| AirDrop | |
|---|---|
 | |
 AirDrop on macOS | |
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
| Initial release | July 20, 2011; 14 years ago (2011-07-20) |
| Operating system | iOS,iPadOS,macOS, andvisionOS |
| Platform | Mac,iPhone,iPad,iPod Touch, andVision Pro |
| Type | Utility software |
| License | Bundledproprietary software |
| Website | AirDrop on iOS and iPadOS AirDrop on macOS |
AirDrop is a file-sharing service inApple'siOS,macOS,iPadOS andvisionOS operating systems that operates over awireless ad hoc network. AirDrop was introduced inMac OS X Lion (10.7) andiOS 7,[1] and can transfer files among supported Apple devices by means of close-range wireless communication. There is no limit on the size of files that can be transferred.[1] This communication takes place over Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL) "Action Frames" and "Data Frames" using generated link-localIPv6 addresses instead of the Wi-Fi chip's fixedMAC address.[2] In November 2025,Quick Share added limited AirDrop support inAndroid, starting withPixel 10 phones.[3]
Prior toOS X Yosemite (10.10), and under OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks (10.7–10.9, respectively) the AirDrop protocol in macOS was different from the AirDrop protocol of iOS, and the two were therefore not interoperable.[4] OS X Yosemite and later support the iOS AirDrop protocol on Macs released in 2012 and later, which is used for transfers between a Mac and an iOS device, as well as between Macs, which use bothWi-Fi andBluetooth.[5][6] Legacy mode for the original AirDrop protocol (which only uses Wi-Fi), which was used by Macs introduced in 2011 or earlier (or Macs released after 2012 running an operating system earlier than Yosemite) was supported throughmacOS Mojave and removed inmacOS Catalina.[6][7]
On iOS 7 and later, AirDrop can be accessed by either tapping on Settings > General > AirDrop,[8] or via theControl Center.[9] BothWi-Fi andBluetooth are automatically switched on when AirDrop is enabled as they are both utilized.[9] NFC can also be utilized to initiate a transfer in iOS 17 or later. Options for controlling AirDrop discovery by other devices include:[9]
In iOS 16.2 or later, the Everyone option reverts to Contacts Only after 10 minutes.
If an application implements AirDrop support, it is available through the share button. AirDrop is subject to a number of restrictions on iOS, such as the inability to share music or videos from the native apps.[10]
On Macs running OS X 10.7 and greater, AirDrop is available in theFinder window sidebar.[11] On Macs running OS X 10.8.1 or later, it can also be accessed through the menu option Go → AirDrop or by pressing⇧ Shift+⌘ Cmd+R.[12]
AirDrop must be selected in a Finder window sidebar to be able to transfer files. Furthermore, files are not automatically accepted, but instead give a prompt asking to receive or decline the file sent.
AirDrop can be enabled unofficially oniPad (3rd generation) byjailbreaking the device and installing "AirDrop Enabler 7.0+" fromCydia. This procedure is not endorsed by Apple.
RunningOS X Yosemite (10.10) or later:[6]
To transfer files between a Mac and an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, the following minimum requirements have to be met:[13] All iOS devices with AirDrop are supported withiOS 8 or later:[9]
RunningOS X Yosemite (10.10) or later:[6]
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi have to be turned on for both Mac and iOS devices. (Both devices are not required to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.)
When transferring files between an iPhone and a Pixel 10, the iOS device must be runningIOS 26 or later.[3] For either iOS or Mac, AirDrop must be set to “everyone for 10 minutes” mode.[14] The Pixel must have the Quick Share extension app automatically installed by a November 2025 Google System Play Update.[15] At this moment, only members of the Pixel 10 family (including the 10 Pro Fold) are able to share files with Apple devices through this process:[16]
AirDrop usesTLS encryption over a direct Apple-createdpeer-to-peerWi-Fi connection fortransferring files.[17] TheWi-Fi radios of the source and target devices communicate directly without using an Internet connection orwireless access point.[17]
The technical details of AirDrop and the proprietary peer-to-peer Wi-Fi protocol calledApple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL) have been reverse engineered[18] and the resulting open source implementations published asOWL[19]andOpenDrop.[20] InIOS 26, EU regulators required Apple to deprecate AWDL in favor of the openWi-Fi Aware standard.[3]
During the initial handshake, devices exchange fullSHA-256 hashes of users' phone numbers and email addresses, which might be used by attackers to infer the phone numbers and in some cases email addresses themselves.[21]In 2024, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice claimed that following complaints from the public about "anonymous dissemination of inappropriate messages" in public places using AirDrop, a forensic institute in Beijing was commissioned to analyze iPhone's encrypted device logs. Arainbow table correlating phone numbers and email accounts was created during investigation, and has "effectively assisted the police in identifying several suspects" involved in such cases.[22][23][24]
Researchers at theTechnische Universität Darmstadt stated that Apple knew that AirDrop users could be identified and tracked as early as 2019 and did not implement a proposed fix in 2021.[25]
Following the 2022Beijing Sitong Bridge protest, users in China used AirDrop to distribute similar protest posters and slogans.[26][27] Apple reportedly limited the AirDrop function in China just weeks before2022 COVID-19 protests in China.[28][29][30] The AirDrop restrictions triggered a hunger strike atApple's headquarters.[31]
There have been numerous reported cases where iOS device users with AirDrop privacy set to "Everyone" have received unwanted files from nearby strangers; the phenomenon has been termed "cyber-flashing."[32][33] From iOS 16.1.1, Apple replaced the "Everyone" mode with "Everyone for 10 minutes" for users in China at first, which automatically reverts to contacts only after time elapses. After it was discovered, Apple stated that this feature was intended to reduce unsolicited content, and became available worldwide with iOS 16.2.[34] It did not comment upon the timing of the change or why it is initially limited to China, with reports suggesting that the limitation was implemented due to theBeijing Sitong Bridge protest.[35][36]
In March 2022 a flight between Seattle and Orlando was detained on the runway atOrlando International Airport until police decided a hijack threat was "not credible", after a 10-year-old child on board the plane airdropped a threat to another passenger, who alerted the crew.[37]
In May 2022, an AnadoluJet flight between Israel and Turkey was deboarded after Israeli users used AirDrop to share pictures of a Turkish airline crash, leading to at least one injury to a passenger. After a search of the luggage, the flight was reboarded and resumed its trip some hours later.[38]
In July 2022, an 18-year-old Spanish man flying from Rome to Alicante airdropped pictures of skulls and a generic message inAmharic to some of the passengers, before takeoff. As the crew was informed and the captain asked for police intervention, the flight left with a two-hour delay and the young man was charged with procuring an alarm.[39]
In late August 2022, a man on an airplane that was taxiing for take off airdropped nude photos of himself to others on the Southwest Airlines flight fromHouston toCabo San Lucas. When a passenger reported this to the flight crew, the pilot announced that if this didn't stop he would return to the gate, which would ruin their vacations, and the activity stopped.[40][41]
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