What is AirDrop? How to use it and things to be careful about!

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If you're an iPhone user, you've probably seen the name "AirDrop" at least once. However, even if you know the name, there are still many people who don't know how to use it or what its functions actually are.
This article provides a clear explanation of how to use AirDrop and what to be careful about for those who have questions about it.

Table of contents

What is AirDrop?

AirDrop is a feature that allows you to share files, photos, videos, and other data directly between Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads, and Macs. It does not require cables or an internet connection, and allows you to instantly exchange data with people you do not know.
Specific examples of use include being able to instantly share memorable photos and videos taken while out with friends, information about shops that caught your eye while you were out, or sending recommended web pages or app links to your friends.

Traditionally, when sending large amounts of data such as photos or videos, users would use email or messaging apps like LINE. However, using email or messaging apps comes with the disadvantage of running the risk of reaching your data limit. Furthermore, image data may be automatically reduced or compressed. Furthermore, when connecting with new friends or acquaintances, you first need to exchange contact information, which can be a hassle.

The appeal of AirDrop is that it solves these problems. Because it doesn't require an internet connection, you can share files easily without worrying about data usage or image data reduction or compression. What's more, you can even exchange data with people you don't know their contact details.
AirDrop is a feature that can be used with products running Apple iOS or Mac OS. Please note that it is not compatible with Android devices.

How to use AirDrop

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This article explains how to use AirDrop on your iPhone to exchange data (in this case, images and videos). The procedure may vary slightly depending on your iPhone model and iOS version.

Sender's operations

Sender's operations

The above method also applies to sharing other data such as web pages, app links, location information, contacts, etc.
The receiving side operates as follows:

Recipient operation

Recipient operation

If you select "Decline," the request will not be accepted. If you receive a request from an unknown sender, select "Decline."

AirDrop setup procedure

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To use AirDrop, you need to check the settings as follows. Here we will explain the steps to set up AirDrop.

・Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
・Turn off Internet Sharing
・Set your AirDrop receiving settings to "Contacts only" or "Everyone"

Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

AirDrop exchanges data via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Therefore, both the sender and the receiver must have both features enabled. You can enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth by changing the settings in the Control Center.

How to open the Control Center.
For iPhone X and later: Swipe down from the top right of the screen
For iPhone SE, iPhone 8 and earlier: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen
If you don't know how to open it, go to "Settings" -> "General"

Turn off Internet Sharing

Turn off Internet Sharing

Or go to "Settings" -> "Personal Sharing" and turn off the toggle for "Allow others to connect."

Set AirDrop receiving settings to "Contacts only" or "Everyone"

To change the receiving settings, use AirDrop from the Control Center or Settings. If the receiving setting is set to "Don't receive," you will not be able to receive data.

From the Control Center

Or go to "Settings" -> "Personal Sharing" and turn off the toggle for "Allow others to connect."
From "Settings"

What to do if you can't use AirDrop and what to be careful of

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There are cases when AirDrop doesn't work as expected when you try to use it. If you have problems sharing data or connecting, check your device's settings and whether it's compatible. Here we'll explain what to do if you can't use AirDrop and what to be aware of.

Check if the settings are correct

If you're having trouble sharing data or connecting, try checking the following settings:

・AirDrop settings
・Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings
・Login status to iCloud
・Size of data to be transferred
・Is the distance between the devices too far?

AirDrop settings

If the sender's iPhone does not display the recipient's name, it is likely that the recipient's settings are set to "Don't receive" or "Contacts only." If you have mutual contacts, have the recipient change the setting to "Contacts only." If you do not know the recipient's contact information, have them change the setting to "Everyone."

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings

If you still can't see the recipient after changing the settings, make sure your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are properly turned on. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be enabled to use AirDrop.

iCloud login status

To use AirDrop, both devices must be logged in to iCloud. If you are not logged in, please log in.

The size of the data to be sent

If the recipient's iPhone does not have enough storage space, the data will not be received. If the data size is large, consider compressing or splitting it.

Is the distance between the devices too far?

To connect devices, they must be within a distance where Bluetooth can communicate. If the devices are far apart or there are obstacles between them, they will not appear as sharing options. Make sure they are within the appropriate distance.

Check if your device supports AirDrop

AirDrop is available on many Apple products, but older models may not be compatible. It also doesn't work on Android devices. If it doesn't work, check to see if your device is compatible.
The following conditions must be met for devices to be AirDrop compatible:

To use AirDrop, you need an iPhone or iPad (including iPadOS) with iOS 7 or later installed. Compatible models include iPhone 5 and later, iPad 4th generation and later, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
To use AirDrop between an iPhone and a Mac, you need a 2012 or later Mac running OS X Yosemite or later (the Mid-2012 Mac Pro is not supported). If you're sharing data between Macs, AirDrop can be used on models older than 2012.

iPhone: iOS 7 or later
iPad: iOS 7 or later (compatible with all generations of iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro)
iPod...5th generation (iPod touch) and later
Mac: A Mac with OS X Yosemite or later installed (Mac Pro is supported)

What you can share with AirDrop

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AirDrop can share a variety of data other than photos and videos. Here we will introduce the data that can be shared with AirDrop.

PDF documents and other materials

You can easily share documents and PDF files. For example, this is useful if you want to view a PDF document created on a Mac in the office on your iPhone or iPad while on the go.

Location information

You can also easily share your location information. For example, it is useful when you want to tell a friend about a location you searched for using a map app such as Google Maps.

contact address

You can easily share your contacts or any other contacts you have saved on your device.

Webpage

AirDrop also lets you share web pages, so you can instantly share interesting web pages and information.

App

You can easily share apps you like or use.

summary

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