If you ask any Apple loyal why switching to Android was never considered an option, at some point during the discussion AirDrop will be mentioned as one of the reasons.
AirDrop is a cool feature which lets the user send and receive files from any nearby iPhone, Mac or iPad, in a wirelessly or cable-free procedure.
Here is how.
Enabling AirDrop on your iPhone
So, you own an iPhone, heard about AirDrop but never got down to use it? It is easy, just follow our simple steps hereunder to start sharing records.
- Launch Settings app on your iPhone
- In Settings, select General > AirDrop
On the AirDrop page choose one of the following options:
- Receiving Off – To disable AirDrop, once you finished sending or receiving files
- Contacts Only – Used to allow people saved in your contacts to send you files
- Everyone – Choose this option if you want to allow anyone to discover your iPhone and send you files
Once you have made your preferred settings from the above, any AirDrop-enabled iPhone can now find your device and request to send you files.
How do I exactly receive files via AirDrop then?
All you have to do once the proper settings are chosen beforehand, is to advise the sender to select your iPhone from their AirDrop device list, just like we do for Bluetooth. In fact, the latter will switch on automatically once you are using AirDrop, as it needs to be switched on for the AirDrop to work.
Care, you must switch on Wi-Fi too but not necessarily connect to a network.
As soon as the sender chooses your iPhone, you will see a prompt on your device, accept it and you`ll receive the sender`s file/s.
What if I need to send files via AirDrop?
If you need to send files this time round, just launch the app in which the file you want to share is located, let`s say Photos app.
In the Photos app, click on the specific photo or video you want to share via AirDrop, and once it is on full-screen, check bottom left corner where you should see a share icon, it is like an arrow pointing upwards coming out from a box.
Once selected, in the share menu at the top, select an AirDrop-enabled device to send your file, or in this case photo/video.
The recipient/s will receive your prompt on their device/s, which can be either refused or accepted. If accepted, that particular file or media is shared, and you are both set to go.
What if my AirDrop is not working?
If AirDrop is not working as it should, first check that your Bluetooth is on. Either scan again for other available devices, or switch off and turn on again. You can also re-start your iPhone or close multiple open apps which can affect the overall performance.
Also, depends on which features you chose from Settings. Are they correct for the sharing you need to do? You should have used Contacts Only or Everyone? Check again.
A weak Wi-Fi signal may also be the cause, disrupting the whole process.
Lastly, try to get nearer to your recipient, as range affects AirDrop too.
AirDrop Advantages & Disadvantages
Really and truly the only disadvantage we see here is that you need to be within a certain range (about 30 feet) to share files or media via AirDrop.
However, it is also good to mention that AirDrop does reduce image quality in some instances, depending on what device you are sending the pictures to. Luckily, you can opt to send images in their original quality form, so that should settle the matter in this case.
Audio quality can also be slightly affected, especially when the recipient device is an older model.
Then there is security, which since it is a bit elaborate, we dedicated a section for it further down this article.
On the other hand, AirDrop comes handy for distribution of files among iPhone users, and the biggest advantage is that there is no theoretical limit to AirDrop, while Apple has not specified a maximum either. This means that you can share large files or videos and even batches of photos, which is always fast, straight forward, convenient and cool.
Is AirDrop secure?
This may sound a bit technical, but we like to be honest with our readers.
A research carried out by the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany, on Apple`s Wireless Direct Link or AWDL, which is the networking protocol used for AirDrop, showed that users can be left susceptible to man-in-the-middle cyberattacks, such as intercepted data in transit or tracking users.
However, this is taken as an extreme case, since the majority of users who use AirDrop are the normal everyday people. Hackers are more inclined to target VIPs, celebrities, political entities and the sort, but it is good to know about it.
Does AirDrop work on all iPhones?
AirDrop is only available with any iPhone that has iOS 7 or later, and while we are at it we can also mention iPads with iPadOS 13 or later, and finally Mac with OS X 10.10 or OS X Yosemite.
Obviously, both devices must be compatible for AirDrop to work and start sharing files.
Is AirDrop better than Bluetooth?
Airdrop is significantly faster than Bluetooth, and it is also easier on your battery.
So, if you are an Apple user, and give weight to speed when sharing files, your better option should always be AirDrop.
Final thoughts
Overall AirDrop is a convenient feature for all Apple users, to share files and/or media, and as we saw it has its perks like being more gentle on the battery, and faster than Bluetooth.
Just take good care with whom you are sharing your data with, to avoid AirDrop phishing, scammers or letting access to malware or other viruses into your device.
