Use AirDrop on your Mac

With AirDrop, you can wirelessly send documents, photos, videos, websites, map locations, and more to a nearby Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

  1. Open the file that you want to send, then click Share button in the app window. Or Control-click the file in the Finder, then choose Share from the shortcut menu.
  2. Choose AirDrop from the sharing options listed.
  3. Choose a recipient from the AirDrop sheet:
    AirDrop sheet in Finder window


Or open an AirDrop window, then drag files to the recipient:

  1. Select AirDrop in the sidebar of a Finder window. Or choose Go > AirDrop from the menu bar.
  2. The AirDrop window shows nearby AirDrop users. Drag one or more documents, photos, or other files to the recipient shown in the window.
    AirDrop window in the Finder

You can also share content from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Receive content with AirDrop

When someone nearby attempts to send you files using AirDrop, you see their request as a notification, or as a message in the AirDrop window. Click Accept to save the files to your Downloads folder.

AirDrop notification

If you can't see the other device in AirDrop

Make sure that your devices meet these requirements:

  • Both devices are within 30 feet (9 meters) of each other and have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
  • Each Mac was introduced in 2012 or later (excluding the 2012 Mac Pro) and is using OS X Yosemite or later. To find out, choose Apple menu  > About This Mac.
  • Each iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is using iOS 7 or later, with Personal Hotspot turned off.

Make sure that your devices can receive AirDrop requests:

  • Choose Go > AirDrop from the menu bar in the Finder, then check the "Allow me to be discovered by" setting in the AirDrop window. iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch have a similar setting. If set to receive from Contacts Only, both devices must be signed in to iCloud, and the email address or phone number associated with the sender's Apple ID must be in the Contacts app of the receiving device.
    The Contacts Only option is available on devices that support iOS 10 and later, iPadOS, and macOS Sierra 10.12 and later. If AirDrop is set to Contacts Only on a device with an earlier software version, you can change the option to Everyone while using AirDrop, then change it back when not in use.
  • Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy. Click the Firewall tab, then click the lock and enter your administrator password when prompted. Click Firewall Options, then deselect "Block all incoming connections."

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