iOS 26.2 beta 3 arrived today, and while it’s relatively light on new features, the update has revealed a new AirDrop upgrade that had previously only been hinted at.
AirDrop one-time code feature coming in iOS 26.2
Earlier this month when iOS 26.2 beta 1 shipped, it included hints of a new AirDrop feature in the works.
Here’s what my colleague Marcus reported at the time:
Based on code reviewed by 9to5Mac, Apple seems to be working on a new option that will let users sync their devices for AirDrop through a PIN, in which case they “will be able to find each other in AirDrop when nearby for the next 30 days.”
Now today, iOS 26.2 beta 3 has revealed the first user-facing evidence of the new feature. It’s available in iPadOS 26.2 and macOS 26.2 beta 3 as well.
Inside the Settings app, the AirDrop menu now includes a new ‘Manage Known AirDrop Contacts’ section with the following description:
“You will automatically appear for 30 days to people you have shared a one-time code with.”
This matches what we were expecting based on the prior code leaks, indicating users will soon be able to authorize AirDrop for 30-day periods without adding each other as contacts.
At this time, beta 3 doesn’t seem to offer a way to actually generate a one-time code to share with another user.
However, the presence of these additions to Settings show that Apple clearly intends to ship the feature in the final iOS 26.2 release.
Of course, its plans could always change before next month’s iOS 26.2 launch date. But for now at least, it seems likely that users will gain a new way to AirDrop others very soon.
Would you use the new AirDrop one-time code feature? Let us know in the comments.
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