Airdrop allows you to easily send photos and videos, contacts, files, and pretty much anything else, between your devices running iOS and Mac OS X, and it’s one of my favorite and most used features. In this article, I’ll tell you why you should use Airdrop too and I’ll show you how to use it.
Why use Airdrop? – First off, why would you use Airdrop when there are other options available? For example, it’s pretty easy to send photos, videos, and other types of files to other devices using iMessage or in an email. There are a few reasons I prefer Airdrop to these other options.
First, it’s much, much faster. Because Airdrop uses a high-speed, but short range, Bluetooth connection to help send files, it’s must faster than sending a file using only your cellular or Wi-Fi connection. This is especially apparent when sending a large file like that 4K video you shot on your new iPhone 6s.
Next, it’s also more secure. Airdrop creates what is essentially a temporary and secure private network to send a file to another device. This means that it’s an option that’s much less susceptible to being intercepted between Device-A and Device-B, ensuring that your data is kept private.
Finally, Airdrop has no file size limit and doesn’t compress files. I have used Airdrop to send massive files between Mac computers and, while it can take a while to send these large files, even with Airdrop’s high speed connection, they always come through on the other end in their full quality. Many people don’t realize that sending a video through iMessage degrades its quality in an effort to take less time and save cellular data.
A bonus reason to use Airdrop is that many people don’t realize it’s an option and you’ll wow your friends the first time you send them a file using Airdrop!
How to use Airdrop… on an iOS device.
1. Open the photo, video, or file you’d like to send and tap on the Share button in the lower left of the screen.
2. The share sheet will slide into view and you’ll see Airdrop at the top of the list of options. Be sure that your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios are turned on. You can do this in Control Center or by tapping on Airdrop in the Share Sheet.
3. Ensure that the device you’re sending to has Airdrop enabled and active. If it’s an iOS device, you can do this in Control Center above the flashlight toggle.
If you’re sending to a Mac computer, open a new Finder window and click on Airdrop in the left column. Please note that both the sending device and the receiving device must be new enough to support Bluetooth Low Energy.
4. The device you’re wanting to send to will appear in the Airdrop section of the share sheet. Tap on it.
5. Your file will be sent to the device. If it’s an iOS device, it will open automatically in the app that’s used to view it. If you’re sending to a Mac OS X device, you can find the file in the device’s Downloads folder.
How to use Airdrop… on a Mac.
1. Locate the file you’d like to send in Mac OS X’s Finder.
2. Click on the share button at the top of the Finder window, and then on Airdrop. The share sheet will slide into view.
3. Ensure that the device you’re sending to has Airdrop enabled and active. See Step 3 above.
4. The device you’re wanting to send to will appear in the share sheet. Click on it.
5. Your file will be sent to the device. If it’s an iOS device, it will open automatically in the app that’s used to view it. If you’re sending to a Mac OS X device, you can find the file in the device’s Downloads folder.
That’s how to use Airdrop to send files between iOS and Mac OS X devices quickly, easily, and securely. Do you use Airdrop? Why or why not? Sound off in the comments section below!
