TL;DR
To AirDrop from iPhone to Mac:
- Ensure both iPhone and Mac are on the same Wi-Fi and within Bluetooth range.
- Activate AirDrop on both devices.
- On iPhone, select the files and tap the AirDrop icon.
- Choose your Mac from the list of available devices.
- Files will transfer automatically to your Mac.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
Ever captured the perfect shot on your iPhone and wished to send it to your Mac instantly? Enter AirDrop—Apple’s effortless wireless tool. It’s the simplest way to transfer files, photos, and more without cables or hassle. Let’s master AirDropping from iPhone to Mac!
How to Turn On AirDrop on Your iPhone
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Below, I’ll show you the simple steps to turn on AirDrop on your iPhone:
- Swipe up from the bottom or press the home button (depending on your iPhone model) to access the home screen.
- Open Control Center:
- For iPhone X or later: Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.
- For iPhone 8 or earlier: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
- Find the network settings card where you see the airplane mode, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth icons. Press and hold on to this card to expand it.
- Once the card expands, you’ll see the AirDrop icon. Tap on it.
- Choose one of the following options:
- Receiving Off: Disables AirDrop.
- Contacts Only: Only your contacts can see your device on AirDrop.
- Everyone for 10 Minutes: All nearby Apple devices using AirDrop can see your device.
And that’s it! Your iPhone is now set up to send and receive files via AirDrop.
For AirDrop to work, both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth should be enabled. If they’re off, tapping on AirDrop will automatically turn them on.
How to Turn On AirDrop on Your Mac
Before you can start receiving files on your Mac, you need to turn it on. Below, I’ve shared the steps to turn on AirDrop on your Mac:
You can enable AirDrop on Macs released from 2012 onwards (except the 2012 Mac Pro), provided they are operating on OS X Yosemite or later.
- Open Finder from the Dock.
- In the Finder window’s left sidebar, click AirDrop.
- For AirDrop to work, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be enabled. If they’re not, your Mac will prompt you to turn them on.
- At the bottom of the AirDrop window, you’ll see an option that says Allow me to be discovered by. Click it and choose one of the following options:
- No One: This will disable AirDrop.
- Contacts Only: Only people in your contacts will be able to send you files via AirDrop.
- Everyone: Any nearby Apple device with AirDrop can send you files.
- Once you’ve selected your preferred discoverability option, AirDrop is active and ready to use. You can now send and receive files via AirDrop on your Mac.
How to AirDrop From iPhone to Mac
Here’s how to transfer photos or other files effortlessly:
Your iPhone and Mac must be on the same Wi-Fi and close enough for Bluetooth.
- Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your iPhone and Mac.
- If AirDrop is not turned on, turn it on by going to Finder > AirDrop and choosing Allow me to be discovered by: Everyone or Contacts Only.
- On your iPhone, open the Photos app and select the photos you want to transfer.
- Tap the Share icon at the bottom-left of the screen.
- Tap the AirDrop icon.
- Select your Mac in the AirDrop section.
- It will AirDrop the selected files to your Mac.
How to Receive Files on Mac With AirDrop
Receiving files on your Mac with AirDrop is quick and easy. Here’s how:
- First, make sure AirDrop is turned on. You can do it via the Control Center on your Mac. Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar and see if the AirDrop icon is blue and its discoverability is set to Everyone or Contacts Only.
- When you AirDrop a file from your iPhone to your Mac, a notification will appear on your Mac, showing a preview of the file and the sender’s name.
- You can Accept or Decline the incoming file. Click Accept to receive the file.
- By default, photos will go to the Photos app, while other files will be saved to your Downloads folder.
Why Is AirDrop Not Working on Your Mac?
AirDrop is a convenient feature for Apple users, but like any technology, it can occasionally run into issues. If AirDrop isn’t working on your Mac, there could be several reasons:
- 🖥️ Compatibility Issues: Ensure both devices support AirDrop and run compatible macOS or iOS versions.
- 📶 Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is Off: AirDrop needs Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled on both devices.
- 👀 Discoverability Settings: Set AirDrop to Contacts Only or Everyone in Finder.
- 🔥 Firewall Restrictions: Adjust restrictive firewall settings in Privacy & Security.
- 📏 Proximity and Orientation: Keep devices close without obstructions or interference.
- 🌙 Do Not Disturb Mode: Disable Do Not Disturb mode on the receiving Mac.
- ⏳ Outdated Software: Update macOS/iOS on both devices.
- 👥 Multiple Users: Log out of other accounts on your Mac.
If you’ve tried these solutions and AirDrop is still not working, it might be worth checking Apple’s support forums or contacting Apple Support directly for more specialized assistance.
Quickly AirDrop Files Between Your iPhone and Mac
Now that you know how AirDrop works, sharing files between devices is a breeze. Happy AirDropping! Here are a few more tips for you:
- Besides transferring files from iPhone to Mac, you can use AirDrop to transfer files from Mac to Mac.
- Apart from AirDrop, there are many other methods to transfer photos from an iPhone to a Mac, such as the Photos app, Image Capture, and iCloud Photos.
- You can synchronize your iPhone images with the cloud to access iCloud photos on your Mac.
