With Yosemite and iOS 8 you can use AirDrop to share files between your Mac and iOS devices. This is one of the features of Continuity, which further integrates and connects your Mac and iOS devices. Continuity also includes Handoff, Instant Hotspot, iPhone Cellular Calls and SMS Relay.
Initially AirDrop allowed you to share files between two Macs or between two iOS devices. Now, AirDrop allows you to share files and information between Mac and iOS devices. It is a device-to-device transfer that works even when the devices don’t have internet access, although Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have to be turned on. This includes sharing photos, videos, music, iWork documents, notes, contacts, links, directions and location data. Many third-party iOS apps like Dropbox, Runkeeper, eBay, Deliveries, and PDF Expert support AirDrop. Apple just added support to Logic to share files via AirDrop. When receiving a file, the recipient receives a notification, allowing them to download the file.
In order to take advantage of AirDrop there are certain hardware and software requirements that you need to have in order for this to work:
- Use AirDrop between iOS device to iOS device: has to be running at least iOS 7 and has to have a Lightning connector
- Use AirDrop between iOS device and Mac: the iOS device has to be running iOS 8 and has to have a Lightning connector. the Mac needs to be running OS X Yosemite and needs to be a 2012 or newer iMac, 2012 or newer MacBook Air, 2012 or newer MacBook Pro, 2012 or newer Mac Mini or Late 2013 Mac Pro
- AirDrop between Mac and Mac: needs to be an early 2009 iMac or newer, late 2008 or newer MacBook (except for the white late 2008 model), late 2010 or newer MacBook Air, late 2008 or newer MacBook Pro (except for the late 2008 17″ model), mid 2010 or newer Mac Mini, and early 2009 with AirPort Extreme Card or mid 2010 or newer Mac Pro
Once you have met compatible hardware and software requirements, the devices do have to have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, even though it works without internet access. Now we can start to use AirDrop.
Sharing files using AirDrop between iOS devices hasn’t changed since it was first introduced. For our how-to on how to use AirDrop to share files between iOS devices, visit our guide here.
Using AirDrop between iOS devices and Macs is a new feature that came out with iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite. First we will discuss how to use AirDrop from the iOS device to the Mac, and then we will discuss how to use AirDrop from the Mac to the iOS device.
On the iOS device, you first need to make sure that AirDrop is turned on via Control Center. Tapping on AirDrop allows you to turn it off, only use AirDrop with people in your contacts, or allows everyone in the nearby vicinity to share items via AirDrop.
On the Mac, you first need to make sure that AirDrop is turned on by opening up Finder and then selecting AirDrop. Just like on the iOS device, you have the option to turn off AirDrop, only use AirDrop with people in your contacts, or allows everyone in the nearby vicinity to share items via AirDrop. In order for the iOS device to appear listed, the device does have to be unlocked.
In this example we will share a website from an iOS device to the Mac via AirDrop. Tap on the Share icon, the one with the square and the arrow sticking up. When you do that, you will see the options you have available to share the website. The first option listed is for AirDrop. It does take a couple of seconds for the information about AirDrop to change to the people and devices that are available to AirDrop.
When you press on the person you want to AirDrop the item with, a blue circle appears around their picture and the word Sent appears in blue below their name. On the computer, the person receives a notification in Notification Center alerting them they are receiving an item. It shows them who sent it, as well as a tiny thumbnail preview of what it is that was sent. Even though there is an Open button to press that is displayed temporarily. Depending on what the item is the computer either automatically opens it, or downloads the item and puts it in the Downloads folder such as for pictures and documents.
Now that we have shared an item using AirDrop from the iOS device to the Mac, let’s discuss the other direction, sharing an item using AirDrop from the Mac to the iOS device. There are several different methods to do this.
The first two methods to AirDrop from the Mac to the iOS device involves using Finder. Find the file you want to share in Finder. The first method involves doing a right click on the item. Then you are going to select Share from the menu and choose AirDrop.
When you press on the person you want to AirDrop the item with, the word Sent appears below their name. On the iOS device’s lock screen , the person receives a notification alerting them they are receiving an item. It shows them who sent it, as well as a tiny thumbnail preview of what it is that was sent. The iOS device automatically opens the picture and saves it to the Photos app.
The other method using Finder to AirDrop an item from the Mac to the iOS device requires having two Finder windows open. One containing the item you want to share via AirDrop, and the other having AirDrop selected in the left hand sidebar. Then you are going to drag and drop the file on top of device you want to share it to. When you do that on the computer the word Waiting appears where it used to list what type of device it is.
On the iOS device’s home screen, the person receives a notification alerting them they are receiving an item and it tells them what type of item they are receiving. There is a progress circle that fills in blue and when it is done the check mark in the center turns blue and it quickly opens the item.
The final way to send files via AirDrop from the Mac to the iOS device involves using apps. A lot of the apps on the Mac such as, Safari, Contacts, Notes, Maps, Preview, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote have the Share button, the one with the square and the arrow sticking up.
When you press the Share button, you have the option to AirDrop it.
When you do so, you will get notifications on the iOS device just like in the previous example. For example if you are sharing via AirDrop an iWork file, and the recipient does not have iWork on the iOS device, there is a prompt which allows you to choose which app on the device that is compatible to open up that file.
Now that we have shared an item using AirDrop from the Mac to the iOS device and from the iOS device to the Mac, let’s discuss how to AirDrop between Mac and Mac.
When you are using AirDrop on Macs that are from 2012 or newer and both running Yosemite, they are using BT LE and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi. It works the same method as using AirDrop to share from a Mac to an iOS device. The only thing different is that the recipient does have to have Finder open, with AirDrop selected on the left hand side. When the recipient receives a file via AirDrop they have the option to Save and Open, Decline or just Save the file.
If you are using AirDrop between a Mac that is from 2012 or newer and an older Mac the set up process is slightly different. This is because on the older machines, AirDrop runs off of Bonjour and personal area networking.
First you want to be on the newer Mac that is running Yosemite and have Finder open with AirDrop selected on the left hand side. Then you are going to click on Don’t see who you’re looking for, down on the bottom in blue.
Then press on Search for an Older Mac. Meanwhile on the older Mac, open up Finder and select AirDrop on the left hand side bar. Then automatically the older Mac appears available to AirDrop.
Then to share files with the older Mac works in the exact same method. While using AirDrop to the older Macs, the post 2012- Macs and iOS devices won’t display as being to AirDrop. When you want to switch devices you want to share items to press Cancel down in the bottom on the right.
That is how you AirDrop between iOS devices and Macs and from Mac to Macs.
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Good article – too bad whether or not it actually works is only about a 60% chance.
Can you give a couple of examples on when it didn’t work? HW specs included.
I can.
iPhone 5s to 2012 macbook pro retina
iPhone 5s to 5, 5s, 6 plus, iPad mini, iPad air
iPhone 6 plus to 2012 MacBook pro retina
iPhone 6 plus to 6 plus
Basically every device I’ve ever owned or tried airdrop with. It never works the first time or without fiddling with Bluetooth or reboot.
I’m there. After spending many hours trying to get my iPhone 6 to AirDrop to my wife’s late-2012 MBA, I gave up. Eff Apple. Releasing functionality without actually testing it. Steve Jobs is spinning in his grave. “It just works” my a**.
It read a bit strange that your iPhone needs to have a ‘Lighting Connector’ when talking about wirelessly Airdropping; I think it just requires BT v4. Other than that, a really excellent article!
edit: upon checking iPhones; the 4s has v4 but no LC. I wonder what the criteria is then…
Most users don’t know whether their iPhone supports BTLE and it seems that BTLE came simultaneously with the Lightning Connector, so it’s easier to just mention something that can be observed easily.
Does the iPhone 4S support Bluetooth Low-Energy (“Smart”)? Does Bluetooth 4.0 imply it? I don’t know.
Great article. For those who have a pre-2012 Mac: the Continuity Activation Tool can enable New AirDrop on these Macs too.
Here is an example of where it does not work.
HW: iPad Air with MacBook Pro Retina late 2012.
Both running most recent releases of iOS OS X software.
Both have Airdrop on. Both with WiFi and Bluetooth on. Both have “Everyone” on. In Finder under Airdrop, the MacBook Pro instantly sees the iPad Air and can drop files, but the iPad Air shows no users nearby to Airdrop to the MacBook Pro. The iPad does however see my nearby iPhone 6.
Both have been restarted. It is mind boggling.
Also, iPhone can see the iPad Air in Airdrop and MacBook can see the IPhone and iPad , but again the iOS devices cannot see MacBook Pro.
Good article. However, Apple still needs to tweak Airdrop to ensure it always works. Given that they rewrote the radio stacks that deal with wireless connections (to enable iOS to OS X Airdrop, continuity and handoff) there’s understandably a bunch of bugs. They need to iron these bugs out, so it becomes a more consistent and less frustrating experience for all users.
If your Mac is incompatible check out this tool: http://dokterdok.github.io/Continuity-Activation-Tool/
I can second that. So many issues regarding Airdrop (across many devices).
Especially, from iOS device to Mac.
My tip: if Wifi and BT are enabled on both devices and when waiting for the other device to appear, just wait. It first seems as if your iOS device is unable to find the Mac, don’t panic. Really, just wait. After a minute or so your Mac will eventually appear. It took some weeks for me to find this “tip” and bathe myself in patience…
Yeah Apple… It “just works” my a**
After watching what a magnificently integrated family of OS’s Microsoft is about ready to drop on the world, all articles about Yosemite, especially ones like this, just feel sad and out of date.
This article raised my hopes that I can finally use AirDrop between my iPhone 5 with the latest iOS and my MacBook Pro 13inch Retina (Late 2012) with the latest Yosemite Mac OS. Sadly, the problem I had before continues. Mainly: It is a coin toss whether or not I see my iPhone in the Mac’s AirDrop window, but I could never see the Mac on the iPhone’s AirDrop share sheet. A far more serious problem, however, is that the moment I start trying AirDrop, the WiFi on my MacBook starts repeatedly dropping and reconnecting. The only way to stop that is to turn off AirDrop. So, in summary: “Dear Apple: Fix this already!”
A clean install also helps. No OTA updates, just a clean fresh install for both devices.
Additionally, I used Yosemite as a developer and even up until the golden master there were issues.
As I already said: clean installa and when waiting for the recipient – just be patient. It can take up until 2 minutes of idle waiting. But now in 100% of MY cases it works.
My install of Yosemite is totally clean and it does not work. On my own network at home, devices within 1 foot of each other. Not ready for prime time. Who wants to sit around for 2 minutes hoping for a connection.
This feature s pretty bs there are so many people saying the same thing, that it only connects half the time between mac to iOS and everyone has issues with it going the other way, and theres no way for the iOS(or mac for that matter) to manually search for devices.. – “it just doesn’t work” – would be a better way of putting things
Well said.
I can never get the airdrop to work on my iPhobe 6 with a MacBook Pro 15″ late 2012. Apple doesn’t bother to test their software anymore. They’re just milking their old fame.
I tried the instructions and Air Drop did not work either between two iPad Air’s or with a MacBook air. Cranky software and support posts support that conclusion.
It would be helpful if the article had sub headings since everyone is going to read their section over and over to figure out what they are getting wrong. Secondly, a debugging section would be handy since airdrop is flakey.
it really is stupid , most of the time when i try to air drop a file between my iPhone 5 and my macbook, it works fine for my mac, an icon appears , however there isn’t any skin icon appears on my phone!!! how could that be the skin situation , i just don’t understand how apple work on bluetooth thing. Not just airdrop , my knock apps on my mac always can’t sense my phone when i try to use the app to unlock my mac from sleep. Thus i end up not using it …… stupid
Works from Retina iMac to iPhone 6 only when I select “everyone” for Airdrop on the phone. If I select “Contacts Only” (even though my name is listed in my Contacts, it does not work.
it sure don’t work at all cause i been trying to get it to work on my iPhone 6 plus and all the tips they said aint shit true about it apple get together cause y’all don’t need to be posting up anything unless the shit works and right now y’all look really bogus and false advertisment.
its not work
Thanks for the helpful article. This helped me a lot. I got Airdrop to work nicely between my MacBook Pro (2012) and my iPad (mini) and my iPhone 6. Airdrop is great for sharing pdf articles between my devices for school reading and for sharing photos. Thanks for the clear and easy to follow instructions!
Why the new AirDrop doesn’t display the user’s pic?