A system for the free and secure exchange of files and data between mobile devices has been much discussed in recent times. The problem lies in balancing three criteria- security, ease of use and transfer speed. One of the best solutions to date is ad-hoc mobile networks, such as Apple’s AirDrop.
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You already know that AirDrop is a very useful feature and you will learn how to use it through this article. The process to activate it is similar for iPhone and iPad users and these instructions will work on both devices. The activation modes of AirDrop on your Mac will be treated separately.
ACTIVATION OF AIRDROP ON IPHONE AND IPAD
AirDrop essentially creates a Wi-Fi connection between the device and the receiving end person. Both participants must have AirDrop enabled to use the network. When you enable the feature on your device, you will choose who can send you the file.
You can only stick to your contacts or choose all of them. There is a growing trend of people sending unwanted AirDrops, so it is safer to only accept transfers from contacts.
Make sure that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are both enabled, so follow these steps to activate AirDrop:
- Scroll up from the bottom of the screen to access your “Control Center”.
- Tap the “AirDrop” button. On some models, such as the iPhone XR, first access the connection settings by holding down the network card containing the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options.
- You should see a menu with the options to receive from “Contacts Only” or “All”. Choose the one you want to use.
If the Receive disabled option is selected and cannot be changed, the privacy settings must be adjusted. Go to “Content and privacy restrictions” in your settings and search for “App allowed”. Make sure that AirDrop is authorized.
You can also do this from your general settings. Find the AirDrop options and check the reception option you want.
Now you can send and receive files via AirDrop and it will remain activated until you decide to disable it. To reverse the process, follow the same steps but select “Reception off” in the options.
ACTIVATION OF AIRDROP ON YOUR MAC
To use AirDrop on your Mac, you need to run Mac OS X Lion or later operating systems. AirDrop also works on different platforms, allowing you to send and receive files from your computer to your cell phone and vice versa. Follow these steps to enable AirDrop on a Mac:
- Access your Finder by clicking on the icon at the bottom left of the screen.
- Click on the “Airdrop” tag in the options menu on the left. At the bottom of the AirDrop window, you can choose who to receive AirDrops from.
In the AirDrop window, you will see your contacts with which you can share files and any other AirDrop enabled device within range. Now that you’ve activated AirDrop, it’s time to learn how to use it.
SHARING WITH AIRDROP
Receiving files with AirDrop does not really require much action on your part. Any file you receive via AirDrop is automatically inserted in the Download folder on macOS. On your mobile device, you can access AirDropped files via the associated app for that type of file- you’ll find photos in the photo gallery and so on.
To send files via AirDrop, you must first meet certain conditions. Make sure you are within range of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (Bluetooth is not used to send the file but the connection must be established). Deactivate the personal hotspot and also turn off the recipient, as this would interfere with the connection protocol.
At this point, you need to check the AirDrop settings. If the recipient has AirDrop set to Contacts Only, you must be in the contact list to receive files from you. If this is not good for you, you can ask them to change their settings to accept AirDrops from everyone.
When you’re ready, choose any file in any app and then tap the “Share” button. In the file sharing options, you’ll see a list of people to whom you can send files via AirDrop. Any application that has the Share option will allow you to use AirDrop.
AIRDROPPING SOME TRUTH
Activation of AirDrop is a very simple process. All you have to do is access your Control Center on your mobile device and tap the AirDrop icon. On a Mac, you’ll find AirDrop options in the Finder.
Once you get used to sharing files with AirDrop, it will make you want this kind of technology to exist on all available platforms. Maybe it will be very soon.
What types of file sharing did you use before starting AirDropping? Tell us about your experiences with AirDrop in the comments.
