device, and enter that code on your device.
Need to cancel something you just sent with AirDrop? If the file transfer is in progress (you'll see a circle icon slowly filling in), tap to cancel. If the cancellation was accidental, just reinitiate the AirDrop.
Accept content with AirDrop
When someone shares something with you using AirDrop, tap Accept. Or if you're using iOS 26.2 or later, or iPadOS 26.2 or later, and the sender is not in your contact list, tap Get AirDrop Code to generate an AirDrop code. Ask the other person to enter the code on their device.
Wait for the file transfer to complete (indicated by a circle icon slowly filling in). Be mindful that, if you tap the circle twice, it cancels the transfer.
For most apps, go to the app that the AirDrop was sent from to find the shared content. For example, if someone sent you a photo, go to your Photos app to see it. App links open in the App Store, so you can download or purchase the app.
If you AirDrop something to yourself, you won't see Accept or Decline—it sends automatically. Just make sure that both devices are signed in with the same Apple Account.
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